I’m going to be qualifying via the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) route – how can I fund the preparation courses and assessments?

The thought of returning to education five years ago was off the table, I was terrified of being considered a mature student at the age of 22.

Graduates of Russell Group universities and Oxbridge are overwhelmingly favoured by law firm recruiters, research by Chambers Student has indicated. 

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.

From a young age, I knew that I wanted to attend university and pursue a career which was intellectual and challenging. However, messages that I had internalised – that my sexual orientation was ‘bad’ – and a vast lack of LGBTQ+ role models were barriers. My only lesbian ‘role models’ were celebrities, and as a result, I had a hard time imagining how ‘someone like me’ could achieve highly in the career path that I desired.

Find out more about Ashurst’s three annual vacation schemes and ‘Evening with Ashurst’ networking events, plus the application process and the importance of a good cover letter, as Nicola Stafford offers her insights into the firm.

Volunteering pro bono has almost as many benefits for students as it does for members of the public in need of legal advice. Read our student guide to pro bono work to discover how pro bono work can propel your legal career.

As aspiring lawyers it’s important that you keep up to date with the news and trends from the legal and business world and understand what they mean for law firms and companies. Use this week’s commercial news round-up as a tool to get you started and take a look at LCN’s guide to commercial awareness for useful advice to help you develop your skills. 

After at least a year of fear-inducing headlines about the demise of the profession thanks to the advent of AI, particularly large language models, such as ChatGPT, cracks have begun to show – highlighting that lawyers and high levels of legal expertise are unlikely to be made redundant anytime soon.

Solicitors provide legal advice and representation. They work directly with their clients and are usually the first point of contact for anyone seeking legal advice. 

LawCareersNet’s commercial news round-up summarises some of the most significant news stories from the previous week to support you as you develop your commercial awareness.

On almost every job or internship application form – legal or otherwise – there will be a section detailing any past experience you may have. This is frequently a tricky section for students to complete. How are we meant to gain experience when the role we are applying for is experience but requires prior experience to secure it?

I discovered that diligently following the course schedule provided by the law faculty was a destructive race to the bottom. Naturally some classes require more allocation of time and effort than others and this will vary with your interests. 

London School of Economics and Political Science undergraduate Imaan Kamran Malik is due to be recognised at this year’s Student Social Mobility Awards for overcoming socioeconomic challenges to break into the legal profession and her efforts to improve access to the field.

There are four main types of university degree – arts, sciences, languages and business – and each trains students in a set of skills which are highly transferable to law.

You should apply from September onwards in your final year at university. 

The Institute of Legal Executives and Manchester Metropolitan University have joined forces to offer a new qualifying LLB in legal practice which leaves students with a variety of career options upon graduation.