Key questions
Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about a career in the law. If you want to ask something not covered here, email your query to oracle@lawcareers.net.
Why should I choose law over other professions? Don’t pursue a legal career for the sake of it; you need to have
What is commercial awareness?
Law firms often stress that their lawyers need to be ‘commercially aware’. This phrase can cause confusion, as it means different things to different people. However, in essence, it means that commercial lawyers deal with more than just the law. They must understand the client’s business and the market/environment in which it operates, and be proactive in spotting and suggesting ways to avoid potential problems that the client might face. Commercial awareness does not mean the same thing to a student as it will to an experienced businessperson. Nobody expects you to be a veteran of the boardroom; what firms are looking for is a combination of basic knowledge, interest and enthusiasm for commercial matters, and, most importantly, the ability and willingness to ‘think business’. How important are grades at A level and uni? Law is an intellectually rigorous career, which is why firms and chambers require excellent academics; in fact, many simply won’t look at applicants who have less than a 2.1 degree, and As and Bs at A level. It is therefore absolutely vital that you get the best grades you possibly can.
a strong desire to be a lawyer if you are to succeed. Do you find law interesting? Is there a particular practice area that has already caught your attention? Are you the kind of person who would thrive in a legal environment? The only way to really find out whether law is for you is by doing some quality work experience within and outside of the legal profession. What skills and strengths do you need to be a good lawyer? A number of core skills are needed to be a good lawyer – many of them you can hone during your academic studies and by doing work experience. The core strengths sought by legal recruiters are: • intellectual ability; • motivation; • resilience; • accuracy/attention to detail; • teamwork; • leadership; • commercial awareness (see next quesrtion); and • communication skills. If you have the majority of these, law could be a good option for you!
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