Clyde & Co’s Bright Futures programmes are a fantastic opportunity for first year law students. These programmes are divided into Access (for students from low social backgrounds) and Black Talent (for students from black heritage backgrounds). Have a look at their website for full details of the opportunity but a summary follows…

What to expect

During your time on the Bright Futures programme, you can expect multiple opportunities to help develop your commercial mindset and ensure you’re ready to become a solicitor at a leading law firm. Some of these fantastic learning opportunities include:

• Gain an insight into their core industry sectors, including Marine, Aviation and Climate Change.
• Learn about how they help their clients achieve their commercial goals.
• The opportunity to network with partners, associates, trainees, and the wider Early Careers team.
• At the end of the programme, you may be fast-tracked to one of their Vacation Schemes. This entirely depends on how you perform during the Assessment Centre on your final day.
• A salary of £450 for the week, as well as travel and accommodation expenses covered for those who require additional support.

Eligibility

There are two schemes, with different eligibility requirements for each:

For Bright Futures (Access), candidates must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• You should have been eligible for free school meals between the ages of 11-16
• Have grown up in a household where no parent/guardian had attended university
• Have another form of social disadvantage

For Bright Futures (Black Talent), candidates must be of black heritage background (this includes mixed black heritage). Note, if you are eligible for Access AND Black Talent, please apply for the Black Talent programme. They can only consider ONE application.

You do NOT need to have previous law experience, but you should be on track for a 2:1 degree, be commercially minded and able to tell Clyde & Co why you think you’d be a good fit for them.

Please note they will be using RARE – a contextual recruitment system built with fairness and equality front of mind. They will also take into account any mitigating circumstances.

Deadline looming!

You need to have completed an online application by 4th January 2024.

You’ll be invited to complete the Clyde & Co Digital Simulation – consisting of situational assessments, including video interview questions and written responses.

Following eligibility screening, depending on your Digital Simulation performance, you may be invited to attend a Strengths-Based Microsoft Teams Interview.

Clyde & Co will make offers to those who were successful at the interview stage and will provide feedback to all candidates who attended an interview.

The programme will take place Tuesday 2^nd April until Friday 5^th April, with the Vacation Scheme virtual assessment centre taking place the following week. You need to be able to attend all five days.

Following the Bright Futures programme, for those who successfully gain a place on our 2025 Vacation Scheme, Clyde & Co will also set you up with a mentor and run further development sessions in preparation for you joining them on the Vacation Scheme.