Linklaters becomes the first international law firm to launch a virtual internship experience programme in Hong Kong SAR
• Linklaters is the first international law firm in Hong Kong to offer a virtual internship experience programme
• The programme provides students and career-changers, with an interest in pursuing a legal career in Hong Kong, the opportunity to work for the global law firm through the InsideSherpa virtual platform
• The virtual internship experience programme is free to join and will help participants from any background to gain access to practical skills and experience in the legal profession
This month Linklaters will be the first international law firm in Hong Kong to launch a first of its kind virtual internship experience programme, allowing students and career-changers interested in pursuing a legal career in Hong Kong to experience working at a global law firm.
The Linklaters virtual programme, operated via the InsideSherpa platform, allows students from any university or background, to experience the type of work they would do on a vacation scheme or training contract with Linklaters. It is also a valuable tool for career-changers to see what a career in law might entail. Participants will receive video instructions from partners and associates, as well as resources to support them in completing work that reflects the day to day responsibilities of a commercial lawyer during their training contract.
The seven-module programme offers participants real work experience by requiring them to complete tasks, including pitching to a client based in mainland China requiring legal advice ahead of a fintech acquisition, conducting legal research and leaving a voicemail for the client regarding the transaction. Participants will have the opportunity to compare their work throughout the seven modules with real model solutions created by the Linklaters team.
The virtual internship experience programme is a key initiative in Linklaters’ Diversity & Inclusion strategy. As part of the firm’s social mobility action plan, the programme aims to increase access to opportunities in the firm, and level out information asymmetries that can disproportionately affect people from less advantaged backgrounds.
Graduate Recruitment partner, Denise Fung commented:
“Last year, Linklaters was the first law firm and first UK company to offer the InsideSherpa platform to individuals based in the UK, and we are delighted to now be able to extend this to Hong Kong. The virtual internship experience programme was developed very closely with trainees, associates and partners of the firm, and aims to gives a real sense of our day to day work. Our hope is that the experience gives anyone interested in a career in law an accessible introduction and meaningful insight into what we do, and encourages confidence in potential applicants, regardless of personal background, to pursue a career with us.”
InsideSherpa is an open access platform offering free company-endorsed virtual work experience programs, with the aim of increasing the accessibility of career opportunities for students of all backgrounds.
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