Everything you need to know about law firm open days

Interested in a career in law? A company open day is a great place to start your journey.

We’ll outline all the need-to-know information about law open days, including:

• What is a law open day?
• What are the benefits of attending a company open day?
• When do they take place?
• How to apply for a law open day
• Tips for making the most of one
• How to network at an open day

A law open day is when a law firm invites students and graduates to see how it operates.

Law open days provide an in-depth insight into a firm's legal practice, working environment and career opportunities.

Typically, law open days include work shadowing, networking and presentations.

Law open days give you the chance to meet partners, associates and trainees across departments. You’ll be able to ask questions, and you can use the answers to inform you if law is the right career for you. Plus, you’ll get an insight into the specific firm which will help you decide if you’d like to apply for a vacation scheme there.

Most of the time, open days also include a formal training session on the skills you’ll need to win a vac scheme and, ultimately, a training contract. So, getting in there early will help you get ahead.

Career open days run throughout the year.

Most are open to graduates and current students in all years from all degree disciplines.

However, many firms run specific open days in the summer for first-year students. Attending a first-year open day is a powerful way to show your ambition from the outset.

Each law firm will have a different application process. As open days run throughout the year, deadlines will vary too.

If you’re interested in applying for a law open day at a particular firm, keep an eye on its website and socials for the latest opportunities. Make sure you regularly check our list of graduate career events in law as well.

When you’ve found a law firm open day you’d like to attend, follow the application instructions. Check that you meet the eligibility criteria and, if you do, apply accurately and positively.

As part of your application, you may need to answer questions about your experience and why you’d like to attend the open day. Take the time to adapt your responses to suit the individual firm and show its recruitment team you’ve got what they’re looking for.

So, you’ve successfully got a place on a law open day. Congrats! Now, you need to make the most of the opportunity.

Some top tips for squeezing everything out of a company open day are:

Sure, it’s just one day. However, that day will feel very long if you realise you’re not interested in the firm by lunchtime. Taking a moment to do your research before you apply will save you from wasting your time.

Open days are a chance to get to know the ins and outs of a firm, so don’t just select one at random. Instead, pick one that appeals to you.

Think of an open day as a mini-interview. They give you the chance to impress potential employers without the high-pressure environment of an assessment centre, while also giving you valuable insights. Try to learn key names and faces before: look out for recruiters and partners. You want to make a good impression with everyone, particularly the decision-makers. After all, they’ll be the ones who decide if the firm hires you in the future.

Another benefit of doing your research is that if you find out everything you can, it’ll be easier to know what you want to learn on the day.

Open days let you learn about the company culture, its clients, the style of work and other considerations to help you decide if the firm is for you. If you want to know more about anything, ask. You’ll find out much more here than by researching the company online.

If there are presentations, take notes, as you can use them to start a conversation later. Showing you’re engaging with the day is how you display your enthusiasm – for law and the firm. Firms want you to want to work there, so prove that you do by asking questions.

Remember that firms are trying to sell themselves to you on an open day, and you should do the same. Law firms receive lots of applications for vacation schemes and training contracts. You’ll have a better chance of snaring a place if recruiters already know your name. Make them remember you as somebody enthusiastic with a genuine interest in the firm.

Every impression you make matters. Whether you’re talking to a partner or a trainee, you’re showing how you’d fit into the company. Chatting to trainees is important as those nearer your position have particularly useful perspectives to offer.

If you’re looking to apply to the firm for a training contract, the current trainees will be able to share their recent experiences. As the application process is still fresh in their minds, trainees can offer tips on what to include, what to avoid and what to expect.

Talk to trainees and find out about what work they’re doing, as that could be you in future. Love the sound of their typical day? You know to consider the firm.

The benefits of a law firm’s open day don’t end when the day ends. Make the most of it by mentioning your attendance on future applications.

Including the open day on an application shows your sustained interest in the firm. It’s extra great if you relate your enthusiasm to a particular person you spoke to or a presentation. That shows you paid attention. It also emphasises that you’ve got an interesting reason for wanting to work at the firm (rather than the prestige of the firm’s name, for example).

You don’t have to wait until the application to bring it up either. If you use LinkedIn, you can write up a short post to outline your experience and call out a particular moment you enjoyed. You can also add the people you met on LinkedIn too.

It may seem like a lot to squeeze from a day, but a well-used open day will boost your prospects. Even if you don’t apply for the same firm, you can still learn from what you didn’t like to make an informed choice elsewhere.

Part of making the most out of a company open day is networking with the people you meet.

Our top tips for networking at an open day are:

When someone is speaking to you, give that person your entire focus. Even though there will be distractions at large events (ie. other conversations happening around you), do your best to concentrate on the person talking.

When you’re interested in learning about someone and what they do, you’ll leave a lasting impression as someone who genuinely cares. Remember to hear people out, rather than just talk about yourself.

If you're unsure which aspect of law or specialism in the firm appeals to you the most, talk to at least one person in each area you’re interested in. The more people you meet, the greater insights you’ll get into the breadth of careers available to you.

A lot of open day networking chats will start with questions like “Which university are you from?” or “What do you work on?”. While it’s fine to break the ice with a generic opener, there are more powerful questions you can ask. For example, if you’ve researched someone’s interests, ask them about them. If you’re looking for targeted advice, focus your questions on the relevant area. The answers you’ll receive will only be as useful as the questions you ask, so keep things specific to your interests.

A law firm open day is exactly what it sounds like – an open day hosted by a law firm. To attend one, you’ll need to apply in advance.

While you’ll need to have an interest in the legal sector, you don’t need to study law to go to an open day. Typically, open days welcome grads and current students across all degree subjects. However, law firms do target some open days towards specific groups (with lots of summer days being exclusive to first-year students). By keeping an eye out for applications all year round, you’ll hopefully find an open day at a firm that’ll suit you – no matter what you’re studying at uni.

Law open days help you meet people, gain experience, learn about a firm and gain an advantage for vac schemes and training contracts. If you’re looking for a career in law, take advantage of the opportunity and attend a law open day.

Remember though that it’s on you to get the most out of your company open day. If you follow our top tips to maximise your time and network, you’ll take away much more from the experience. So, get applying and get everything you can from the day.