Charitable Trust Work Experience Programme

Attending at University is a valuable and enriching life experience but one that exposes law students to a very academic environment. Applying academic learning in the commercial business world can be every bit as challenging as academic study itself.

Building on the success of the Mason Hayes Scholarships, Mason Hayes wanted to also offer first generation scholars the unique opportunity of developing their commercial awareness. Such an opportunity would enable students to combine their legal education gained from the University of Sussex with a meaningful work experience programme to boost employability upon graduation.

In taking part in the Work Experience Programme, students are provided with a real insight into a career that they are interested in pursuing and are given guidance on possible career pathways and access routes. The work experience, which can for example, take place in the legal division of a major corporate organisation, in Barristers’ Chambers, an MP’s office or indeed with a firm of Solicitors, enables students to observe a range of roles and responsibilities in a live working environment over a three or five day period and follows a structured work programme with meaningful outcomes and learning experiences.

The Work Experience Programme not only enhances the self-confidence of students but provides them with the opportunity to acquire a variety of employability skills and an understanding of an employer’s expectations concerning the quality and standard of an employee’s work. The scheme gives students appropriate work experience to enhance their CV but in a controlled, safe learning environment and aids students in selecting their choice of career path following graduation.