When should a law student start taking action towards trying to get a job? Well it really is never too soon.

Think you might want to be a lawyer? The traditional route has always been to get some work experience in a local law firm and see what you think. This has been really difficult during the pandemic but it doesn’t mean that you can’t look around and send off some speculative applications- just make sure they’re good! It isn’t the same as the process for applying for a retail job and spelling and grammar really matter. We’re going to be offering some support both through blogs and through Zoom sessions for the Law Answered “Family”. Watch out for these and in the meantime get some help and advice from your uni careers. You’ve paid for it!

There are some good routes to get work experience through virtual schemes on Forage. Have a look. What’s not to like? This site is one of the good things that came out of the pandemic. You may also find some interesting opportunities through Legal Cheek and All about Law.

Be aware that if you want to work for a big City Law firm (and some of the US firms based in London) they start their recruitment selection process when you are in the first year of your LLB course. There are schemes and opportunities to apply for. Seize the chance but again – make sure every application is as good as it can possibly be. “That’ll do” isn’t the right mentality here!

If you don’t want City law and you can’t find any local work experience at the moment. Don’t despair, you’re in the same boat as most of your competitors! You can still be working on your skills and experience though. Here are our top tips.

1. Law firms want people who are engaged with society. Get up to speed with the news and consume it daily. You choose the medium that works best for you, podcasts, articles, newspapers but get into the daily habit of knowing what’s happening in the world.

2. Be involved in life around you. Law firms love those who have engaged with clubs and societies at university and school. Make things happen for your fellow students!

3. Work! Law is a tough profession, and you need a good work ethic. You can demonstrate this through your retail or hospitality work. In the workplace you’ll learn to work in a team (often) to provide customer service, and you’ll forge relationships with colleagues from a wide range of different backgrounds. All excellent prep for your law career!

4. Ace your studies! The better you do the more options are open to you. Just remember that selection is a holistic process so don’t work so hard that you forget the points above! Perhaps our books can help you find the balance.