Recession hits student placements - graduate jobs

An international law firm forced to ask graduates on its training course to defer their start date has now scaled back on its summer vacation scheme as well.

The move by Norton Rose follows a decision to offer some of its future trainee solicitors up to £10,000 to delay their start for a year due to the current downturn.

The firm's graduate recruitment manager, Karen Potts, admitted the rethink on its summer vacation scheme - which typically takes on 40 students - was prompted by the earlier decision over graduate trainees.

She said: "In relation to the economic climate and deferral scheme, we will be reducing our numbers to be cautious, to not be wasting students' time or to raise their expectations. We have no exact figures just yet as the offers are still out with the candidates."

Pinsent Masons will also be axing one of its summer placements but said the decision was aimed at accommodating two new diversity programmes.

But is not all bad news for students, as the official lawyers for the European Capital of Culture 2008, Hill Dickinson, is boosting its summer vacation scheme intake from 24 to 40 students.

Graduate recruitment advisor Emma McAvinchey said: "We're still doing everything we can do to recruit the best trainees and I think increasing the numbers on our vacation schemes will put us in a good position to do that."