IE Talent and Careers Hosts First Edition of Winter Legal Talent Fair

IE Talent and Careers launched the first edition of the Winter Legal Talent Fair at the IE Tower, bringing together nearly 100 keen law students in their penultimate and final academic years to explore career opportunities.

The event provided direct access to 55 recruiters, including HR managers, HR Directors, Lawyers, and Partners, some of which were IE Alumni. A multitude of diverse profiles was featured among the 22 firms present, from key, multidisciplinary, international firms like Clyde & Co. and Auren to renowned Spanish firms like Ecija, Broseta, and Barrilero.

“This is the first edition of the IE Legal Talent Fair that is held in January, and it has been a success, offering our students a unique opportunity to connect directly with recruiters from 22 mid-size and boutique firms,” said Silvia Martínez, Head of the Legal Sector at Talent and Careers, “Students could explore various career paths and gain firsthand insights into opportunities in the legal sector, engaging in valuable exchanges with specialized firms seeking young talent.”

Many of the participating firms had previously hired interns from IE, plenty of whom had continued their careers at the firm upon concluding their internship period. In fact, every year, around 65-70% of students in the Master Programs at IE Law School are recruited at one of the attending firms of the Summer Legal Talent Fair.

For Alumni like Ignacio Martínez, who studied the Doble Máster en Abogacía y Asesoría Jurídica en Derecho Digital y de la Tecnología and is now a Junior lawyer at Selier, returning to IE’s Legal Fair is a symbolic moment.

“I feel honored and proud to participate in this event, especially since a couple of years ago, I was on the other side looking for a job,” he said, “Seeing how my professional career has developed to the point where I can come here as a junior and represent the firm is truly an honor.”

He spotlighted IE’s academic rigor, equipping students with a well-rounded set of skills that match employers’ needs and a focus on soft skills.

Fellow lawyers and recruiters shared his view, including Cristina Verdier, HR Specialist at Broseta, who has attended IE’s Summer Law Fair for the past 9 years.

“Every time I visit IE we have a great experience; we’ve always liked the bachelor and master profiles at IE and have offered many internships, which have evolved into full-time employment,” she said, “apart from their international profile, we value the well-rounded training they receive, especially regarding complementary business knowledge and its value for commercial law.”

Beyond academic excellence, IE students’ enthusiasm and willingness to learn stood out as key soft skills valued by employers.

This was the case for Alba Pascual, Senior Talent Acquisition Manager at Ecija, and Miguel Parra, Associate Marine and Aviation for Clyde & Co.

“Something that always gladly surprises me at every Legal Talent Fair at IE is the passion I see in the students,” she said, “they transmit so much enthusiasm and passion for their field of study which we value and appreciate.”

Parra affirmed the importance of a proactive attitude beyond possessing a base of hard skills. Expertise is not the top skill sought in interns, but rather a willingness to learn during the experience.

For employers like Pascual, the Legal Talent Fair is an opportunity to find talent that matches the values and culture of their firm. For students, the Legal Talent Fair serves a dual purpose: discovering each firm beyond what can be read from its website and making a good impression on future employers.

“You have to be yourself, show employers who you are being polite, enthusiastic to work, predisposed and excited,” said Ángel Castrillo, student in the Doble Máster en Abogacía y Procura + Asesoría Jurídica de Empresas.

Loreto Pons and Álvaro Laín, also students in the Doble Máster en Abogacía y Procura + Asesoría Jurídica de Empresas agreed.

“This is our second time attending a Legal Fair this academic year, and both have been great experiences,” said Pons, “we are looking to gain insight into the different profiles and needs firms are seeking, and meeting recruiters face-to-face is especially valuable in making a lasting impression.”

At IE Talent and Careers, we remain committed to providing students with personal, direct access to recruiters in a multiplicity of Legal Sector firms, allowing them to pursue a wide range of successful professional careers. Next month, we will host top national and global Marketing firms at the Marketing Career Fair, which will be part of the IE Marketing Day.

Here is a complete list of the 22 firms present at the event: Ecija, Selier, Roca Junyent, Lets Law, Clyde & Co., Finreg360, BDO, Mazars, Hive Legal, Choclán, Barrilero, Broseta, Act Legal Spain, Auren, Garrido, Osborne Clarke, Lener, Montero Aramburu, Ecix, Clarke Modet, Ramón y Cajal, and Araoz y Rueda.