What to do next

If you do decide that a career as a lawyer is for you, there are a few things you should be doing straightaway. Here is a brief checklist to get you started and help focus your mind:

Read the business pages of the newspapers to improve your commercial awareness.

Talk to your careers adviser at school or university to go through your options.

Get some practical work experience at a law firm, barristers’ chambers or legal advice centre.

If you’re at university, go to law fairs and firm presentations to meet people face to face.

Work hard at your academic studies. Good grades are essential!

Talk to friends, parents, acquaintances - anyone with a connection to the legal profession. Think about the kinds of extracurricular things you can do to make yourself into a well-rounded candidate.

Consider whether you want to become a solicitor or barrister.

The law is an incredibly competitive profession, and it’s never too early to start trying to improve your chances of success. One of the best ways to do that is to visit www.LawCareers.Net (LC.N) to begin your online research. It’s your one-stop shop for all things law-related.

LC.N brings you continuously updated news, features, profiles, advice, blogs, diaries and tweets, along with other crucial background information. Our free subscription email, LC.N Weekly, highlights the best of the site’s continually updated content. There is a comprehensive directory of firms, chambers and legal educators - with over 1,250 organisations listed, LC.N introduces you to all those who might ultimately offer you a job. And every LC.N user has access to a personal MyLC.N account. MyLC.N offers expert practical support in the search for a job, allowing you to save and order your research, and analyse your experiences to see if you have the skills for success.

So start your research, get proactive and good luck!