Aspiring solicitors can go on virtual tour of firms

A number of City firms have been transformed into 'virtual offices' on a new CD-Rom aimed at recruiting undergraduate law students.The CD-Rom, produced by interactive graduate recruitment company 2020 Law, allows students to 'enter' the 2020 virtual law building reception area, where they select a law firm and visit their virtual office.More than 30 firms have signed up so far, including Allen & Overy, Linklaters, Pinsent Curtis Biddle, Olswang and SJ Berwin.Visitors to the firms' virtual offices can download and fill in application forms, access corporate literature and company histories, and obtain details about training contracts.

The ground floor of the building is taken up with companies offering support services to students, such as the bank HSBC, the College of Law and the Trainee Solicitors Group.A 'virtual' social bar appears on the top floor of the building, where newly qualified solicitors offer advice to students.David Grimson, head of business development in the Leeds office of Pinsent Curtis Biddle, said: 'For students considering a career in the law, the opportunity to properly get under the skin of such a range of firms is a great help in making the right choice.' He added that for employers, 'the CD-Rom provides a unique way of presenting the firm to the numbers and quality of candidates we need.'The CD Rom is free and will be available at careers fairs and career advisory services at universities.Victoria MacCallum