York
Careers
A successful legal career isn’t just down to hard work and high quality training - although these certainly play their part. Effective, well-connected careers support is just as important.
With excellent long standing links to all sectors of the legal community the York careers team could not be better placed to help you meet employers and assist you in finding the position you want.
One-to-one support from the start
You can expect one-to-one advice from the York team soon after you have accepted your place here. Many students will have already met a member of the team before starting at York. For those who haven’t and who are still looking for a position we will organise an initial meeting with you when you arrive to make sure you’re on track. Whatever support you need - from finding work placements to drafting CVs and attending mock interviews - a member of the York team will be on hand to help you.
Employability workshops
Our interactive workshops cover all key aspects of finding the right position
- Job search strategy
- Drafting application forms
- CVs and covering letters
- Making successful applications (covers application forms)
- How to impress at law fairs
- Presentation skills
- Inside track on assessment centres
- Impressing at interview
Run by specialist advisers and focused on developing key skills and strategies in a realistic way, these workshops are designed to give you the ability and the confidence to reach your career aspirations. Don’t forget about the Summer careers workshops which take place before you join us.
Careers Practitioner Events
The York service offers a comprehensive programme of talks, presentations, recruitment fairs and other events to which all York centre students are invited.
- Summer careers workshops (before you start)
- York Autumn law fair
- York Spring leavers’ law fair
- College Summer law fair
- Employer talks
This programme gives you the opportunity to meet with recruiting legal employers from a wide range of sectors and to find out more about the realities and benefits of different types of practice. Be prepared to network with influential recruitment personnel from participating employers and don’t be surprised to find yourself considering areas you hadn’t thought of before.
York Mentoring Scheme
The York careers service offers an outstanding mentoring scheme which is available for all those who need the support of a local practitioner to help them find a position which suits them. It gives our students the opportunity to have direct access to the local legal community, and we work hard to match students with the right mentor. Some features of the scheme are set out below and those who think they would benefit should consider joining the scheme at the earliest opportunity.
- Face to face, email and phone contact
- Practical advice on the application process
- The realities of life in practice
- General practical support
Using the York Careers Service - Who should use us?
The simple answer is - anyone who needs us.
Just starting your job search?
- Help to identify the types of firms/chambers and areas of practice you’re interested in and suited to
- How you research these areas and draw up a list of potential employers
- How you identify the correct application procedure
- Know what you need to be doing and when
Have you already decided who to apply to?
- Help with writing CVs, covering letters and application forms
- How to ensure you make the best application possible
- Give yourself the best chance of securing interviews
You’ve been invited to interview
- Advice on interview technique and presentation
- Help to impress at assessment centres
- Realistic mock interview
You have a job offer
- Help to identify the pros and cons
Are you a career changer?
- Ways to present your previous experience to greatest effect
- How to target mature-friendly employers
Things haven’t gone to plan?
- Lots of applications but no interview offers
- Several interviews but no offers of a job
- Help to identify what’s going wrong and turn the situation around
Once you have accepted a place, we offer you the following services
- Access to a password-controlled vacancies database for training contracts, paralegal and legal-related positions
- E-mails alerting you to new and/or suitable vacancies
- Careers workshops
- Employer talks
- Careers libraries at each centre
- Summer workshops
- E-mail and telephone advice
- Drafting your CV
- Free copies of handbooks and industry guides