How can I get legal work experience when every application form asks for prior legal work experience?

This month, love is in the air, yet the inevitable deadlines for training contracts and vacation schemes are fast approaching. Junior lawyers and students often manifest a love-hate relationship with the application process for any role. In this article I hope to provide some reassurance that there are several factors that you can control in that process, without sending chocolates and flowers (save those for your actual loved ones!). 

How did we get here? Let me rephrase, as I don’t mean to engage in philosophy or theology – why did you and I choose to study law, or why do we have an interest in a legal career?

While the vast majority of firms that run vacation schemes have a 31 January application deadline, many choose to ask for the submission of applications both in advance of, and after, that date.

BPP University Law School and Aspiring Solicitors have begun working together to provide new scholarships for Aspiring Solicitors members looking to practise in the public, pro bono, voluntary or charities sectors. 

Not having a law degree isn’t a barrier to becoming a lawyer – in fact, the legal profession is full of non-law graduates, and the skills and experiences gained studying and working in other fields can be used to your advantage.

Conducting in-depth research into a law firm before making an application is essential – it will be challenging to secure a training contract without doing so. Here is a succinct guide on how to research law firms when applying for vacation schemes.

LawCareers.Net is excited to announce the launch of LawCareersNetLIVE, formerly known as CityLawLIVE and NationalLawLIVE. The one-day careers conferences are for talented students (law and non-law) who want to learn more about how to build a fulfilling career as a solicitor. The events will be held in London and Manchester on 30 November 2018 and 7 December 2018, respectively, and are timed to maximise the benefit to students intending to apply for 2019 vacation schemes.

With vacation schemes in full swing, and the major training contract deadline of 31 July just over a month away, there has never been a better time to up your commercial awareness game. Taking an interest in what’s happening in the business world is the foundation for a successful career as a commercial legal adviser. No time like the present – read on.

Mishcon de Reya has confirmed that it will offer training contracts only to those attending its vacation scheme.

Aspiring solicitors don’t get the chance to interact directly with lawyers and partners from leading law firms often. Law fairs and many virtual events usually provide brief encounters with recruiters or trainees, while vacation schemes and internships remain fiercely competitive. LawCareersNetLIVE bridges this gap with its workshops.

Hannah Cockle opens up about her experience as part of Sullivan & Cromwell’s small trainee cohort. She outlines the integral role that trainees are given at the firm and the rewarding nature of working on big deals and directly with clients and partners.

Applications for vacation schemes and training contracts are currently being processed by law firms across the globe and, as video interviews and psychometric testing continue, many candidates are now being invited to assessment centres.

Looking for an ‘in’? Open days and insight schemes – virtual and in person – are invaluable opportunities to meet the people that work for the law firms you’re interested in. You will learn about life in the organisation, its culture, the work on offer and much more. Plus, if prepped well, it’s your chance to ace that initial interaction, which will set you up nicely for future encounters and could eventually lead to a training contract.

Associate Evan Whyte takes us through his diverse range of work experience and explains why working with children made him a great lawyer. Evan also explains how to choose which firms to apply for, what a typical day for a banking and finance associate involves and why he loves Latham & Watkins.

Kate McLean, managing corporate associate, provides insight into her career at Ward Hadaway. Find out more about her journey into the profession, including advice about vacation schemes and choosing the right firm to train at.  

Discover a vacation scheme at Jones Day.

Helen Lewis provides detailed information and advice on full-service firm Penningtons Manches Cooper’s application process and vacation scheme.

Find out what early careers officer Lizzy Ferguson is looking for in your applications to Birketts LLP, the importance of the firm’s vacation scheme to the training contract application process and the firm’s stance on the use of AI in applications. 

With the start of the new academic year coming up, no doubt your anticipation is intensifying and a sense of responsibility mounting. This final year will not merely test your legal knowledge; it's one of the key last steps before a career in law. This is a period marked by intense academic rigour, critical decision making regarding specialisations and much career planning. Let's delve into what this crucial year entails