What should I do if I don't have an internship?

Most law firms, including Pinsent Masons, have now completed their recruitment for internships, or vacation placements as we tend to call them. Congratulations to those of you who will be joining firms this summer, I hope you enjoy the experience and that it ultimately leads to a training contract offer.

If you have been unable to secure a vacation placement then all is not lost as many firms still accept direct applications for training contracts until the end of July. While you cannot usually apply to a firm twice in the same year there may be some other firms out there that you have not previously considered.

What should I do to maximise my chances of success?

1. Look back over your previous applications and identify areas for improvement. Although employers usually cannot provide individual feedback, due to the volume of applications they receive, a careers advisor may be able to help you understand how you can enhance your application further.

2. Arrange your own placement. If you cannot secure a formal vacation placement, many smaller firms will still offer you work experience that will help strengthen your future applications. You will need to be proactive as these opportunities are usually not advertised. Try to gain experience in areas of law you would ultimately be interested to practise wherever possible.

3. Put things on hold for 12 months. If you think you still have a number of areas to improve then make strengthening these areas your priority rather than making more applications; holiday jobs can be an excellent way to achieve this.

If you are confident that you are ready to make a training contract application you can apply at www.pinsentmasons.com/graduate