Gain some further work experience, either on a formal vacation scheme or through other means. You may also be interviewed for training contracts during this period. Final-year law and GDL students Autumn term For final-year law students who started a degree before September 2021, if you want to do the LPC and not the SQE, you must apply for a place through the Central Applications Board from September onwards in your final year at university. There’s no closing date for applications; applications are responded to as they’re submitted, and institutions are notified weekly of new submissions. Applications for part-time courses must be made directly to the provider. However, if you’re a law student who doesn’t meet the SRA’s transitional arrangements or a non-law student who’s yet to start the GDL, you must pass the SQE if you want to qualify as a solicitor. Spring term The SRA runs character and suitability checks on students wishing to train as solicitors and requires people to disclose any information relating to this. If you do have such issues (eg, a police caution), you must disclose these at the earliest opportunity – and at least six months before you anticipate starting a training contract. Undergoing a character and suitability check before starting an SQE preparation course or the LPC costs £100. Summer term If you haven’t yet secured a training contract, keep applying! Review your applications and politely request feedback from firms to improve your future applications. You might want to consider delaying starting the LPC or SQE if you’re yet to find a training contract, given the competitiveness of the job market; time spent gaining experience and focusing on applications should give you a better chance of success.
Most university law careers fairs take place in October/November – with a mix of online and in-person events scheduled for 2022/23. These fairs are an excellent chance to meet people from firms face to face. It’s best to have done some preliminary research so you can ask intelligent, prepared questions. Many firms also organise on-campus presentations during these two terms. Look into the funding possibilities for your postgraduate legal training (eg, local education authority grants) and check closing dates for applications. Non-law degree students will need to apply for a place on a law conversion course (often known as the GDL). If you intend to study full time and start your course before 2023, you should apply through the Central Applications Board (www.lawcabs.ac.uk) from September onwards in your final year of university. There’s no longer a closing date for applications; rather, applications are dealt with as they’re submitted, and institutions are notified weekly of new submissions. Applications for part-time courses must be made directly to the provider. Many legal education providers have developed new conversion courses/preparation courses specific to non-law students in light of the SQE – you can find out more about these via LawCareers.Net’s SQE hub, sponsored by The University of Law. Spring holidays Apply for further work placements for the summer holidays. Thoroughly research the applications procedure for training contracts at firms you’re interested in. By now, you should be beginning to shortlist firms. Summer holidays Most major law firms have training contract application deadlines during this period, and 31 July remains a major deadline for many, although deadlines fall throughout the year.
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