Careers

Role :

Access Ashurst Student

Reporting to :

Social Impact Team

Duration :

Summer of Year 12 (work experience) and Year 13 (mentoring)

Location :

Spitalfields, London (near Liverpool Street Station)

Remuneration & Benefits :

• Students on the programme will receive the London Living Wage for their two week work experience programme.
• Full travel expenses will be covered.
• Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
  
  

Who is Ashurst?

Ashurst is a leading global law firm with a history spanning over 200 years. Our London office is based closed to Liverpool Street Station, in Spitalfields. Visit our website.

Every year, we provide up to 24 students from state schools with access to a programme of work shadowing, skills workshops and mentoring support.

Access Ashurst is based on the Prime commitment , which aims to increase access to law for state school students who will be the first generation in their immediate family to attend university.

Programme overview

• Week 1: During the first week of the programme (21 July - 25 July 2025), students will spend a week at our London Office, gaining an insight into life at the firm. Students will spend two days with a legal supervisor in departments across the office and on the remaining days will take part in interactive skills sessions and workshops, involving representatives from Ashurst and our clients.
  
  
• Week 2: During the second week of the programme (28 July - 1 August 2025), students will spend a day at five different organisations as part of the Social Mobility Business Partnership (SMBP). During this week students will receive an in-depth overview of each organisation, as well as the role of an In-house lawyer.
  
  
• Ongoing support: Students will be matched with a volunteer mentor from Ashurst throughout Year 13 to provide students with a greater insight into life as a lawyer as well as guidance on taking the next steps into higher education or employment.
  
  

Mentoring Programme

• After the work experience placement, you'll be given access to a mentor from Ashurst throughout Year 13 to support you with taking the next steps in higher education or employment.
  
  
• Our e-mentoring programme provides guidance, resources and support through a safe and secure online platform as well as master classes on topics such as preparing for university, university personal statements and law firm application forms. You'll also have the opportunity to take part in the Access Law programme throughout Year 13 and to return to Ashurst for an 'end of programme' celebration event in early September, before commencing university or employment.

Eligibility criteria

We encourage you to apply if:

• you are in your penultimate year of secondary school (Year 12 in England or Wales, Year 13 in Northern Ireland, or S5 in Scotland (or equivalent).
• you are attending a state funded, non-fee paying school/college or are attending a fee paying school on a 100% means-tested bursary.

Additional criteria

You must also meet one or more of the following:

• be currently or have previously been in local authority care.
• be currently in receipt of, or have previously received, free school meals, Pupil Premium, Education Maintenance Allowance and/or 16 to 19 Bursary.
• be currently or have been a full-time or part-time carer.
• have come to the UK as a refugee or asylum seeker.
• grew up in a household where the occupation of the main earner is categorised as a routine or manual occupation. For further details please click here .
• are attending a state school or college with:

- below average A-Level or Higher point score and/or:

- low rate of progression to higher education ( PRIME Work Experience School Eligibility Criteria)

• grew up in a household where no parent or guardian attended University.

Important information

• We are passionate about reaching students who will benefit most from this opportunity and use Rare Recruitment's contextual recruitment system (CRS) to support us with our recruitment decisions in relation to applying the above 'additional criteria'. The CRS allows us to understand your achievements in the context in which they have been gained.
• We seek to recruit the best people, from every background, regardless of their personal circumstances, and the CRS help us to do that. If you are (or have been) looked after, accommodated or in care, you only need to meet the school year requirement listed in the Eligibility Requirements section.
• There is room on the application form to explain any extenuating circumstances that might impact your application. These above additional criteria are not exhaustive and may be amended over time.
• The programme will take place in London - students must be able to travel to London for the duration of the two week programme. Full travel expenses will be covered for all travel.

Apply now

The deadline for applications is 7 January 2025 - midday.

Click 'Apply' to begin/continue your application.