How to stand out during a law placement

What does a placement student do at Plexus?

CW: “A lot of our 12-month contract placement students work in the TPA department at Plexus as trainee legal assistants. The TPA department is where Plexus handles claims for large corporate fleets including vehicle damage, property damage and personal injury matters.  We take the claims from FNOL (first notification of loss) right through to settlement, even including litigation services if necessary.

“We have more apprentices and students than any other department in the organisation because there’s a higher mass of pre-litigated (claims that settle prior to trial) work, so it’s the ideal place to start their career. They are expertly coached and trained in one of the largest departments in the business.

“We take multiple students each year because there is always a need for their skills and resource, and everyone gets a lot out of the partnership. We had two students last year who we kept on after their 12-month contract ended, because they were so good. We offered them paid part-time work in their final year at university, which helped them pay for their fees. One of them has now joined us full-time since he’s graduated. We have four more placement students who’ve joined us in the Leeds office this year.

“Students complete a thorough induction programme for the first two weeks of their placement year, meeting people from across the business and gaining a real understanding of our values as an organisation and how they translate in everything we do. We help them bed into their role and set out goals for the year ahead, working closely with them to find out what they want to achieve during the year and how we can support that.”

What kind of tasks do placement students get involved in day-to-day?

CW: “The year is split in half. The first six months is getting to grips with our systems and procedures – setting up claims, making sure our accounts run properly, exposure to claims handling, understanding the full context of what they’re doing in the wider process of claims management. They then get vital experience dealing with the claims management system (the electronic system we use to manage claims), emailing and liaising with clients on the phone, and billing clients. They learn how to draft a formal email to a client or supplier, and how to succeed on a client phone call. All skills that will be needed throughout their career, giving them a solid grounding and confidence in the fundamental principles of working law.

Students get a lot of support and training from us, and we put our trust in them as soon as they’re inducted.”

Why do you employ Leeds Law School students?

AJ: “The reasons are multiple. We enjoy a fantastic reciprocal relationship with Leeds Law School, whereby we provide students with opportunities to build an invaluable set of skills and experience working in an award-winning national law firm, that will kick-start their career in the best possible way. On the other side, we get a protected employee who is keen to learn and will give it their all, and their fee is subsidised. Leeds Law School match-funds the cost of the placement.

“The relationship also fulfils our ambitions to give back to the legal community, helping to nurture the young talent that will be heading up firms like ours in the future. We’ve all been there, looking for that golden opportunity when starting out; it’s a joy to be able to see these young people succeed.

“We love the fresh input and ideas our placement students bring to Plexus. We have to remain innovative and bringing in students is key to that; we’re filling the pot from both sides.”

What advice would you give to students looking to secure a placement at Plexus, or a job after they graduate?

• Make the role your own. There’s a reason we bring you in because we value your ideas. Be forward thinking and innovative, and don’t be afraid to speak up if you think something needs fixing or changing for the better.
• Immerse yourself in the experience. Take the job seriously – what would you want from an employee if you were running our firm? Be that person.
• Always be willing to go the extra mile, volunteer for tasks.
• Be brave, have confidence in a mature way.
• In your application, think about how you can take a problem away from us as your managers. Sell yourself to solve it.
• Understand the why. When you’re given a task, always spare a thought for why you’re doing it and the end goal.

AJ: “We have a lot of staff at Plexus who’ve been through Leeds Law School, and that’s because the standard of graduates is high. Make the most of your education there.”

For more information on placement opportunities at Plexus Law, including summer schools and year-long industry placements, please keep an eye on Legal Careers at Plexus Law for vacancies or contact TalentDevelopment@plexuslaw.co.uk for more information.

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