We support UK law students and early career lawyers with study- and career-related matters.

 

If you have any concerns related to the legal education and training; if you have any questions about a career in law; or you need advice or support – please feel free to email us at secretary@uklsa.co.uk.

 

Universal guidance  

There are a number of dilemmas and difficulties most lawyers-to-be and junior lawyers meet, e.g.:

Should I study law?

Should I become a lawyer?

Which area should I pursue?

How to find a training contact?

How to find a pupillage?

Should I become a barrister or a solicitor? 

Differences between a barrister and solicitor.

 

A key questions for all lawyers-to-be and junior lawyer to address: 

Why do you (I) wish to become a lawyer, barrister or solicitor?

 

A career in law is slightly different from many careers for a number of reasons, including that:

1. As a lawyer one is placed in a position where one does not gain any new knowledge while working – only learn about law or cases – knowledge that has little to no application outside work. The situation is different when one works in other professions such as academia, research, or professions such as physics,  maths, psychology, genetics, engineering – where generally one continuously gains new knowledge.
2. As a lawyer one does not produce or create anything. One merely takes words from one judge and ‘brings’ them to another; or from legislation to court. This can lead to burnout, because other than making money, it is not easy to find another incentive for the work. AND
3. There is the common misunderstanding that as a lawyer one can contribute to justice. This is because, as a lawyer, you will represent the clients that seek your help. In addition, you will aim to win to build a reputation and to make a living. Moreover, even if one claims that they only represent the party that is ‘right’, one can only at chance level tell when it is just for a party to win over another. There are many variables. Therefore, as a lawyers one can contribute to justice at chance level.

Therefore, it is important to address this question before all the stages: commencing the legal studies, BPTC / LPC, or pupillage / training contract.  

 

 

Keeping up to date with development and news in the legal profession

Current awareness recommended resource: https://www.innertemplelibrary.com/

 

Further selected information on Careers

Pre-University

• Sutton Trust Pathways to Law ⇒ Aims to improve social mobility through education: http://www.suttontrust.com/

• Legal Apprenticeships programmes ⇒ If you are a young person with good GCSEs or A Levels, legal apprenticeship schemes may offer an alternative to studying law at university, for more info see: eg. http://lexlaw.co.uk/careers/legal-apprentices/

• Social Mobility Foundation ⇒ Aims to make a practical improvement in social mobility for young people from low-income backgrounds: http://www.socialmobility.org.uk/

• Social Mobility Ambassadors ⇒ Selected to share their experience of entering the profession, including the challenges they faced and how they overcame them, for more information see: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/law-careers/social-mobility-ambassadors/

Undergraduate – work experience and interships

• TARGETjobs ⇒ Find graduate jobs by searching different industry sectors: https://targetjobs.co.uk/

• AllAboutLaw ⇒ Law jobs, courses & advice all in one place: http://allaboutlaw.co.uk/

• AllAboutCareers ⇒ Career exploration, jobs & advice: http://www.allaboutcareers.com/

• Grad dairy ⇒ Features the largest database of graduate jobs in the UK for sectors including banking, accounting, law, consultancy and finance. They offer a completely free online resource helping students apply for graduate jobs: http://www.graddiary.com/

• Bright Network ⇒ Be part of the exclusive careers network just for Times Top 20 & Russell Group students: http://www.brightnetwork.co.uk/

• Aspiring Solicitors ⇒ This organisation is committed to increasing diversity in the legal profession, for more information: https://www.aspiringsolicitors.co.uk/

• Law firm websites ⇒ first year insight schemes, vacation schemes and training contracts

• Barrister Chambers websites ⇒ mini pupillages/pupillages

Qualification

• BPP ⇒ Offer courses for the BPTC, LPC and GDL: http://www.bpp.com/

• University of Law ⇒ Offer course for the BPTC, LPC and GDL: http://www.law.ac.uk/

• Cross-qualifying / Qualifying form Overseas ⇒ A significant proportion of registered solicitors in England and Wales have entered the profession via an alternative route. A large number of those have come from outside the UK, for more info, see here: http://www.chambersstudent.co.uk/where-to-start/qualifying-from-overseas

Solicitor Job Sites

• Different types of law firms ⇒ http://www.chambersstudent.co.uk/where-to-start/different-types-of-law-firm

• Firms by size and location ⇒ http://www.chambersstudent.co.uk/law-firms/firms-by-size-and-location

• The Law Society ⇒ Guidance on legal careers: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/law-careers/

• The Lawyer ⇒ Career stories, jobs of the week, premium jobs, diversity, promotions and lateral hires: http://www.thelawyer.com/careers/

• Law Careers.Net ⇒ Regularly updated vacancies from law firms and organisations around the UK looking to hire: http://www.lawcareers.net/

• Grad dairy ⇒ Features the largest database of graduate jobs in the UK for sectors including banking, accounting, law, consultancy and finance. They offer a completely free online resource helping students apply for graduate jobs: http://www.graddiary.com/

• Prospects ⇒ A comprehensive career guide to jobs in the industry, with articles, news and features, as well as information on recruitment, postgraduate courses and practical information on finding a job in your chosen area: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/sectors.htm

Paralegal Job Sites

• Institute of Paralegals ⇒ Their role as the representative body for paralegals is not to sell expensive training, but instead to help people who want to become professional paralegals with a serious legal career. They identify, verify and certify professional paralegals so that their experience and expertise will be recognised by clients, employers, other legal professionals and government: http://www.theiop.org/

• National Association of Licenced Paralegals ⇒ ALP is a non-profit Membership Body as well as being the only Paralegal body that is recognised as an awarding organisation by Ofqual (the regulator of qualifications in England & Wales). Through its training arm, NALP Training, accredited recognised professional paralegal qualifications are offered for a career as a paralegal professional: http://www.nationalparalegals.co.uk/

• Paralegal vacancies are generally not well advertised so a good approach is to submit your CV to firms or organisations which you are interested in working for

Alternative Jobs within the Law

• United Nations Legal Job openings at the Office of Legal Affairs are managed by the United Nations Office for Human Resources Management: http://legal.un.org/ola/employ.aspx

• Chartered Legal Executives ⇒ Both graduates and non-graduates can work in a legal office, with the option to later qualify as a solicitor through further vocational training. The process is arduous, but it enables non-graduates to earn while they learn: http://www.cilex.org.uk/

• Court Usher ⇒ Law graduates may find working as a court usher of interest. Ushers’ duties include escorting judges to and from court, preparing and closing courtrooms. A large part of the job is the carrying out of court duties, this includes obtaining names of legal representatives, preparing court lists, maintaining order in the courtroom, administering oaths in court, and handing round exhibits. Vacancies are advertised on HMCS website: https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi

• Researcher at the Law Commission ⇒ Every year the Law Commission recruits an intake of research assistants to work on legal review and reform projects. Posts are temporary and last for twelve months: http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/

• Law Costs Draftsman ⇒ Law costs draftsmen ensure that a firm’s clients are properly charged for work undertaken on the clients’ behalf. Many law costs draftsmen are school-leavers. Completion of a two-year, learn-while-you-earn course is required to qualify: http://www.associationofcostslawyers.co.uk/train-to-be-a-costs-lawyer/

• Legal Cashiers ⇒ Legal cashiers usually work in solicitors’ practices. They keep financial records and keep solicitors informed of the financial position of the firm: http://www.ilfm.org.uk/site/about/

• Legal Secretary ⇒ Legal secretaries provide secretarial and clerical support to solicitors, barristers and the law courts. Positions can usually be found by contacting firms directly or checking with local recruitment agencies: https://www.institutelegalsecretaries.com/

• Government Legal Service ⇒ Lawyers in the Government Legal Service provide legal advice to the government and represent it in court proceedings: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service-government-legal-service
•  

Outside the law                                                

• The Civil Service fast stream ⇒ https://www.gov.uk/faststream
• Work for an MP or political organisation ⇒  http://www.w4mp.org/
• The police service ⇒ http://recruit.college.police.uk/Pages/home.aspx
• The company secretary ⇒ https://www.icsa.org.uk/home
• Teaching ⇒ http://graduates.teachfirst.org.uk/