Finding Legal Work Experience
When looking at applications for law graduate jobs,
firms and chambers want candidates who can show evidence of legal work
experience in their application. Finding experience, however, is easier said
than done, so here are some tips to help you make the most of your
opportunities.
Phone a friend
Although it seems unfair, one of the best ways to find legal
work experience is through people you know. Perhaps your aunt works for a law
firm, or your best friend’s father is a barrister. If you have contacts in the
legal world, make sure you use them well – they are by far the easiest method
to get experience.
Build a network
If you’ve exhausted all your personal contacts, then it’s
time to make some new ones. Your student law society will put on a variety of
networking events, such as meet-and-greets with various firms. You can also
head along to careers fairs, where you’ll be able to speak to trainees,
recruiters and even partners. Engage in a dialogue with these professionals,
and enquire about possibilities of informal work experience.
The formal route
As well as finding informal work experience through your
contacts, you should consider making formal applications for vacation schemes
and mini-pupillages. These may be paid or unpaid and vary in length. You’ll be
able to see what lawyers do, get a feel for a particular employer, and expand
your legal experience. Many firms also recruit from these schemes, so it’s
definitely worth applying.
Pro bono
Legal work experience doesn’t just mean that you’ve worked
at a law firm; there are a number of other ways you gain experience. One such
way is by doing pro bono work, for example at the Citizens Advice Bureau. This
will demonstrate your desire to give back, and you’ll be able to pick up new
skills along the way.
Do a further
qualification
If you want to increase your experience of academic law,
consider studying the LLM. LLM
stands for Master
of Laws, and is a one year course which can be studied at most of the law
schools in the UK. The LLM provides its students with the opportunity to focus
on specific areas of law which interest them, rather than the general overview
an undergraduate degree provides. The scope of the LLM is fairly large, so
you’ll be able to choose modules which interest you.
Making the most of
your CV
As well as specifically legal work experience, it’s worth
thinking about how the other things you do can boost your application. Consider
how the rest of your CV shows that you have the skills to be a great lawyer. If
you play a sport, perhaps the teamworking aspects of the game will help you
work better as part of a legal team. Or if you run a society or business, think
about how you have demonstrated commercial awareness.
