The Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Law

Welcome

The Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Law sponsored by The University of Law

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Your non-law student hub

You don’t need a law degree to become a lawyer - visit LCN's non-law student hub!

Your non-law student hub

Education hub

Find your undergraduate or postgraduate law course

Visit the Education hub

Discover your options

Find out about the various legal apprenticeships on offer

Kickstart your career in law

Welcome Your non-law student hub Education hub Discover your options

Kickstart your legal career with these upcoming events!

Non-law Bootcamp | LawCareers.Net x The University of Law

Thursday 1 May | Register now

First-year Bootcamp | LawCareers.Net x The University of Law

Tuesday 6 May | Register now

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The Beginner's Guide to a Career in Law

Your essential first step to a career in law

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Key law career questions

Find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about a career in the legal sector

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Key law career deadlines

Discover several key events and deadlines that you need to diarise

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Reality check

Without wanting to detract from the exciting and challenging legal career on offer, here are some things to bear in mind

Beginner's Guide

First steps checklist

Here's what you can do even before you start university

First-year checklist

Find out what you should be doing in your first year at university as a law or non-law student

Meet the Lawyer

Read how today's lawyers went from student to qualified lawyer

Legal career paths

Take a look at our simple career timetable

Solicitor versus barrister

What's the difference and which career would suit you? Use this guide to get you started

Meet the Lawyer

Alexander Bramwell

Find out about Alexander Bramwell’s career in marine law at Hill Dickinson – from standing on his first ship as a trainee in Singapore, to his secondments in Norway and eventually making partner.

Meet the Recruiter

Amy McCarthy

Find out how you can ace your Akin vacation scheme application with advice from the firm’s graduate recruitment manager Amy McCarthy.

Meet the Lawyer

Thomas Stables

Senior associate Thomas Stables offers valuable insights into his journey from being a vacation schemer to an associate in the regulatory disputes team at Osborne Clarke LLP.

Meet the Recruiter

Philippa Wilson

Philippa Wilson explains how Weil, Gotshal & Manges (London) LLP’s vacation scheme is run, outlines the firm’s stance on the use of AI in applications, provides insights into what the firm is looking for from its future lawyers and more in this Meet the Recruiter profile.

Videos

See more videos

LawCareersNetLIVE Manchester 2024: trainee panel

Practice Area Profile | Indhu Birdy - Baker McKenzie

LawCareers.Net masterclass: commercial awareness

Meet the Lawyer | Hebe Thorne - Burges Salmon LLP

Vacation Scheme Insiders

Archie Hogarth

University

University of Glasgow

Subject

Law

Started

Summer 2024

Vacation Scheme Insiders

Christina Newall

University

University of Edinburgh

Subject

Law

Started

Spring 2023

Vacation Scheme Insiders

University of Leeds

Law and history

Summer 2024

The Law Apprenticeships Guide 2025

"Where should I start?"

Practice areas

Find out what life is like in practice

Becoming a solicitor

Find out what becoming a solicitor involves

Becoming a barrister

Find out what becoming a barrister involves

Becoming an in-house lawyer

Find out what becoming an in-house lawyer involves

Useful content!

Feature

Let’s break down the top stories that made headlines in 2024 and consider what you should look out for in 2025. Commercial awareness is a vital skill for all lawyers. For candidates applying for vacation schemes and training contracts, becoming commercially aware involves building an understanding of how law firms and their clients work as businesses, and how the wider world impacts them. This guide rounds up a range of commercial stories and talking points and considers their impact on the year ahead.

Ask the Oracle

City law firms: what are the different types?

I want to join a City firm, but the various categories have confused me. What are the different types of City firm?

LCN Says

Sophie Wilson - Life as a trainee

Sophie Wilson

As the deadlines for training contracts all come crashing in on you, and the emails flood in about whether you’re moving on to the next stage or not, it’s hard to focus on what life might be like as a trainee solicitor, so here’s a glimpse into my life as a trainee.

About the legal sector

What lawyers do

Learn more about the branches of the legal profession, areas of law, and practice areas

Types of lawyers

Read our table of key facts to help you distinguish between the different types of lawyers

Paralegals

Find out about this distinct group of legal professionals

Work experience

Find out about the various work experience opportunities available for aspiring lawyers

News

Shoosmiths announces £1 million bonus pot to reward AI use

Shoosmiths has launched a new scheme to increase AI use, encouraging staff to use Microsoft Copilot AI to unlock a £1 million bonus pot.

News

Law firms increasingly susceptible as targets for cyber crime

Law firms are becoming prime targets for cybercriminals due to the large quantities of sensitive client data they hold. Despite 97% of firms prioritising safety from cybercrime and fraud, according to the Law Firm Benchmarking 2024 report, only 32% of these firms provide regular training to their staff.

News

Kingsley Napley unveils development of new AI tool

Kingsley Napley LLP has announced its collaboration with legal tech startup Let’s Think to create a knowledge amplification tool, The Knowledge Exchange. According to the firm, the tool is the first behavioural science AI based knowledge amplification tool within the legal industry.

News

A&O Shearman leads the pack with new AI tool for senior legal tasks

Magic circle law firm A&O Shearman has introduced an innovative AI tool designed to expediate tasks typically handled by senior associates and partners. The move aims to capitalise on the transformative impact of AI within the legal industry.

Beginner's Guide to a Career in Law

Kickstart your legal career with these upcoming events!

Beginner's Guide

Videos

"Where should I start?"

Useful content!

About the legal sector

More insights

Most Recent

Podcasts

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