Selecting projects and activities for Legal, Finance and Accounting industry placements
When planning your placement, you should think about projects and activities that can:
- allow students to apply and enhance their knowledge of the industry as well as their technical skills
- add value to your organisation
You can do this in collaboration with the student's school or college.
Students taking Legal, Finance and Accounting T Levels will have a broad understanding of the sector, and will be studying occupation-specific modules.
Example industry placement projects for Legal, Finance and Accounting
Contents
Legal
Working with the web development team in this medium-sized web design agency, the student contributed to a large website creation project, including sourcing content from the internet, coding and working within the company’s content management systems.
The placement involved 2 blocks of work, firstly, during the development phase of the site and, secondly, after launch.
Projects and activities:
- Prepare materials for a conference / meeting / mediation or court, including:
- assisting with the preparation of meeting bundles
- making appointments and maintaining critical diary dates
- Research and investigate a dispute claim by:
- identifying the facts in a claim
- researching the law related to a claim
- presenting evidence to the legal services team associated to a claim
- Draft documents related to a dispute claim by:
- drafting routine notes from meetings / client conferences
- filing, copying and listing relevant documents
- Draft a list of documents in the appropriate format and order related to a claim, for example, letters, forms or a schedule of loss
Finance
A financial services department has identified several areas where additional support would be helpful. They are looking for strong analytical support related to demands for products and services.
The student will work under supervision with various team members to collect, analyse and present relevant information on risks and other factors to draw conclusions and recommend solutions.
Projects and activities:
- Prepare relevant documentation in response to demands for a product or service, including:
- reviewing, classifying and storing information in the organisation’s established format
- sourcing relevant facts and information
- proposing solutions
- Identify risks in products or service by:
- selecting and using appropriate measurement tools
- preparing documentation
- explaining the risk findings for a given product or service to the team
- Review sets of relevant information by:
- collecting and collating information
- using appropriate software tools
- making conclusions and presenting options
- attending client meetings as appropriate
Accounting
A small accountancy broker is offering a placement delivering accounting activities as part of their regular client and organisational workflow.
The placement student will work with the owner and administrator on a range of tasks needed in the small office team.
Projects and activities:
- Compile various reports on a regular basis, for example, project costing and department expenditures
- Provide support with analytical projects by:
- collecting and collating information
- selecting and using appropriate measures and indicators
- preparing, analysing and presenting documentation
- Assist with company record keeping by researching and correcting entries as necessary
- Apply a logical approach to problem solving, identifying issues, influencing factors, proposing timely and effective solutions
Identifying placement projects
Look for projects and activities for placement students that:
- line up with your future skills needs, particularly with an eye on emerging technologies
- will attract and challenge high-calibre students who are ambitious to pursue a higher-level career in these skill areas
- will capitalise on the course content that the student is learning in school or college
- provide opportunities for students to make a meaningful contribution to live projects. Research has shown that there is more satisfaction from employers and students when there is an opportunity to take responsibility for a real business project end to end
- allow others in your team to develop their own skills in management and mentoring
You can use the planning the content of an industry placement article to:
- structure industry placement projects and activities
- provide meaningful experience for the student and
- deliver tangible benefits for your organisation
Hybrid (remote) placements
Students studying legal, finance and accounting T Levels can carry out up to one fifth of their placement hours working remotely, where hybrid working is an established practice or the student doesn’t live in acceptable commuting distance. Remote working must take place in a suitable environment and employers must support the student throughout.
If you're interested in offering an industry placement, get in touch with T Level providers near you.
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