Getting legal experience has never been easy, but it is certainly not going to be any easier over the next few years. Not something I know many of you will want to hear. This doesn’t mean that it will be impossible to get experience, but it will be more of a challenge.
In Gareth’s latest blog installment, he covers the ins and outs of looking for opportunities and ways to expand your CV.
How to find legal experience
Look for opportunities wherever you can. If you are set on working in one sector of the law (for example family law) but you can’t find any opportunities at a family law firm, try another area. Non-law work experience can also be extremely valuable. Remember that law firms are looking for potential, not the finished product, so take any opportunities to develop your technical and soft skills. Remember that any experience is good experience.
Look for Vacation schemes (Vac schemes) and Mini Pupillages early on. A lot of opportunities won’t be available for first year students so make sure that you check criteria before you spend a lot of time on your application. The application process takes a while, and you will need to tailor your application to each role if you want to have a good chance of getting an interview, but not getting the ball rolling on this early enough is something that I’ve regretted not doing sooner.
Given the current climate, do not be afraid to explore virtual experience opportunities. Websites such as InsideSherpa and LinkedIn can be a great starting point for finding suitable schemes. As legal work becomes more online, having the opportunity to develop your video and remote working skills can put you at a massive advantage against other students as it requires a whole new set of skills.
Your law society can also be a great resource for you when looking for opportunities – they may well have a list of local firms and chambers that offer work experience. One thing that a lot of students are afraid of is walking into a high street firm or picking up the phone to ask. As they say – if you don’t ask, you’ll never get.
Remember that it is not the end of the world if you do not get experience directly in law. Lots of skills are transferable and the most important thing is that you have broadened your experiences. There are a lot of law students applying for the same roles, so working somewhere unusual is one way of making your application more memorable.
This being said, the more direct law experience that you have, the easier it is going to be for you to shine at interviews as you are going to feel more comfortable and confident in about law related questions, so don’t give up looking and applying for opportunities.
How can I improve my transferable skills?
There are a multiple of skills that you will already have that you will be able to hone over the course of your degree (and extra-curricular activities) which will help you in your future career. It is a good idea to brainstorm skills that you are already unconsciously improving on, and work to fill any gaps that you identify. These are also great to have up your sleeve to answer those classic interview questions - “Tell me about a time that you worked in a team / in a high pressure environment”.
Some examples of transferable skills to continuously to develop:
Writing skills – contributing to a blog or publication
Communication skills – working with your peers, colleagues or teammates
Time management – balancing your degree with a part-time job and extra-curricular activities
Public speaking / presenting skills – leading workshops at university, going into local schools to give talks
Critical analysis – as part of your degree, or through your work experience
Decision making – through your work experience or extra-curricular activities
Team management and leadership – leading or sitting on the exec of a university club or society
Working in a team – being an active member of a university club or society
Delivering excellent results under pressure – producing high quality work at university whilst balancing your job and extra-curriculars
Making the most of opportunities
At law school opportunities are everywhere. This ranges from volunteering to extra modules, guest lectures to getting involved with societies. I wish I opened my eyes more in my foundation year and first year as it would have given me a head start - and made life just that bit easier!
One key piece of advice - read your emails. Yes, they are long and can be boring but sometimes a small opportunity will be hidden at the end and it could really make you stand out. This is also really good practice for when you transition into the legal world. Attention to detail and proofing and vital skills for lawyers to master, and the sooner you start practicing the better you will become. These skills are often tested as part of Vac Scheme and TC interviews, so don’t wait until you are on the job to improve them as you may never make it passed the first hurdle!
One opportunity everyone can be involved in is join your university law society. They are a great place to find other students that can show you the ropes and share their specific tips and tricks for passing (and enjoying!) your course. Law Societies are run by students, so are a great way to connect with other older students and to develop your network (a great way to make connections for later down the line!).
Our law society at Northumbria offers more than just networking opportunities - it sends regular training contracts and CV tips as well as arranging professional panels and talks with judges and lawyers. These are all really useful as you get access to a broad range of information and the opportunity to ask professionals for their advice on current events and their specific areas of legal expertise.
As the entrepreneur Jim Rohn once said ‘Life is not just the passing of time. Life is the collection of experiences and their intensity’ so make the next few years count!
With the long-term impact of Covid still very much up in the air, we speak to finalist Gareth Smith from Northumbria University’s Grey Society about his top tips for making the most of your degree and university opportunities.
Gareth Smith is a third year Mlaw student at Northumbria University, Chair of Northumbria Students' Union Student Council and Fundraising & Volunteering Officer for The Grey Society (Northumbria’s Law Society). He is hoping to enter the sports and media law sector and is also passionate about gender equality and mental health work.
Want to to write for our blog? Get in touch with us at workwithus@lawanswered.com.