Simmons & Simmons has welcomed its first cohort of students to its first-of-its-kind dedicated AI law internship.
The move reflects a wider change in how firms are training future lawyers, with AI increasingly central to both legal work and early careers.
Simmons & Simmons has welcomed eight students to its new AI law internship, in what the firm says is the UK’s first dedicated programme of its kind.
The two-week internship, which began this week in London, gives students hands-on experience working with the firm’s AI team across both legal and technical projects.
Participants include undergraduates, postgraduates and recent graduates, with the scheme aimed at those studying law and STEM subjects.
At launch last year, the firm said top-performing interns could be considered for future roles, as it looks to build a pipeline of talent suited to an AI-driven legal market.
Legal training in the AI age
The move comes as law firms think differently about how they train the next generation of lawyers in the AI age.
Simmons is one of a growing number of firms experimenting with new models. Last year, Freshfields launched a partnership with King’s College London, offering future trainees the chance to complete an LLM in law and technology.
At the same time, legal AI companies are moving closer to the education pipeline. Platforms such as Harvey and Legora have struck partnerships with leading law schools to embed their tools into teaching, aiming to familiarise students with AI - and their brands - before they enter practice.
Firms are also using AI itself as a training tool. Kennedys, for example, has partnered with Spellbook to create simulated drafting and review exercises, while Perkins Coie has introduced AI avatars to help junior lawyers practise workplace scenarios.
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