A DOSE OF REALITY
In the spirit of full disclosure, there are a few things worth mentioning as a reminder that a legal career is not all triumphant court victories and champagne- fuelled deal celebrations. The road to becoming a practising lawyer is both expensive and highly competitive, so without wanting to detract from the exciting and challenging career on offer, here are a few things to consider. Finances We cannot stress this enough – with £9,000 per year undergrad fees, plus the LPC costing as much as £15,255 in 2016-17, the road to qualification is not cheap and there are no guarantees of a job at the end of it. In addition, the minimum trainee salary has been abolished, so some firms will now choose to pay trainees no more than the national minimum wage. A mooted benefit of the minimum salary’s abolition is that smaller firms will be able to afford to retain more trainees after qualification, but critics argue that many will take advantage of the rules to use trainees as cheap labour with no intention of providing a career in return. Most people who enter higher education will emerge with some level of debt; this in itself should not put you off, but you have to be realistic about your earning prospects and the competition you face before making such a commitment. Assistance is available for aspiring lawyers from less privileged backgrounds – a good place to begin searching is LawCareers.Net’s diversity access schemes page (found in the site’s “More Law” section), which pulls together information and links regarding the various organisations and schemes which offer help. Give serious attention to the financial implications of what you are planning – your ability to afford the courses and potentially low starting wage must
be a factor in deciding whether to pursue law as a career.
Law programme is a great way to go about this for state school students. The way in which legal recruitment is geared towards people who develop an interest in the law at a young age is flawed, but this is the reality you must face and, if you’re a school or undergraduate student, use this to your advantage. Doing pro bono work is another way to stand out, while entering university debating competitions will also hone your skills and demonstrate your proactivity. You should keep up with the legal press so that you can talk confidently and develop your own opinions. If your legal ambition has developed later, you will need to demonstrate commitment to your new aspirations, while skills and achievements acquired in other roles can also be displayed to your benefit. Whatever stage you are at currently, remember that completing the courses won’t be enough – you need to stand out. Time An awareness of the pressures of time is crucial if you are to succeed; you must give the requisite amount of time (ie, lots of it) to your future career. You must spend time researching the firms that you like; planning how to get work experience; and filling out, refining, checking (and having someone else check) your application forms. One recruiter we spoke to said that the best applications read like a love letter to the firm, so show that you really are that keen by talking about the firm’s practice areas that interest you, its culture and why you want to work specifically at that firm rather than anywhere else. Start early, have a schedule and be strict with yourself. Check and re-check the deadlines for vacation scheme and training contract applications from a firm’s website, and always aim to submit long before the closing date. Last-minute, rushed efforts are almost worse than no effort at all. You will have to manage your
Academics Nothing but the best will do in this competitive market. You need to get excellent grades from your first year of university onwards – arguably, your A-level grades are just as important when it comes to applying for training contracts and pupillages, as anything less than As and Bs may prevent you from getting past the first application hurdle. Most recruiters we speak to say that excellent academics are a given, so make sure you tick this very first box by studying hard – even an Oxbridge first doesn’t guarantee a job on its own. Some students make the mistake of taking on too much at university, to the detriment of their studies. Have fun and pursue extracurricular interests, but remember that law is a weighty subject which needs plenty of time and attention, so think twice before committing to play for two sports teams, edit the on-campus news rag and hold down a part-time job at the same time. Also, don’t be tempted by the various legal master’s courses available just to boost less- than-perfect grades – these courses are often quite niche and don’t necessarily enhance your appeal to recruiters. If you really want a legal career, focus on ensuring a good academic performance from A level through to the LPC. Competition The numbers are stacked against you – there are many fewer training contract places than there are people with the necessary qualifications, so you have to find a way to stand out among thousands angling for the same job. Employers like candidates whom they perceive as having a long-term passion for a legal career; you can demonstrate this in several ways. We would recommend that you undertake legal work experience from as early as possible – the Pathways to
95
LawCareers.Net
Best in Law 2016
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker