Widening participation (WP) students face greater barriers in securing work experience placements compared to their non-WP counterparts due to structural inequities in our society. Many WP students face challenges in understanding the graduate employment market, and in securing opportunities to develop the skills that will enhance their employment prospects. They may also feel that they do not “belong” or lack confidence in their ability to succeed. This article reports on a research study which assessed the benefits to undergraduate WP law students of taking part in School Tasking, a work experience opportunity involving teaching law to local primary school children, alongside participation in a bespoke wraparound Employability Programme. This study contributes a unique perspective at the intersection of public legal education and work experience, exploring empirical insights from WP law students for the first time. Findings demonstrate that taking part in both School Tasking and the Employability Programme have key benefits for WP students, including improvements in their skills development, employability and sense of belonging. Consequently, this article argues that universities should create tailored work experience opportunities for WP students to support the maximisation of their potential, both during their degree and post-graduation when moving into the workplace.
McKee et al. (Mon,) studied this question.