Student Placement
It is vitally important that during their University studies, learners prioritise the development of their employability skills. This need was underlined by the High Fliers Survey, within which 'one-third of employers stated that a graduate with no previous work experience would not be successful during their selection process, regardless of their academic qualification'.
Some QUB School of Law modules include placements, such as the Clinical Law Placement Module with Law Centre NI, whereas others have no compulsory element. Nevertheless, the School would encourage all students to source and undertake voluntary work experience, as it offers considerable value in terms of personal and professional development. Our weekly term-time newsletter showcases hundreds of employment opportunities per year, including paid vacation schemes and internships.
Work experience is attained via participation in a Vacation Scheme or internship, typically (but not exclusively) categorised as:
- Vacation Schemes are usually undertaken at times when no university classes are in progress, eg Summer.
- Internships are usually undertaken over the Summer months or after graduation, enabling students to gain experience in a particular field.
Participation in work experience enables students to apply subject knowledge and technical skills in a professional environment; it also provides a helpful insight into organisational discourse, culture, and working relationships. Most importantly, placements are incredibly valuable for increasing self-confidence and encouraging reflective practice, while providing students with those "missing skills" that employers seek in new recruits.
From Classroom to Career: How a Baker McKenzie Placement Shaped My Law Journey
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School of Law Graduand, Karis Humphries, attributes her School of Law placement with Baker McKenzie as the pivotal and enduring highlight of her School of Law journey.
Our School of Law Graduate from our 2024 cohort wanted to share with us how crucial her placement with Baker McKenzie was in her career development.
“In my final year of study at Queen's, I decided to pursue the placement module that has been offered to final-year law students in recent years. The implementation of this module has allowed students to become better prepared for life after graduation and highly enhances professionalism and transferable skills.
After having completed a day of work experience with the Anti-Money Laundering team at Baker McKenzie in my second year, I reached out to them about the placement module, and they agreed to accommodate me. This experience was instrumental in my professional growth, allowing me to learn practical skills beyond my studies.
I found this experience incredibly enjoyable as not only did I enjoy the work my placement entailed, but it was also great to get to know my colleagues and build meaningful relationships with the team. I am also grateful that I was well-received by the team and began full-time employment with the firm after I completed my degree.
Without this placement module, I may not have had the skills required for this role and I am appreciative to both Queen's and Baker McKenzie for this invaluable opportunity.
Overall, QUB offering this module is pivotal in advancing student employability and has given law students an opportunity to gain real-world skills that weren't as readily available beforehand. I would recommend that anyone who is currently studying law at Queen’s get involved in this module, as the opportunities are endless.”
Interested in following in Karis’s footsteps? Explore career opportunities at Baker McKenzie here (at this link).
We hope Karis's journey motivates other students to seize the opportunities available through QUB’s School of Law.