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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First-year opportunities

Find out which firms have open days and insight schemes for first-year students

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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 First-year opportunities Your non-law student hub Education hub Discover your options

Kickstart your legal career with these upcoming events!

LawCareers.Net and Shoosmiths masterclass: AI in the legal industry

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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 Recruiter

Isabella Gartside

Isabella Gartside, early careers assistant at Ashfords LLP, highlights how crucial thorough research is prior to making an application, the importance of being genuine and how you can make yourself stand out.

Meet the Lawyer

Lola Adekoya

Lola Adekoya opens up about her long road to qualification, her role as an associate in Mayer Brown International LLP’s banking and finance group, and more in this Meet the Lawyer.

Meet the Recruiter

Denise Wright

Denise Wright, early careers lead, provides insights into how Weightmans aims to make its recruitment process as inclusive as possible and how you can stand out in your applications.

Meet the Lawyer

Ian Masser

From trainee to partner, Ian Masser discusses his 18-year journey at Beale & Co, the importance of career progression and trainee retention, as well as his area of expertise.

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

Masterclass | researching law firms – identifying the firm for you

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

Vacation Scheme Insiders

University of Exeter

Law

Summer 2023

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

Starting a legal career from a non-law background – a step-by-step guide

Curious about becoming a lawyer without a law degree? Here's everything non-law students need to know about legal careers, qualification routes and getting started.

Ask the Oracle

What career choices do I have with a law degree?

I’m about to graduate from my law degree but don’t want to work at a law firm. What are my options?

LCN Says

Dimitar Dimitrov - Five tips for flawless LawCareersNetLIVE applications

Dimitar Dimitrov

To secure a place at one of our prestigious LawCareersNetLIVE student conferences you must submit a top-class application. These applications are similar to training contract applications – but don’t let that intimidate you.

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

DLA Piper and Walkers announce partner and senior promotions in Ireland

Two major international law firms have announced new rounds of promotions in their Irish offices.

News

Fake case law citations: a growing risk for litigants in person

Concern over reliance on generative AI has escalated after fake case-law citations were used in an Intellectual Property Office appeal ruling. The litigant in person (LiP) admitted to using ChatGPT to help draft his case, with Phillip Johnson (the appointed person overseeing the appeal) highlighting various mistakes with the LiP’s argument.

News

A&O Shearman reveals latest trainee retention rate

Leading law firm A&O Shearman has retained 69% of its summer trainee cohort, with 37 out of the 54 trainees having accepted permanent positions.

News

Matheson and Arthur Cox named in Europe’s top 10 most innovative law firms list

Irish firms Matheson and Arthur Cox have been named among Europe’s most innovative law firms in the Financial Times’ (FT) Innovative Lawyers 20 Years Report, which was launched on 24 June at the FT’s Innovative Lawyers Global Summit.

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

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Podcasts

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