450 POINTS from your Irish Leaving Certficate. STRONG 2.1 GRADE predicted or attained in your undergraduate degree.
Vacation placements - Republic of Ireland
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The perfect introduction to Pinsent Masons
We design, structure and develop the summer internship programme to give you an experience which is practical and enjoyable whilst authentically reflecting the Trainee Solicitor experience.
The value of an internship
For many people, a Summer Internship presents the first opportunity to work in a professional organisation and environment. We make sure that first step is an easy one with a day one induction. You’ll be welcomed to the Firm and encouraged to make the most of every opportunity.
You’ll experience first-hand what it’s like to be part of a team and get the chance to make a great first impression. You’ll also get the opportunity to develop transferable professional skills, building your confidence along the way. It’s also a great opportunity to get a feel for the social scene, make friends and start building a useful network of contacts for the rest of your career.
Structure and dates
You’ll join one practice area, allowing you to get really involved with their work and form strong relationships while gaining relevant experience and an unexpected level of responsibility. You’ll complete assessments for a Training Contract, attend presentations and get involved in social activities.
Internship dates:
Programme 1 - 5th - 23rd June 2023
Programme 2 - 3rd July - 21st July 2023
We don’t offer ad hoc placements or work experience.
Salary
We believe placements should be paid as, while you are with us, you will be making a valuable contribution to our business. We also recognise that undertaking internships can mean incurring costs for travel and accommodation. That is why we pay our students a competitive rate of pay while at the firm.
Our 2023 Summer Internship salaries are €500 per week.
Entry requirements
If you don’t meet the above criteria but there are mitigating circumstances that explain why you’ve failed to meet the minimum academic requirements, there’s an opportunity for you to include this information in your application.
Summer internship to training contract
We hope your Summer Internship experience will fuel your interest in joining the firm as a Trainee Solicitor. So, during your placement we’ll ask you to take a final assessment for a Training Contract. This will involve preparing and presenting a SWOT analysis, followed by an interview regarding your presentation and your placement experience. We’ll also get feedback from your practice group and, if you meet our core capabilities and perform well throughout both the assessments and the placement, we’ll offer you a Training Contract.
If you gain a placement, it’s because we already see you as a potential Trainee. And during the time you spend with us, we’ll do our best to give you every chance to prove us right. That’s why Summer Internship students don’t need to make a separate application for our Training Contract programme. In our eyes you’re already in the running.
What we're looking for
A focus on detail
With a conscientious approach, you’ll have the ability to read and absorb large amounts of reference material and spot errors quickly. You’ll be a stickler for detail when it comes to your own writing too, ensuring it’s always clear and accurate.
An interest in business
We’re a commercial law firm, so you’ll have a genuine interest in how business works. That means keeping up-to-date with the latest business issues, as well as appreciating how legal expertise can support and steer commercial organisations.
Intellectual capability
You’ve the intellectual curiosity to explore new approaches and ask others’ opinions. With an analytical approach, you think things through and weigh up the implications, but also have the capacity to think on your feet to find solutions.
Openness
You’ll be approachable, outgoing and confident engaging with people from different backgrounds and experiences to your own. Whether you’re communicating with colleagues or clients, you’ll understand the need to adapt your message to suit your audience.
Personal drive
You’ll need to combine a real desire to be the best with the energy, ambition and enthusiasm to go the extra mile to succeed. With a can-do attitude, you’re always open to learning from your experience, so you can be even better next time.
Personal responsibility
You understand that taking responsibility for your successes and acknowledging when things go wrong will help you to constantly improve and achieve your career aims. By knowing your strengths and weaknesses, you give others confidence in your abilities.
Positive impact
With the self-assurance to voice your own opinions and defend your point of view when you need to, you’ll be a convincing and persuasive communicator. But you’ll also have the self-awareness to ask for help when you need it.
Self-organisation
You understand priorities and monitor your progress towards set objectives. By being well-organised and planning and managing your work efficiently, you make sure you always deliver quality work on time.
Our recruitment process
We’ve designed our application process to ensure you’ll know the outcome in no more than four months after the application deadline. The below shows a typical recruitment and selection process. You’ll be given full details of the process in relation to your own recruitment as appropriate.
Some frequently asked questions
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Do I have to apply for a Training Contract as well as a Summer Internship?
If we offer you a Summer Internship programme, we’ll automatically consider you for a Training Contract at the firm and your placement will include Training Contract assessments. If you don’t gain a Summer Internships, you’ll need to wait until the following year to apply for either a Summer Internship or Training Contract.
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How long does the Summer Internship last?
The programme runs over a three week period in the Dublin office and has two intakes of Summer Internship students, one in June and one in July.
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Is the Summer Internship programme paid?
Yes, in 2022 Summer Internship students were paid €500 per week. Salaries are reviewed annually.
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Do you get to choose which practice group you sit in?
We’ll ask you to tell us your top three practice group preferences and we’ll do our best to place you in one of them. However, from time to time, it may be difficult to achieve this due to commercial reasons.
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Can I take a Summer Internship in my first year at university?
No, we don’t offer Summer Internship to first year students unless you’re on the accelerated (two-year) LLB or equivalent. If you’re a first-year student, we’d encourage you to develop your legal knowledge by attending campus events and insight evenings or through gaining some commercial experience.