HFW Work Experience & Scholarships

HFW is committed to improving social mobility within the legal profession. Our Access to Law Work Experience Programme gives Year 13 students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds valuable insight into careers in the legal sector, while helping them develop employability skills and expand their professional networks.

We offer a four-day in-person programme for up to 20 Year 13 students at our London office during the October half-term, providing an introduction to HFW and the wider legal profession.

What will the week involve?

Students will take part in work shadowing, career insight sessions, a mock arbitration exercise, a visit to a local barrister’s chambers and networking opportunities.

HFW will cover all lunch and travel expenses.

When is the programme?

October half-term in the UK.

Eligibility criteria

Candidates must be in Year 13 at the time of the programme, and currently attend, and have always attended, a state-funded, non-fee-paying school or college.

In addition, candidates must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Are currently or have been previously in local authority care.
• Currently receiving or have previously received free school meals and/or 16 to 19 Bursary.
• Are, or have been, a full-time or part-time carer.
• Came to the UK as a refugee or asylum seeker.
• Grew up in a household where the main earner worked in a manual or service role, or was long-term unemployed.
• Grew up in a household where no parent or guardian attended university.

How to apply

Applications for this year’s programme have now closed. We expect applications to reopen in May/June 2027, so please check back nearer the time for updates and details of how to apply.