What can students gain from attending LawCareersNetLIVE?

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No matter what stage you’re at in your legal education, you’re bound to gain something from LawCareersNetLIVE – a series of events exploring the skills, attributes and techniques needed to launch a career at a commercial law firm. Read on to discover some of the benefits of attending LawCareersNetLIVE.

A chance to network

One of the biggest reasons to attend a LawCareersNetLIVE event is that they provide an opportunity for you to network with legal professionals. You’ll have several opportunities throughout the day to chat with event speakers, workshop leaders and lawyers from some of the biggest and most prestigious law firms in the UK.

You can find out more about the firms you may want to apply to, ask questions about recruitment and hear directly from them about what it’s really like to work for the organisation. Gaining insight early in your legal journey can have a positive impact when the time to start your career finally arrives.

Learn what law firms are looking for

Finding the right firm for you can be challenging. However, a LawCareersNetLIVE event means you can speak directly to law firms and ask what specific skills and attributes they look for when recruiting.

You can use these conversations to figure out which knowledge gaps you’ll need to fill and the skills you’ll need to hone should you choose to apply to the firm in the future. It’s also a good way of figuring out what to highlight in your application or during an interview. For example, if a firm prioritises ownership and responsibility, you can adapt your answers and draw on scenarios and experiences that best reflect this.

Expand your legal knowledge

Studying law is an essential part of building your knowledge base. That said, understanding how the law is truly put into practice can further your knowledge, expand your skill set and build your commercial awareness.

Whether you’re listening to speakers talk about their careers and successes, attending a panel discussion between firm partners or taking part in a workshop, you’ll hear firsthand accounts and gain valuable insights into the legal world. This will help to provide context for your learning, give you a better insight into how law firms operate and provide a chance to discuss real cases, transactions and challenges.

Commercial awareness is a cornerstone of legal work and something recruiters will actively look for candidates to have. LawCareersNetLIVE is an opportunity for you to learn more about the current legal landscape and the newest developments in the sector.

Attend workshops

Each LawCareersNetLIVE event has a series of workshops led by law firms that cover a range of practice areas. If your application is successful, you’ll be able to attend two workshops on the day – you can choose which workshop, or law firm, best suits your career goals when you register.

There are plenty of workshops to choose from, with interactive and informative sessions covering knowledge areas such as legal due diligence, employment law in practice, legal tech and defamation and media law. There are also workshops that can provide a deeper insight into the firm themselves, with workshop leaders offering personal insights into legal challenges, case studies and a look into the daily work of practising legal professionals.

The firm-led workshops will differ between the three LawCareersNetLIVE events, so it’s worth taking the time to figure out which day and workshop programme will be the most beneficial to you and your career.

Build relationships

Another reason to attend LawCareersNetLIVE is that you’ll leave having laid the groundwork for building professional relationships – you could cross paths with your fellow attendees at any point in your career. Be open to conversation and remember, not every interaction has to lead to a potential job opportunity. A fellow student could become your new study partner, a recently recruited trainee could offer to support you with an application or a solicitor might present an opportunity for some work experience.

It's also worth thinking about what you could do to help others. Even a small gesture, such as encouraging a fellow attendee to approach a law firm, could lead to a lasting friendship. Embrace every opportunity that comes your way and be sure to connect with the people you meet on social media or offer to stay in touch by exchanging emails.

Enhance your employability

LawCareersNetLIVE is, ultimately, an opportunity to bridge the gap between your education and your career. The event is a chance for you to:

• find out more about the firms you admire;
• hone your networking skills;
• discover exactly what recruiters are looking for;
• build your commercial awareness; and
• develop relationships.

Make the most of meeting new people, exploring new ideas and connecting with legal professionals – it could be your first step to a successful career.