By Jon Parker
US FIRMS Sidley Austin, OMelveny & Myers and Howrey have struck a deal with Londons City Law School to offer three month internships to graduates of the schools new masters in international law.
The Brussels office of Washington DC-based Howrey and the London office of LAbased OMelveny will offer one place each for graduates of the antitrust course.
Sidley Austin, meanwhile, will offer internships to students of courses in M&A, antitrust and world trade law.
The three firms are also offering scholarships. Howrey will offer a scholarship of 7,500 (5,045), Sidley Austin a scholarship of 5,000 3,360), and OMelveny a scholarship of 2,500.
In addition, niche shipping firm Thomas Cooper & Stibbard will offer internships to graduates of the international shipping law course.
Places at all four firms are limited and will be awarded following a competition.
Director of the LLM programme Dr Alan Riley explained: Its a two-stage competition, comprising an essay and an interview. The essay will be 6,000 words on a choice of two or three topics set by myself, the course tutors and the firms.
Following the essay, two or three students will be selected for interview by the firms. Partners will be looking for technical skill, and for the practical and positive attitude it takes to work in a top firm.
Director of City Law School Peter Kunlitz told Lawyer 2B:
This is a win-win situation. It incentivises the students and gives the firms the opportunity to get to know some talented students.
The new masters course began last month (September), and has 55 students. City Law School plans to increase this number to between 80 and 100 next year, Kunlitz said.
