Professional Training Placements

The professional training year enables you to gain confidence in handling new situations and experience in working with people in a professional legal / business environment, as well as presenting you with a unique opportunity to mature and develop your professional identity.

Taking a placement improves your self-awareness and leaves you better prepared for the future challenge of selecting and pursuing your chosen career path.

Please click here for student quotes.

Placements must be at least 46 working weeks (paid) or 30 working weeks (unpaid), commencing any time between July and September following the conclusion of your second year of academic study, and finishing the following summer.

You have the freedom to apply for the placements that interest you – the School of Law does not assign students to organisations.

Every year we are notified by a wide range of employers of placement opportunities. They are advertised on an online list to which you can apply. You can also arrange your own placement with an employer not featured on our list, but any such placement can only go ahead with prior approval from the School.

Detailed support and guidance on the process of finding and securing a placement is provided via the Placement and Work Preparation (PWP) programme during the second year.

Placements undertaken by Law students are wide ranging. Previous roles on offer have ranged from undertaking research and policy for a NYCC office, a marketing role for an international organisation, to a legal intern within a UK law firm.

We do not place limits on the size or nature of the organisation you choose to work for, provided the role itself provides the opportunity to gain relevant experience. Nor do we limit the employers you can work for based on your chosen degree programme. This provides you with the opportunity to try things out to see what specific job roles and sectors are really like.

We strongly support the principle of paid placements, however we do understand that this is not always possible.  For example anyone wishing to work in USA does so on a purely voluntary basis.

Yes. A year abroad is an excellent way to aid your personal development and gain new experiences. Approximately 10% of students taking a placement year will do so overseas, in such locations as The USA, Brussels, Germany, France, Spain and Hong Kong. You can go anywhere, provided the role is suitable, the destination is deemed safe and a tutor is able to visit you.

You may also choose to undertake one half of your placement out on a study exchange, to find out more information please click here.

No. All Law courses can be taken as a 3- or 4-year programme. The final decision on which route to take is made toward the end of the second year.

The placement year does not contribute to your overall degree mark. However while the year is ungraded you do need to pass all required elements to a satisfactory level to complete your year.

Please note that the details of your placement year (the University and or company which you attended) do appear on your transcript.

Whilst out on a work placement you will be visited by an Academic member of staff who will assess your progress and development.

The Senior Professional Training Tutor as well as the Placement Year Administrator are also contactable by either email or phone should you need to speak to someone regarding to your placement.

Please click here for employer quotes.