Work Experience
Due to the current Covid-19 crisis, our work experience programme is currently suspended.
We have been running a successful programme of work experience placements since spring 2001. We aim to give students on work placements a taste of work in a modern legal practice and busy office environment.
If you have any general enquiries then please email the work experience coordinator, Zuwaina Nelson workexperiencequeries@matrixlaw.co.uk.
Applications for 2020
Due to the current Covid-19 crisis, our work experience programme is currently suspended and we are not accepting further applications.
Our work experience blog
Each work experience student is encouraged to tell us about their time at Matrix for the benefit of other students. You can read about it here.
About Matrix
Matrix is a legal practice that was set up in May 2000 to modernise the environment in which barristers work, and the way in which their professional practices are managed and developed. We work in an environment where diversity and accessibility are widely championed, and out-dated practice is challenged.
Duties
The duties students can expect to undertake during a work placement at Matrix include:
- Completing basic legal exercises
- Conducting legal research and writing legal reports
- Learning about the roles of the staff team at Matrix
- Helping to book travel arrangements
- Taking barristers’ papers to court and observing them in action
- Helping to set up events
- Dealing with post
- Other ad hoc administrative duties
Application Criteria
Our Work Experience programme is only open to those currently undertaking GCSE’s and/or A-Levels or equivalent.
We take two Work Experience students every other week. In selecting students for work experience, we actively seek to promote access to the profession and equal opportunities for those typically underrepresented at the Bar. Therefore, individuals who meet the following criteria will be prioritised in the application process for one of our two weekly placements:
- Currently undertaking GCSE’s and/or A-Levels or equivalent.
AND
- Would be the first generation in their family to attend university
- Have been in receipt of Free School Meals whilst at secondary school
- Have parent(s)/guardian(s) who qualify for means-tested benefits
- Have been looked after or in care
- Are from a background underrepresented in law such as from an ethnic minority or have a disability/long term health condition
If you believe you meet the above criteria, and wish to be considered for one of these priority placements, please tick the appropriate box in the Application Form.
The second placement will remain accessible to all other students currently undertaking GCSE’s and/or A-Levels or equivalent.
Future Lawyers scheme
If you are accepted to complete one of our priority work experience placements (as described above) and you are studying for your A-Levels or equivalent at the time of your placement, you are eligible to enter the competition to be accepted onto our Future Lawyers scheme.
Participants in the Future Lawyers scheme will be matched with a mentor at Matrix and invited to advocacy and networking workshops. Please see the Future Lawyers Scheme Fact Sheet for full details.