Solicitors hub
Everything you need to know about becoming a solicitor
Search training contracts
Search for a training contract at nearly 1,000 organisations
Training contract deadlines
A comprehensive list of training contract deadlines
Vacation scheme deadlines
A comprehensive list of law firms' vacation scheme deadlines

INSIDE LOOK

Meet the Lawyer
Read how today's lawyers went from student to qualified lawyer
Meet the Recruiter
Advice from recruiters on acing your applications and more
Vacation Scheme Insiders
Get a sense of what firms' vacation schemes are really like
Brochures
Your essential first step in identifying the firm for you
Practice Area Profiles
Hear from solicitors working in specific practice areas

LEARN

DISCOVER

Barristers hub
Everything you need to know about becoming a barrister
Search pupillages
Search for a pupillage at nearly 200 barristers' chambers
Pupillage deadlines
A comprehensive list of pupillage deadlines

INSIDE LOOK

Meet the Lawyer
Read how today's barristers went from student to qualified barrister at the Bar
Practice Area Profiles
Hear from barristers working in specific practice areas
Types of chambers
Find out more about the different types of chambers

LEARN

DISCOVER

Beginner's hub

Interested in a future career as a lawyer? Use The Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Law to get started

Apprenticeships hub

Find out about the various legal apprenticeships on offer and browse vacancies with The Law Apprenticeships Guide

SQE hub

Information on qualifying through the Solicitors Qualifying Exam, including preparation courses, study resources, QWE and more

Commercial awareness hub

Discover everything you need to know about developing your knowledge of the business world and its impact on the law

Diversity hub

The latest news and updates on the actions being taken to improve diversity and inclusion in the legal profession

Application hub

Discover advice to help you prepare for and ace your vacation scheme, training contract and pupillage applications

First-year hub

Your first-year guide to a career in law – find out how to kickstart your legal career at this early stage

Non-law hub

Your non-law guide to a career in law – everything you need to know about converting to law

Education hub
This hub covers all aspects of legal education and training
Search law courses
Search law-related courses across the UK
Law school prospectuses
Identify the right law school for you with these prospectuses
Finances
Find out about sources of funding at each stage of the qualification process

COURSES

Undergraduate degree
Find out what an undergraduate degree is
Law conversion courses – PGDL
Find out about what you learn and where to study
Legal practice course – LPC
Find out what the LPC involves and whether you're eligible
Bar courses – BPTC/BPC
Find out about the course required to qualify as a barrister
SQE preparation courses
Find out about the brand-new SQE preparation courses

STAGES

DISCOVER

Commercial Question
Articles from law firms designed to get you thinking commercially
Features
These are designed to increase your knowledge of the profession
LCN Says
Insights from LCN and contributors from the world of law
The Oracle
Advice on issues from funding your studies to getting experience
LCN Weekly Newsletter
Kickstart your legal career with the latest content in our newsletter

EXPLORE

News
Discover key stories from the legal world
Videos
Our videos feature interviews and webinars on careers in law
Podcast
Hear from the experts via The LawCareers.Net Podcast
Blogs
Hear from your peers about their journey into the profession

DISCOVER

Back to overview

News

Educational history discrepancies significantly above average for legal services job applicants

updated on 07 November 2014

Research carried out by First Advantage, a pre-employment screening company, suggests that inaccuracies in legal services job applications are significantly above the regional average.

The report was based on checks carried out on behalf of organisations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa between January 2011 and June 2014. The highest level of inaccuracies was found in candidates’ educational history; 55.9% of the checks highlighted discrepancies regarding when, what and where a candidate studied. Some 29% of all employment checks for legal services candidates uncovered inaccuracies – above the regional average of 25%.

Managing director of First Advantage, Traci Canning, commented: "The reputations of legal services companies are founded on integrity and proficiency. So, to find such high rates of discrepancy in candidates’ education and a rising rate of major discrepancies overall is naturally cause for concern – not so much for the companies that know about them but for those that don’t."