At Stewarts, we are committed to widening access to the legal profession and creating opportunities for talented young people from all backgrounds. We believe that potential should not be limited by a person’s circumstances and are proud to support initiatives that promote social mobility and greater diversity within the legal sector.
We deliver our work experience programme exclusively through our partnership with the Social Mobility Foundation (SMF), a charity dedicated to improving social mobility for young people across the UK.
The Social Mobility Foundation provides opportunities, guidance and professional networks to 16 and 17-year-olds from underrepresented backgrounds who may not otherwise have access to them through their schools, families or local communities. Further information about the organisation can be found on its website here.
The programme
Students on our work experience programme spend one week in either our London or Leeds office, typically during the summer months.
During the programme, students are paired with mentors from two different departments and gain first-hand insight into life at a leading litigation law firm. Participants have the opportunity to:
- Complete legal research and drafting tasks
- Assist with document review and case preparation activities
- Shadow lawyers and observe the day-to-day work of different practice areas
- Learn about the legal system and the variety of career paths within the profession
- Develop key professional skills, including presentation, debating and communication skills
- Take part in interactive workshops covering topics such as personal branding, diversity and inclusion, and writing effective personal statements.
The programme is designed to build confidence, broaden career horizons and provide practical insight into the skills and experiences needed to pursue a career in law.
Student experiences in their own words
“Learning about the differing sectors revealed the immense extent the law industry covers. Only getting glimpse at the diverse sectors showed me that there are countless possibilities and an avenue for everyone. I loved discussing cases with the professionals. Both my mentors were the best, certainly experts in their fields who were passionate about their areas of work. Stewarts has a wonderful work environment, making every person regardless of position feel welcome and valued. If an opportunity arises where I can return there in the future, I would gladly do so.”
“Without this experience I may have never discovered my interest in advocacy or realised that competition litigation is the area of commercial law I want to specialise in. I’m especially grateful for these realisations”
“I feel that the internship was engaging and thorough. I loved the experience and highly recommend.”
Our commitment
We are proud of our longstanding commitment to social mobility and recognise the importance of ensuring that talented individuals have access to opportunities, regardless of their background. Through our partnership with the Social Mobility Foundation, we aim to help inspire and support the next generation of legal professionals.
Accreditations
Partnerships
A day in the life of a pro bono paralegal
Have you wondered what an average day looks like for a paralegal in our pro bono team, who assist seriously injured patients and their families at a time when independent legal support is most needed but often hard to find?
Stewarts career stories
We encourage our people to strive for excellence in everything they do and deliver the highest possible standard of work at all times.
Our culture promotes a good work/life balance and supports the career progression of our staff.
"Strong sound moral leadership with fairness and integrity."
"The positive environment, ability to be yourself and do your job with the support of others makes Stewarts a great place to work."
"Respect for the individual, responsibility and trust to grow and develop makes Stewarts an adult and human place to work."
