The Legal Cheek Spring Virtual Vacation Scheme and Law Fair 2025

The Legal Cheek Spring Virtual Vacation Scheme and Law Fair 2025, run in partnership with The University of Law (ULaw), took place from Monday 31 March until Wednesday 2 April 2025 (with the Virtual Law Fair taking place 2-4pm on Tuesday 1 April). It will return in Spring 2026.

It featured a series of short talks, workshops and Q&As with lawyers from leading law firms, corresponding written exercises set by ULaw, as well as an employability expo and a virtual law fair featuring nearly 30 law firms.

Sponsors

In partnership with

Participating firms and chambers

Speakers

Adam White

Adam White

Student recruitment officer at The University of Law

Alex Goodman

Alex Goodman

Student ambassador at The University of Law and future trainee solicitor at Ashfords

Charlie Cromwell-Pinder

Charlie Cromwell-Pinder

Student ambassador at The University of Law and future trainee solicitor at Bird & Bird

Chelsea Collins

Chelsea Collins

Trainee solicitor at Shoosmiths

Ellie Pardy

Ellie Pardy

Associate in the tax and incentives team at Hogan Lovells

Georgia Henderson-Cleland

Georgia Henderson-Cleland

Senior associate in the business and commercial disputes team at BCLP

Harry Buchanan

Harry Buchanan

Associate in the corporate & financial services team at Willkie Farr & Gallagher

Helen Avis

Helen Avis

Programme and student lead at The University of Law

James Hall

James Hall

Barrister at Gatehouse Chambers

Jay Rees

Jay Rees

Student recruitment manager at The University of Law

Jessie Smith

Jessie Smith

Trainee solicitor at Slaughter and May

Kevin Howes

Kevin Howes

Partner in the financing team at Slaughter and May

Matthew Tomlinson

Matthew Tomlinson

Dean at The University of Law

Mandi Kaur

Mandi Kaur

Student recruitment manager at The University of Law

Monda Ajazi

Monda Ajazi

Trainee solicitor at Shoosmiths

Noaman Malik

Noaman Malik

Student ambassador at The University of Law and future trainee solicitor at Farrer & Co

Nicole Kalli

Nicole Kalli

Lecturer at The University of Law

Rachel Munro

Rachel Munro

Senior associate in the real estate team at Shoosmiths

Samantha Poulton

Samantha Poulton

Associate in the restructuring team at Pinsent Masons

Sonia Wassef

Sonia Wassef

Student ambassador at The University of Law and future trainee solicitor at Clifford Chance

Tom Eyre-Brook

Tom Eyre-Brook

Counsel in the tax group at Hogan Lovells

Schedule

Monday 31 March

9:40

Welcome

Speakers

• The University of Law (Matthew Tomlinson, dean)

10:00-11:00

Real estate

Format

Workshop

Speakers

• Shoosmiths (Rachel Munro, senior associate; and Chelsea Collins and Monda Ajazi, trainee solicitors)

11:30-12:30

Private equity

Format

Presentation

Speakers

• Willkie Farr & Gallagher (Harry Buchanan, associate)

14:00-16:00

Employability Expo

Format

Expo

Speakers

• The University of Law (Helen Avis, programme and student lead; Mandi Kaur, Louise Musgrave and Jay Rees, student recruitment managers; and Adam White, student recruitment officer)

Tuesday 1 April

10:00-11:00

Finance

Format

Workshop

Speakers

• Slaughter and May (Kevin Howes, partner, and Jessie Smith, trainee solicitor)

14:00-16:00

Law Fair

Speakers

Lawyers, trainees and graduate recruitment teams from Addleshaw Goddard, Ashurst, BCLP, Burges Salmon, Clyde & Co, Dentons, DWF, Fletchers, Haynes and Boone, Hogan Lovells, Howard Kennedy, Irwin Mitchell, Mayer Brown, Norton Rose Fulbright, Osborne Clarke, Pinsent Masons, RPC, Shoosmiths, Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, Slaughter and May, Squire Patton Boggs, Taylor Wessing, Travers Smith, Vinson & Elkins, Watson Farley & Williams, Weil Gotshal & Manges, White & Case, Womble Bond Dickinson

Wednesday 2 April

9:30-10:30

Restructuring and insolvency

Format

Presentation

Speakers

• Pinsent Masons (Samantha Poulton and Caitlan Smith, associates, and Joanne Ault, international graduate recruitment and development advisor)

11:00-12:00

Tax

Format

Presentation

Speakers

• Hogan Lovells (Tom Eyre-Brook, counsel, and Ellie Pardy, associate)

14:00-15:00

Disputes

Format

Workshop

Speakers

• BCLP (Georgia Henderson-Cleland, senior associate)
• Gatehouse Chambers (James Hall, barrister)
• The University of Law (Nicole Kalli, lecturer and former solicitor)

16:00-17:00

Farewell networking with ULaw future trainees

Speakers

• Sonia Wassef, future trainee at Clifford Chance and ULaw student ambassador
• Noaman Malik, future trainee at Farrer & Co and ULaw student ambassador
• Charlie Cromwell-Pinder, future trainee at Bird & Bird and ULaw student ambassador
• Alex Goodman, future trainee at Ashfords and ULaw student ambassador

How it works

All sessions take place virtually via our virtual events platform. Some are view-only with students able to interact via the chat; in others students are encouraged to interact by sharing their audio and video.

Case study exercises are set by ULaw, with model answers supplied at the end of the Scheme.

You are encouraged to attend all sessions but we appreciate you may have some other commitments to balance. Students who attend all of the sessions receive a certificate at the end of the Scheme.