CMS has revamped its vacation programme as part of its newly launched CMS Academy ‘Next Generation’ Vacation scheme - adding a business element for participants which is a first for law firms. The CMS Academy is a worldwide training programme at the centre of training and development at CMS, and has been developed by the firm to train lawyers at all stages of their careers. This year, CMS has introduced a brand-new vacation scheme for its graduate recruitment, replacing the traditional vacation scheme. The new programme, which is broken down into three parts, enables students to gain real experience in a commercial environment and gain the skills they need to succeed as a lawyer.

State-of-the-art programme

Duncan Weston, CMS executive for global development who also runs CMS’ graduate recruitment programme in the UK, comments: 'This is a state-of-the-art programme which gives our vacation students a chance to meet with clients, network with lawyers at every level of the business, work on projects and debate with thought leaders in the legal and industry sectors. We have taken a fresh and innovative approach to training to give our students an exciting insight into the business of law, as well as the practical side of law, and offer them an opportunity to work within our market-leading practice and sector groups, and truly experience life at CMS.'

The programme

The training is in three parts - starting with Business of Law  – an intensive training and development week on the business of law, in which students have the opportunity to spend time with partners, lawyers and clients of the firm. Thought leaders from across the business and academic world, including Professor Bernie Jaworski from the IMD Business School, Professor Geoff Bird from the University of Oxford, Bob Gogel, Chairman at Integreon Managed Solutions, and Marc Dowd, CEO of Manage Disruption, have taken part in a number of panel discussions on the future of law, with subjects ranging from technology disruption, advances in neuroscience and its impact on law, and creating value for clients in a changing market.  

Internship

Secondly, the firm offers a CMS Internship – a two-week internship at CMS in which students will have the opportunity to work within the firm’s practice and sector groups on strategic client projects across the firm’s six UK locations.  

Business of law

Finally, the programme includes business training at IMD. In what is a first for the legal market, successful programme participants who are offered a training contract at CMS in 2019 will begin with a unique and comprehensive induction programme at IMD Business School in Switzerland, Europe’s leading business school for executive development in Lausanne, Switzerland.