What you can do now
Start your legal career
Here’s some useful information and guidance on what you need to do to become a solicitor or barrister, whether you have a law or non-law degree.
Assess your prospects
Training contract and pupillage vacancies are keenly fought over and it’s a very competitive market. Many firms and chambers now look for a 2.1 and good A level grades as a matter of course, although individual circumstances such as experience, languages and other qualities will always enter the equation.
Maximise your chances
Here are some useful tips to maximise your chances of obtaining a training contract or pupillage:
- Do your research
Get inside the profession by researching, reading and speaking to as many people as possible. Ask yourself: what area of law attracts you, what size of employer would suit you best and where do you want to work?
- Be realistic about your expectations
If you do not have a 2.1 degree, good A level grades or any commercial experience, you may not have a strong case for applying to a large corporate firm or chambers. However, if you are realistic from the start, you can minimise the time and effort you spend on applications, increase your chances of success and keep yourself motivated.
- Gain legal work experience
Not only will work experience help you to make an informed decision, it will help you to convince an employer that you are committed to a career in law.
- Target and tailor your application
Once you have decided on the type of practice area you want, you need to focus on the best employers to apply to. Assess which firms or chambers value the skills and experience you possess by researching their entries in recruitment directories and checking the frequently asked questions sections of their websites.
- Make a positive presentation
You need to impress a future employer on paper before you can do so in person. Our careers service can offer guidance on applications once you’ve secured your place on one of the College’s courses.
