Durham Law Society provides prospective solicitors and barristers with focused careers advice and opportunities from a wide variety of sources. We have strong relationships with a range of law firms, with whom we provide events such as skills and interview workshops, open days and addresses.
First and foremost, welcome to Durham and Durham University Law Society. You may be thinking that you have plenty of time to decide and organise what you will be doing after you graduate from Durham in the future – after all, you have only just arrived! You are partly right, it is true that you have plenty of time to think about what you want to do, but it is never too early to start looking to the future and gaining as much information and knowledge as possible – it will give you something to aim for whilst also saving you a lot of time in later years too. Moreover, many of the skills and information that you will need for applications for training contracts or to the Bar will be needed for any work experience applications you make in your first year. We and CAS have lots of law related careers events organised covering lots of different issues and we would encourage you to come along to any that interest you so you can keep one step ahead.
This year is one of the most important years for you in terms of your future career. From now until the end of winter/start of spring applications for vacation schemes will be open. These are very good experiences and would give you a better chance of receiving an offer of a training contract at a law firm of your choice. There are a number of careers events run by those who will be assessing your application that will help with the issues that arise from applications and we would recommend that you come along to as many as possible. A quick couple of tips: a) take your time when applying – time invested now both researching the law firms, coming to careers events and writing your applications will save lots of time and stress in the future and lead to a greater chance of success. B) Quality not quantity – apply to all the firms that you want to apply too, but too many and you will not be able to spend the time that is needed to write a tailored, quality response to each firm. C) Keep an eye on the news to keep up to date with happenings in the commercial world to aid with you commercial awareness.
From January onwards, you should start hearing back about the success of you vacation scheme applications and whether you are required for interviews, and in the summer, applications for training contracts will be open too. The same quick tips above apply to these too.
The Law Society also has a number of Open days to law firms in Michealmas and Epiphany term and these are a great chance to get to know more about the firms that you may be applying too. Although all firms have their differences, they also have numerous similarities and so even if you are not thinking of applying to that specific firm, come along as it may give you inspiration for your other applications.
For those of you interested in the bar, mini-pupillage applications will be open this year too. Similar skills are needed for applications for bar-related work as is required with applications for work experience in solicitor’s offices so even though our and CAS’ events may be run by solicitors, their information will be invaluable to you too.
Many of you may still not be sure which route you wish to take. Both routes have their advantages and disadvantages, and so it is worth applying for both bar and solicitor related work experience to get a real feel for the professions and which you would prefer to work in. Do not forget the law fair on 24th November too – a valuable source of information and stationary.
Now if the time to apply for LPC and BVC (soon to be BPTC) and also look to join the Law Society or an Inn of Court. If you have not secured the training contract you desired, then you can apply again this year. Try to work out why you were not successful and look at ways that you can improve your chances of success. The Careers Service has lots of resources regarding various opportunities and alternative careers if you a training contract remains elusive. For those of you pursuing the bar route, then continue applying for mini-pupillages – the more experience you can get the better chance of a pupillage after your BVC. There is sponsorship/scholarship/funding around for further study so it is defiantly worth spending a bit of time looking around to see what can be received that reduces the burden of the BVC which is often self-funded.
For you, you do everything law students must do for their careers, but a year after they would be doing it to take into account the GDL. Thus, if you are in your final year you will be applying for vacation schemes as second year law students would be. So, have a quick look above at the second year law section for more information.
During the Second year of your Law Degree you will need to decide whether you wish to train as a Solicitor or a Barrister. There are many different areas of work within each field, and you should research these thoroughly before making your decision.
You will either progress to the Legal Practice Course, which is available 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time. This is followed by 2 years under a training contract with a firm of Solicitors or another approved legal employer, (or up to 4 years part time, this is rare only 62 were offered in August 2005, according to Law Society Figures). You will then be fully qualified as a Solicitor. The exception to the above route is the Part –Time Study Training Contract whereby a student combines study with a full time relevant legal job. This option allows you to start your training contract at the same time as the LPC with the possibility of fully qualifying as a Solicitor in 4 years. To date, according to The College of Law, the majority of individuals who have completed this route have been employed already in a job role recognised by the Law Society, the most common being Paralegal/Legal Executive/Legal Secretary.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) is currently running a work based learning pilot. The purpose is to provide more flexibility in the work based route to qualification as a solicitor. Those on the current 2009 pilot include part time and full time paralegals who are LPC qualified. The SRA are aiming for a full roll out across England and Wales by 2011 although this is not guaranteed. If the roll out does occur, it will be possible to qualify as a solicitor doing paralegal work which is deemed of the same standard as a trainee solicitor.
Alternatively you study for the Bar Vocational Course (BVC) which as of September 2010 will be renamed Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) which is a 1 year full-time or 2 year part-time course. Once you have successfully completed the BVC (BPTC) you will be Called to the Bar by your Inn. You will also have to undertake twelve qualifying sessions (previously known as "dining") before Call to the Bar. See the BPTC section on the BSB website for full information on the Vocational Stage.
From here you spend 12 months or more in an authorized pupillage training organization (either barristers' chambers or another approved legal environment). See the Pupillage section on the BSB website for further information.The first 6 months are non-practising, the second 6 months are practising. You are then qualified to practise as a Barrister in Chambers or another Bar Council approved legal environment. Some trainees will complete a third 6 months to gain further experience, in the event of being unsuccessful in gaining tenancy. A Third 6 pupillage may be unpaid but Chambers rental fees may be waived.
With a Law Degree a wide range of alternative graduate careers are available to you (speak to your Careers Adviser for further advice). The legal profession is vastly over-subscribed so there is no guarantee of a job at the end of your professional training. There are limited sources of funding and these are very competitive. If you need to self-fund, this can cost you up to £14,150 for fees alone. Large Firms of Solicitors and Chambers of Barristers usually require a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree plus very good ‘A’ level results before your application will even be considered.
Paid summer/Easter/Winter vacation schemes in a Solicitor’s, is now often part of the recruitment process for Training Contracts. These positions are highly competitive to secure. In the current economic climate apply as soon as possible after the opening date. Although some Durham law students are successful, you may have more success obtaining an unpaid placement in a smaller solicitors firm. Mini-pupillages with Barristers Chambers will be un-paid also.
First Year
• Join the student Law Society, Mooting Society or both. • Attend the University Law Fair in November. • Obtain relevant work experience through mini-pupillages, court visits and with firms of solicitors. Use your time at University to further develop your personal and communication skills e.g. through debating, mooting and public speaking. • Achieve as good exam results as possible as they are looked at by recruiters from your first year. • Consider joining 1 of the 4 Inns of Court, for information and networking purposes.
Second Year
Michaelmas Term
• Attend presentations and Law Fair in the University.
• Achieve as good exam results as possible because these will be looked at by future employers.
• Attend application techniques training sessions run by the Careers Advisory Service.
• Collect brochures and applications forms for vacation placement and also Training Contracts.
• Between early October and Mid November, apply for Christmas vacation schemes. Deadlines vary between these dates depending on firms you are applying to.
• Apply for Easter vacation placements from early October.
Epiphany Term • Apply early for mini-pupillages. Apply for vacation work schemes (most deadlines 31st January). Some firms allocate their places as good applicants apply, rather than waiting until after the closing date. • Attend pupillage fairs and apply for those chambers who recruit for pupillages 2 years in advance.
Easter Term • Apply for solicitors Training Contracts when you have your exam results. • Interviews will be held in September. • Research sources of funding.
Final Year of Undergraduate Degree
Michaelmas Term If you want to be a Solicitor:- • Apply for a place on the Legal Practice Course • Apply on-line at www.lawcabs.ac.uk
If you want to be a Barrister:- • Apply for the BPTC (open November, close early January) via BPTC Online Application System. • Join an Inn of Court (compulsory before commencing the BPTC). • Apply for an Inn of court Scholarship for the BPTC (1st week of November).
Epiphany Term • Apply for membership of the Law Society • Attend pupillage fairs • Apply for mini-pupillages • Apply for maximum 12 pupillages for:- • Summer season between mid-March and May 1st at www.pupillageportal.com • See www.pupillageportal.com for details of all OLPAS and non-OLPAS vacancies
Easter Term
Apply for pupillages via one on-line application through Clearing round at www.pupillageportal.com by early October.
Law Folders in the Careers Advisory Service Information Room, are an excellent source of information, including specialisms, training, application tips and securing a position.
Reference Books and Magazines:
(copies of many of these are available to take away at the Careers Advisory Service)
Prospects Focus on Law
Target Jobs Work Experience Law
GTI Law Journal
The Training Contract & Pupillages Handbook
Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession
Legal 500
Solicitors Regional Directories
The Pupillages Handbook
Law Society Gazette
The Lawyer
Sites listing vacation placements, mini-pupillages, pupillages and training contracts:
www.prospects.ac.uk
www.lawcareers.net
www.chambersandpartners.com
www.pupillageportal.com
http://targetjobs.co.uk/law
Professional bodies
www.lawsociety.org.uk
www.barcouncil.org.uk
www.tsg.org
www.ilex.org.uk
Information on employers
www.targetjobs.co.uk/law
www.venables.co.uk
www.rollonfriday.com