On 21 October, qLegal officially launched its 2024-2025 Externships Programme. For the first time, qLegal Externs and their start-up hosts came together under one roof.
This year, 32 externs and 26 start-ups are taking part in the Programme, offering future legal professionals and early-stage entrepreneurs a rare opportunity to mutually benefit from knowledge exchange and collaboration.
The evening began with a lively networking session, where founders—many of whom are part of Imperial College London’s entrepreneurship network—enthusiastically mingled with one another and their new externs. This session enabled hosts to share their experiences, ambitions, and challenges while giving Externs a glimpse into the world of emerging businesses. “Having this face-to-face interaction is so refreshing,” shared one founder from a tech start-up. “We’ve been looking forward to meeting our externs in person—it’s a chance to understand their interests and what they can bring to the table.”
After the networking, a detailed presentation from Clemence Tanzi, Externships Programme Lead and Tayfun Yildiz, Externships Coordinator, outlined the Programme’s vision, structure, and core aims. The presentation aimed to detail the role of an extern, what to expect from the hosts, and what an extern is not. Because both externs and hosts were in the room, all participants could get clarity about the externs’ roles and ask any questions they may have.
Designed to offer real-world experience, the Programme pairs bright legal minds with start-ups, providing externs with valuable exposure to legal and business challenges faced by emerging companies. Meanwhile, the start-up hosts can expect fresh perspectives from the externs, who bring innovative ideas and enthusiasm that can directly contribute to strategic growth.
The event’s highlight was the “big reveal” when externs and hosts met for the first time. This face-to-face meeting allowed each team to discuss their goals, project ideas, and shared aspirations for the months ahead. This event has been held online in the past, and it made a big difference to the team and participants to connect and exchange ideas in person.
For more information about the qLegal Externships Programme, please contact qlegal@qmul.ac.uk.