LAW CAREERS SEMINARS for second-year students No. 1, 15th November 2011 Jenny Keaveney, Careers Advisory Service The slides from this presentation are available at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm
Dec 21, 2015
LAW CAREERS SEMINARS
for second-year studentsNo. 1, 15th November 2011
Jenny Keaveney, Careers Advisory Service
The slides from this presentation are available atwww.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm
SEMINAR 1 CHOICES AND CAREER
PATHS• What are the options open to law
graduates?• Why your second year is the most
important• Outline of career paths in the legal
profession• Professional training courses and funding• What to do and when to do it
SEMINAR 2 A TASTE OF THE WORLD OF
WORK• Vacation work - inc. solicitors’ summer
schemes; mini-pupillages• What past Law graduates from Kent
have gone on to - and how they can help you
• What else can you do with a law degree?
• Postgraduate academic study (a brief look)
SEMINAR 3 MAKING EFFECTIVE
APPLICATIONS
• What employers look for in applications – with particular reference to solicitors’ vacation schemes and mini-pupillages
• How to prepare a CV and covering letter• How to complete an application form• What to expect at interview
SEMINAR 1 - MAKING CHOICES
• What are the options open to law graduates?
• Outline of career paths in the legal profession
• Professional training courses and funding• Why your second year is the most
important• What to do and when to do it
WORKINGAND
STUDYING
EMPLOYMENT(PERMANENT
OR TEMPORARY)PROFESSIONALLEGAL
STUDIES
OTHERS
TIMEOUT
FURTHERACADEMIC
STUDY
YOUR CHOICES
35%
4%
33%
11%
6%
6%
SOME CAREER PATHS IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION
• Solicitor• Barrister• Legal executive• Paralegal• Licensed conveyancer
For a detailed look at these and other roles in law, see www.prospects.ac.uk/law_sector.htm
MAKING DECISIONS
Both require:• Proven intellectual ability• Excellent communication skills• Analytical skills• Organisational skills• Commercial awareness• Determination and commitment
Solicitor or barrister?
WHAT DO LAWYERS DO?
SOLICITORS• Work directly with clients
to advise them on a wide range of legal matters
• Prepare cases – researching, drafting etc
• Work in firms, business and public sector organisations
• Need good interpersonal and organisational skills
BARRISTERS• Work as independent,
specialist legal advisers and advocates
• Most are self-employed but work together in sets of chambers
• Others work in solicitors’ firms, business and public sector organisations
• Need strong presentation and intellectual skills
THE PROS AND CONS …
• SOLICITORS HAVE:• A more structured career• Greater security• Greater involvement with
clients and colleaguesand need• Commitment to a firm
and its culture• Team working skills• Sociability; adaptability;
willingness to conform
BARRISTERS HAVE:• Greater independence• Greater variety• Prestige
and need• Greater personal confidence• A willingness to take risks• High-level presentational
skills• Flexibility and tolerance of
stress
BECOMING A SOLICITOR OR BARRISTER
(in a nutshell)
(The Vocational Stage)
TRAINING CONTRACT
ORPUPILLAGE(Practical
Experience)
QUALIFY!
LPC or BPTC
LAW DEGREE/GDL(the Academic
Stage)
BECOMING A SOLICITOR OR BARRISTERSome figures:
8098LPC
PLACES
1793BPTC
PLACES
4874TRAINING
CONTRACTS
460PUPILLAGES
13433Law grads
+c6000
GDL grads
Solicitors
Barristers
THE LPC and BPTC
• The “Vocational Stage” of training• Skills-focused: preparation for practice• Coursework, practical assessments and written
exams• Last for one academic year • Available throughout England & Wales• Must have the 7 exemption subjects for entry• Apply at the beginning of your final year• Fees range from approx. £7500 to £16000
HOW DO STUDENTS FUND THEIR LAW COURSES?
Funding Source LPC BVC
Self/Parents 38% 40%
Sponsorships 26% -
Inns' Scholarships - 28%
Loans 32% 26%
Grants/Bursaries 3% 6%
HOW MUCH COULD YOU EARN?
• Current Law Society minimum salary: £18,590 for trainees in central London and £16,650 for those in other parts of England and Wales
• Trainee salaries in City firms c£38-39K (more in US firms – up to £50K!))
• Newly-qualified salaries typically around £60K (but some US firms offer £90K+)
• All pupillages are funded to a minimum level of £6K for 6 months
• Commercial & Chancery sets may offer £25-40K for 12 months - some offer £60K!)
WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING NOW
• Working hard and aiming for a good degree!• Thinking about your options• Researching different careers and employers• Thinking about what you have to offer• Getting vacation work experience• Noting down deadlines for vac work, training
contract, pupillage and course applications
USEFUL INFORMATION SOURCES
• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/siteslaw.htm
• Target Law/Target Work Experience Law• The Training Contract & Pupillage
Handbook• Prospects Law• Lawyer 2B magazine