Law 1st Year Students
Kick Start Your Future
Why Now ?
Darren Johnson
Careers Adviser
The Current Graduate Legal Job Market
Applications for Vacation Schemes – many international city law firms have
seen applications double this year
∂
Similar competition reported for mini-pupillage.
Implications: Important to consider Open Days in your 1st year to make you
stand out when applying for vacation schemes in your penultimate year
1st Year Exam Results Do Matter
To Employers
In particular:
• International commercial law firms – generally request these results by
∂
module on CV or application
•
Will also pay close attention to tort and contract law modules when
applying for vacation schemes in penultimate year. 2i is the ideal less
than 50% could be an issue .
•
Same for commercial barristers chambers when applying for
mini-pupillage
Getting Work Experience
International commercial firms - Open Days
What do these involve ?
How do you apply ?
∂
How should you approach the application and if offered a place the actual
Day ?
See my blog article on Open Days being posted at :
http://durhamlawcareers.wordpress.com/ for answers to these questions
st
1
Year Vacation Schemes
Example :
Simmons and Simmons
26-30th March
16-20 April
www.simmons-simmons.com
Deadline 31st January 2012
∂
1st Year Spring Vacation Schemes
Hogan Lovells - February 15th deadline
26-30th March
∂
http://graduates.hoganlovells.com/your_career/open_events/
Blog -http://durhamlawcareers.wordpress.com/
∂
www.dur.ac.uk/careers/s/careerplanning/rc/cs/
∂
What Employers Want
Evidence and ability to articulate:
 Achievement – drive and determination
 Soft Skills- persuasion/negotiation/customer
∂
focused/attention to detail/problem
solving/teamwork/leadership
 Commercial Awareness for many career areas
http://l2b.thelawyer.com/what-is-commercialawareness/133838.article
STAR Skills Sessions
Often employer led
A great way to develop some of these skills on campus
∂
Need to sign up on-line for sessions you are interested in , keep an eye on
The Events section of the CEEC website
http://www.dur.ac.uk/careers/s/events/
http://www.dur.ac.uk/careers/s/events/
∂
Events Also On Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/careersatdurham
∂
Career Focus Blog http://durhamcasnews.wordpress.com/
∂
Considering Barrister – Taking
Action In Your 1st Year
Throughout the year
Research minipupillages/apply for non formal placement for vacations
(www.lawcareers.net)
Construct a strong CV and cover letters∂ for the above – get checked at Career
Centre - Applications Advice/Quick Queries
Become an active member of the student Law Society
Work hard at degree, sets will look at your first year results
Research Inns of Court
www.online-law.co.uk/bar/inns_of_court.html
Exploration Tips
http://targetjobs.co.uk/law
∂
Alternative Careers To
Solicitor/Barrister – Durham Law
Graduate Destinations Recent Examples
•Law Commission
•Research Assistant
•Executive Officer , Home
Office
•Constituency Assistant for
MP
•Teach First
∂
•Marketing
•Police
•P.R
•Trainee Chartered
Accountant
•Recruitment Consultant
(Banking and Finance
•Law Librarian
•Commercial Lender –
Alliance and Leicester
Other Popular Career Areas For Law
Graduates U.K wide
•Lecturing
•Property
•Company Secretary
•Consulting
•Legal Publishing
∂
•HM Customs and Excise
•Compliance
•Investment Banking
•Charities/NGOs
•Civil Service Fast Stream
•Human Resources
•European Commission
•Research more at
www.prospects.ac.uk
www.lawcareers.net
∂
Careers Employability & Enterprise
Centre
∂
49 New Elvet (next to D.S.U)
Term Time – 9am – 5pm
Vacation – 10am – 1pm 2.15pm – 5pm
Tel: 0191 334 1424/1437
careers@durham.ac.uk
www.durham.ac.uk/careers-advice