Applications for the BPTC open on 17 December

Applying for the BPTC for September 2019?

You can apply via the BARSAS website from Monday 17 December at 12 noon.  You need to apply by 12 noon on Friday 18 January 2019.

The aptitude test (BCAT) is also available from 17 December 2018.  This will test your aptitude for critical thinking and reasoning; it does not test legal knowledge. Its aim is to ensure that those undertaking the BPTC have the aptitude to succeed. The test consists of 60 multiple choice questions, lasts 55 minutes and is completed on a computer at a test centre. The current cost of the BCAT is £150.  You can find out more details here

In order to start the BPTC in September 2019 you must join one of the four Inns of Court by 31 May 2019.  See the Inns' websites for further details.

Future Legal Mind Competition 2019 now open for entries

This is a great opportunity for Law students or recent Law graduates to win a prize to support their legal careers.

The competition is run by National Accident Helpline and in 2017, Comfort Ochefu, a graduate from the University of Chester Law School was successful in achieving a place in the final shortlist of 10. This was a fantastic achievement in a national competition.

You could be one of those finalists in 2019.

Prize structure

The winner will receive:

-        A £2,000 cash prize

-        Mentoring from National Accident Helpline Legal Director, Jonathan White, and Partnerships Director, Adam Nabozny - both qualified lawyers with a wealth of experience

-        Meeting in London with a legal politician

-        A starring role in a professionally produced video, endorsed and promoted by National     Accident Helpline, which the winner can share as part of raising their own professional profile

How to apply

Round 1

Write a personal response to the statement below in 500-650 words:

In today’s world, the law provides a great foundation for any career. Outline your ambitions and aspirations and why you’ve chosen the Law. How do you think having a legally-trained mind will benefit you in the future and could benefit society, the country and/or your community?

Submit your entry by emailing futurelegalmind@nahl.co.uk by 28th February 2019.

Round 2

The judges will choose a shortlist of 10 people and invite them each to submit a short home-made video (1-2 minutes) to support their written response to the above.

In this video, shortlisted entrants can tell us why they have applied and how their initial entry represents them as a Future Legal Mind.

The winner

The winner of Future Legal Mind 2019 will be selected from the shortlist of 10, taking into account both the written response and the supporting video.

The decision will be announced in May 2019.

Further information on Future Legal Mind 2019

Information for entrants is available at

www.national-accident-helpline.co.uk/future-legal-mind  

BPP University Law School Presentation on Commercial Awareness

Careers and Employability is hosting a session on 5 December 1.30 - 3.30pm 
(Parkgate Road Campus, Careers and Employability Building, Seminar Room) delivered by Rebecca Yates from BPP University Law School. The session is aimed towards all students considering the legal profession as a career to find out what legal recruiters are looking for. 

The session will cover:
·        Skills and attributes of a successful lawyer
·        The importance of commercial awareness to the legal profession
·        How to become commercially aware.

Students can book onto this event via CareerHub here

How technology is changing law and business – with Addleshaw Goddard in Manchester Thursday 29 November

Please see details of this event below - guaranteed to increase your commercial awareness.

On Thursday 29 November Legal Cheek is partnering with Addleshaw Goddard for an evening of commercial awareness discussion and networking with its lawyers and graduate recruitment team at the firm’s Manchester office.

The focus of the session will be on how technology is changing law and business. With the Financial Times’ ‘Innovative Lawyers’ report citing Addleshaw as one of the most tech-savvy in the UK, the firm is well-positioned to discuss the disruption taking place in the legal profession.

Manchester is a particularly important location in this respect, with Addleshaw’s office in the city a key part of its firm-wide Intelligent Delivery strategy, that brings together legal technology, new resourcing models and smarter delivery of traditional legal services.

The session commences from 6pm with a panel discussion, featuring banking partner Richard Oman, banking associate Nick Parkin, real estate partner Cathy Fearnhead, and Mike Kennedy, a trainee carrying out his training contract with the firm’s legal innovation and technology team. This will be chaired by a Legal Cheek journalist.

There will then be drinks, nibbles and networking with the lawyers on the panel, trainees and members of Addleshaw Goddard’s graduate recruitment team. 

Apply to attend here.  You’ll be asked to submit a CV and two questions for the panel. 

Don't miss Manchester Law Fair 2018 on Tuesday 13 November

Manchester Law Fair 2018 is taking place at Manchester Central Convention Centre on Tuesday 13 November from 12.30 - 4.00pm.

This is one of the largest Law Fairs in the country and is open to both Law and non-law students from any university.



This fair is an excellent forum for students and graduates to have discussions with firms of solicitors about their opportunities for vacation placements and training contracts, to talk to training providers about their law courses or to find out about careers at the Bar or in other areas of Law.

Online registration for the Fair is now open. Click here to register in advance to avoid the queues.

Over 90 exhibitors!

• Make personal contact with firms of solicitors and discuss their opportunities for vacation placements and training contracts
• Talk to training providers about their law courses
• Find out about a career as a barrister
• Investigate jobs in various areas of Law
• Get advice from professional legal bodies

For more details see: www.manchester.ac.uk/lawfair

Step into Law Part 2 at the University of Law Wednesday 14 November 3.30pm - 6.30pm

Demystify the selection process for vacation schemes and training contracts with this interactive workshop at the University of Law, Chester.

When?   Wednesday 14 November 3.30pm - 6.30pm

The workshop will include:

• Different types of interviews and typical assessment centre activities
• Tips on how to excel at legal interviews and assessment centres
• A chance to take part in some mock assessment centre activities
• An opportunity to network with representatives from some of the UK’s leading law firms

To find out more email stepintolaw@law.ac.uk

Book at https://cc.law.ac.uk/Personal/Events/book?et=53

Don't miss Step into Law Part 1 Presentation by the University of Law 24 October 2018 - still time to book!

The University of Law will be on the Parkgate Road campus to present Step into Law Part 1 on Wednesday 24 October 2018.  This is your opportunity to find out more about the legal market in general and the Legal Practice Course (LPC).

When?: 1.30 – 3.45pm on Wednesday 24 October 2018

Where?: Chritchley CCR004/1&2

Step into Law is designed to provide you with an insight into the recruitment process for vacation scheme and training contract opportunities. The session is perfect preparation for those who want to become  a solicitor, giving valuable insight into the legal market, what you can expect with future assessments and tips on how to improve your employability prospects.

The event includes:
-latest developments in the legal market, pathways to qualification and an overview of the type of legal employers

-how to apply for the LPC.

If you are interested in the event please register your interest through the link below:https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/StepPart1-Chester

Don’t delay in booking your place as this event is likely to be very popular!