Students considering a training contract with Bristol-headquartered national law firm Burges Salmon were given a virtual insight instead of a physical one as the firm’s traditional summer vacation scheme went online due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This year the scheme offered 28 candidates the same opportunity to find out about life at the firm as in previous years. All candidates are also given a training contract interview on completion of the programme. 
However, this year the two cohorts of 14 students took part in scheduled activities via video conference as part of the week-long programme.
Candidates were introduced to a different practice area each day, working virtually with lawyers from the different teams to complete tasks for each practice.
A number of additional sessions offered an insight into the culture at Burges Salmon, including a partner and trainee Q&A, a presentation on the firm’s international strategy and an introduction to its various internal, employee-led diversity networks. 
Burges Salmon resourcing business partner Anna Dixon, pictured, said: “Despite not being able to host the students for our usual two-week long summer vacation scheme at our Bristol headquarters this year, we were determined to provide the candidates who joined us online with the same opportunities to experience life at Burges Salmon and understand the work we do here.
“Those who took part were delighted our summer vacation scheme still went ahead and we received positive feedback on our efforts to devise an engaging and interactive schedule of virtual activities over the week.”
All candidates have been invited to attend an interview this month for a training contract starting in 2022.
Burges Salmon employs around 750 people in its Bristol headquarters and London office. It also has a base in Edinburgh.
