Competition launched by Duncan Gibbins Solicitors

Want to Win an iPad Mini? Duncan Gibbins Academy Launches Article Competition

Duncan Gibbins Solicitors is holding an article competition that is open to anyone who is interested in the law.

The author of the most read, shared and engaged article will be awarded an iPad Mini.

They are looking for a well-written article that is at least 300 words minimum, 1000 words maximum and is law related.

This can be either a comment piece on a current legal issue, a particular case or it can be an advice-based piece for law students or graduates.

The article can be as informal or as formal as you wish and in any style. For example ‘top tips’ or an interview-based piece are also suitable.

Please see http://duncangibbins.co.uk/academy-news/competition/ for further details.

---

Open Days for First Year Law Students

What can you be doing in your first year at University to find out more about Law firms?

More and more Law firms are introducing Open Days to give First Year Law students the opportunity to find out more about a career in Law. It's certainly worth applying for these as the experience will look good on your CV and you'll have extra knowledge to use in you Work Placement applications in your second year.

Firms currently offering Open Days include:

Reed Smith

Date: 18, 19 and 20 March 2013

Location: London

Venue: The Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, EC2A 2RS

Time: 10:00

Email: graduate.recruitment@reedsmith.com

Website: www.reedsmith.com/united_kingdom/graduates/

Submit your CV and cover letter to graduate.recruitment@reedsmith.com before 15th February 2013.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

First-year Focus programme (4 - 5 April 2013)

The First-Year Focus programme is open to all first-year undergraduate students. You will see what life is like inside a commercial law firm. You will be provided with valuable skills-focused training that will help prepare you for a place on a vacation scheme.
Apply between Friday 1 February 2013 to Friday 22 February 2013

How to apply for a place on the First-year Focus programme

Write a statement (no longer than one page of A4):
Tell them which programme you would like to join, plus:

• your academic results from A level (or equivalent) onwards
• what interests you about commercial law
• what interests you about Freshfields

Email this statement with your CV to recruitmentevents@freshfields.com
Please ensure that you apply within the relevant application periods outlined above
More details of other Open Days to follow. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!      

Work Placement Schemes 2013

What is a work placement scheme and why is it so important in the search for that elusive training contract?

A work placement, or vacation scheme as it is also called, is a period of one or two weeks paid work experience in a Law firm either in the Spring or Summer.  It tends to be the larger commercial Law firms that offer this.  See www.lawcareers.net for further details of closing dates and information on the firms.

The reason why these schemes are so important is because, according to recent research by an organisation called High Fliers, 51% of training contract vacancies are filled by graduates who have already completed a vacation scheme with the firm. Also the firms offering work placements tend to be the ones who will fund the LPC.

I would suggest drawing up a short-list of around 6 law firms who specialise in areas of law you are interested in and who are in a suitable location. Make sure your application is as good as it possibly can be and pay particular attention to spelling and grammar.  I am always happy to read over applications for you. 

To help you I am doing a presentation on Work Placements in January 2013.

Wednesday 23 January 2013

2pm

CWE125/1

I would recommend that you think about attending.

All About Careers Website

You should already be following Lawcareers.net www.lawcareers.net
if you want to keep up with what's happening with legal careers, closing dates for work placements and training contracts etc.

Another site that's worth a look is All About Careers which has a special Law section

http://www.allaboutcareers.com/careers/industry/law.htm

Here you'll find information about Solicitor and Barrister careers, as well as other careers using your Law degree.  There's also a useful news section.

The more informed you are about legal careers the better so check it out today!

First year Law Students - Opportunity to experience "A day in the City"

How do you succeed in the legal sector?

Get this question answered and more at A day in the City on 21 January 2013. Sponsored by RPC and SNR Denton; this one-day event will give you a fantastic insight into a career in the legal sector. Through a series of workshops and networking sessions you will have the opportunity to:

•	Speak directly with trainees and lawyers and learn from their experiences
•	Gain insider tips from graduate recruiters on how to make your application stand out
•	Develop those all-important placement application skills
•	Get feedback from the experts on your performance in case studies and group sessions
•	Receive invaluable insight into how to prepare for a career in law
•	Network with peers from different universities

Date:	21 January 2013
Place:	London
Format:	One-day event with visits to both firms
Who’s eligible:	First-year law students and second-year non-law students
Number of places:	40
Further information:	Travel expenses reimbursed and refreshments provided.

To apply and get further details about the day, visit www.adayinthecity.co.uk. With only 40 places available, we advise that you apply early to be in with a chance of being offered a place.

Follow-up from Manchester Law Fair

I hope everyone enjoyed the visit to Manchester Law Fair this week.

So, what are you going to do with all that information you gleaned from the Law firms?

Never mind the freebies you were given.  It's time to think about a strategy of applying for work placement schemes and training contracts, especially if you are in your 2nd or 3rd year. Make notes on who you want to apply to and why.

Use www.lawcareers.net to help you prioritise applications by looking at the closing dates for work placement schemes.  Some will be end of January 2013.

If you were given business cards or email addresses by anyone on a stand at the Law Fair, follow this up. Send them an email to thank them for taking the time to speak to you.

National Pupillage Fair 9 March 2013

Register now to attend the UK’s largest and most established national pupillage fair; the best opportunity for students looking for pupillage to meet representatives from chambers, course providers and other organisations essential to a successful career at the Bar.

Taking place at Lincolns Inn, London on 9 March 2013 the fair includes opportunities to:

•	Talk to chambers’ pupils, tenants and members of pupillage committees and get all your answers to life at the Bar
•	Talk to representatives from law schools and other course providers about all things course-related
•	Compare different sets and course providers to make the best career match
•	Attend talks given by leading barristers about careers at the Bar – a chance to gain insights from among the best in the profession (click here to see last year’s talks)
•	Find out how to finance your career at the Bar
•	Pick up your must-read copy of the Pupillages Handbook and, if you haven't got a copy already, the leading sector-specific advice publication TARGETjobs Law.

For further details and to pre-register please visit:targetjobs.co.uk/pupillagefair

Chance to win a Vacation Scheme at Clifford Chance

This is a great opportunity to win a vacation scheme at a Magic Circle Law firm! Contestants must answer this poser, intended to challenge them to think critically about reducing greenhouse gas emissions: "What do you think are the most successful ways in which governments can ensure emission reduction targets are achieved?". Entries must be 250 words or less, and the competition is open to all UK students and postgrads.

Candidates will be judged on their "creativity, initiative and business acumen" and not on legal expertise. See website for details.

http://gradsuk.cliffordchance.com/competition-outline.html

Closing date 7 December 2012.

College of Law Scholarship details for 2013

The College of Law has announced details of its Scholarships for 2013 for the LPC and BPTC.

For further details please see:

http://www.college-of-law.co.uk/About-the-College/Media-Centre/News-2012/5-November-2012--College-of-Law-announces-raft-of-scholarships-for-2013/

College of Law Webinar on LL.M LPC

Message from the College of Law re free Webinar

You're invited to our free webinar:
Future Lawyers Network LIVE: Introducing our new LL.M LPC*
Date: Wednesday 14 November 2012
Time: 6.30pm - 7pm

With the legal world changing fast, both globally and locally, you will need qualifications that are transferable. That is why we are launching our new and exclusive LL.M LPC* which enables you to receive a fully-accredited LPC as well as an internationally-recognised Masters upon successful completion of the course. Join us for this live webinar and discover how you can improve your global career prospects as a solicitor.

*subject to validation

During this 30-minute interactive webinar you will learn: 

• The benefits and awards you will gain from this exclusive course 
• How you can specialise in international or national legal practice 
• How you can increase your career prospects through our Employability Service 
• About the study options available and why, and how, you should apply now

Limited places - REGISTER NOW There are just 100 places available at this free webinar, so register now to secure your place.



Don't forget to submit your questions when you register. Our presenter and LL.M LPC expert will endeavour to answer as many as possible during the webinar.

The College of Law 

CityLawLIVE Conference 8 December 2012

If you are intending to apply for the CityLawLIVE careers conference for aspiring City solicitors, don’t let your chance slip away!

There are just under two weeks for you to complete and submit your online form before the application deadline on 8 November. The event is open to 200 student delegates, and you can find details of the conference programme and how to apply at  www.citylawlive.com.

The event takes place on Saturday 8 December 2012 in Central London – a date chosen to maximise the benefits for anyone looking for a 2013 vacation scheme. Students who attended our first event in February learned a great deal about the City Law career path and how to perfect their applications, and they made useful connections with the participating firms. The new programme for 8th December is packed full of interactive sessions that will enable students to shine: panel discussions featuring City firm partners and recruitment experts, plus workshops led by law firms. The workshop topics will be: International M&A; International Finance; Capital Markets; Private Equity; Disputes; Clean Energy; In-house Legal Practice; IT/IP Disputes; Commercial Awareness; and Negotiation Skills.

The event is a fantastic networking opportunity at a crucial time of year, and our popular Application Surgery will give each student 15 minutes of one-on-one advice from either a law firm recruiter or specialist law careers adviser.
The day-long event is fully catered, including a two-course networking lunch. As the conference sponsors have generously agreed to heavily subsidise the event, attending students need only pay a nominal fee of £29.
If you would like more information about CityLawLIVE please visit the conference website or email info@citylawlive.com

Solicitor Insight Day 28 November 2012

This event is being held at the College of Law, Chester from 3.30 pm to 7.30 pm on Wednesday 28 November 2012

Use this opportunity to talk to law firms such as DLA Piper, DWF, Hill Dickinson.
 To book your place visit www.college-of-law.co.uk/events

ollege-of-law.co.uk/events

law.co.uk/events

Manchester Law Fair 20 November 2012

LAW FAIR - TUESDAY 20 NOVEMBER

Visit the largest Law Fair in the North West.  A free coach is available organised by the Law School.  Sign up on the noticeboard in Westminster.

See www.manchester.ac.uk/lawfair for full details.  Don't miss it!

Please see my presentation below to help you prepare:

Getting the most out of Manchester Law Fair

How to apply for the LPC Talk this week!

Reminder – if you are interested in applying for the LPC come along and find out how to apply. A representative from the College of Law, Chester will also be on hand to answer your queries.

Don’t miss this opportunity!

1pm to 2.30pm Wed 24 October 2012 in Westminster CWE126/1 followed by info on the Bar Scholarships and the BPTC

Chambers Student Guide 2013 now available online

Now online
The new Chambers Student Guide – 2013

120 new 'True Picture' reports on the top training contracts
Trainee lawyers speak their minds
The latest reports on pupillages

Law school reviews

Trainee salary surveys

and more...

Get your free copy of The Chambers Student Guide at law fairs across the country.
We'll announce where we're going via Facebook.

The Chambers Student Guide gives you the most comprehensive and reliable careers advice plus insider information on how to get into law firms.

Access the guide on our website www.chambersstudent.co.uk

Careers in Law Timetable 2012-13

I have put this together as a guide to what Law students should be doing at what stage of their course if they are interested in becoming a solicitor or barrister.



http://www.chester.ac.uk/sites/files/chester/CareersinLawTimetable2012-13.pdf

Useful dates for aspiring barristers

Here are a few important dates and items of information you need to be aware of:

Scholarships for funding the BPTC are available from the 4 Inns of Court – closing date Fri 2 November 2012.  Don’t miss out!  There are huge sums of money available but remember you can only apply to one Inn. The BPTC costs around £15,000 so it makes sense to try to get at least some funding!

www.lincolnsinn.org.uk

www.graysinn.org.uk

www.innertemple.org.uk

www.middletemple.org.uk

Applications for the BPTC will go live on the Bar Standards Board website sometime in November. Closing date mid Jan 2013.  From this year all applicants will have to take an aptitude test. See

http://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/qualifying-as-a-barrister/bar-professional-training-course/aptitude-test/

for further details.

The Pupillage Fair will take place on 9 March 2013 in London.

Law Fair season will soon be here

The Autumn Law Fairs will soon be upon us.

First up is Liverpool Law Fair on Wed 31 October in The Crypt Hall of the Metropolitan Cathedral.
http://www.liverpoolfairs.org.uk/event-list/2012/10/liverpool-law-fair.aspx

Then Manchester Law Fair follows on Tuesday 20 November at Manchester Central(formerly GMEX)

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/fairs

Please see article below re 6 ways to impress firms at law fairs

http://targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors/law-solicitors/303044-six-ways-to-impress-firms-at-law-fairs#.UHM45QxoAmk.mailto

Securing a training contract: steps to take whilst at university

This is worth a read no matter what year you're in.

http://careers.guardian.co.uk/secure-training-contract?CMP=email

Useful websites for a career in Law

Please find below a link to some useful websites on legal issues.  The more research you do about law firms and barristers' chambers the more knowledgeable you will be, especially in preparation for Manchester Law Fair on 20 November.  Don't forget to sign up for the free coach from the University - list on the department noticeboard.

http://www.chester.ac.uk/sites/files/chester/lawNov10.pdf

Sign up to receive as much information by email - this will save you valuable time

www.lawcareers.net
http://l2b.thelawyer.com/

If you don't have a Twitter account, get one!  You can then "follow" law firms and related organisations such as the Crown Prosecution Service, The Law Society and barristers' chambers. 

Duncan Gibbins Solicitors, a law firm in Knowsley, Merseyside is worth following
@DG_Academy for all the latest job vacancies, work experience opportunities, news, blogs and videos.

What are the benefits of an LLM?

Interesting article about LLMs in the light of the College of Law's announcement re offering a combined LPC and LLM from September 2013.

What is an LLM?  It is a postgraduate law degree usually lasting one academic year.  It gives you the chance to specialise in an area of law of particular interest to you.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2012/oct/04/legal-education-llm-law-schools?CMP=twt_gu

http://www.college-of-law.co.uk/lpc/?utm_source=Marc_guardianmpu%2B&utm_medium=Online%2B&utm_campaign=LPC2013%2B

Lawcareers.net

If you haven't done so already get signed up to receive the Lawcareers.net weekly newsletter in your inbox each Tuesday.

It's a really useful way to keep informed of what's going on in the legal world.  This week there's more info on the CityLawLIVE Conference and how to sign up, an article about what to do in your first year and interviews with legal recruiters.

So, don't delay.  Sign up today!

www.lawcareers.net

Barrister Insight Day -The College of Law, Manchester

Barrister Insight Day

The College of Law, Manchester  Tuesday 30 October 3.30pm - 7.30pm

If you are interested in pursuing a career at the Bar then this event is not to be missed. Take advantage of the opportunity to network with practising barristers from a number of chambers and gain a valuable insight into the profession during the question-and-answer panel. There will also be an employability workshop advising on how you can maximise your chances of success when applying to the Bar. You can also take part in our cross-examination skills session which demonstrates how the practical elements of the Bar course are taught at the College. The Barrister Insight Day is open to both law and non-law students.

See link for further details:

http://www.college-of-law.co.uk/Our-Centres/Manchester/Manchester-insight-days/

Vacation Scheme Deadlines 2012-2013

This is a really useful website for Law careers information although it also covers other careers, too.

If you want to know anything about Vacation Schemes with the larger firms have a look at this link:

http://www.allaboutcareers.com/campaigns/vacation-scheme-deadlines-2012-2013

Solicitor Insight Day The College of Law, Chester

Solicitor Insight Day

The College of Law, Chester  Wednesday 28 November  3.30pm to 7.00pm

The Solicitor Insight Day offers fantastic opportunities for students wanting to pursue a career as a solicitor. Both law and non-law students are welcome at this exciting new event which will be running at 7 of our centres. In addition to finding out about the courses on offer at the College you can improve your employability through workshops on effective applications and good interview technique. There will also be the opportunity to network with solicitors from a number of legal organisations attending the event and to use the question-and-answer panel to find out what life as a solicitor is really like.

See website below for details of how to register:

http://www.college-of-law.co.uk/Our-Centres/Chester/Chester-insight-days/

For all first year Law students

Interesting article in Lawyer2B entitled "Surviving your first year"

http://l2b.thelawyer.com/1009007.article?cmpid=TL05&cmptype=newsletter&email=true&ern=E364D47B3B30DDC778068C93E88F9D8C

USA Grad School Day

Any final years thinking of postgrad study in the US?

USA Grad School Day

16 October 2012

6 – 9 pm

London (American School in London, St John’s Wood)

USA Grad School Day provides students with an insider's view of how to successfully navigate the US postgraduate admissions process. Fulbright advisors and experts in the field will cover a variety of topics including: choosing the right institution, admissions exams, the application components and funding opportunities, including the Fulbright Awards for 2013-14.

For more information and to register: Visit the USA Grad School Day page of the Fulbright website (www.fulbright.org.uk)

CityLawLIVE Conference 8 December 2012

This might be of interest

LawCareers.Net is pleased to announce that following the success of the first CityLawLIVE conference for aspiring City solicitors, the event will run again on Saturday 8^th December 2012.

This one-day conference is ideal for both law undergraduates and non-law students who are considering or undertaking the GDL conversion route. The December date and the focus of the event make it invaluable for students applying for 2013 vacation schemes. 

The conference is open to 200 student delegates, and details of the participating law firms, conference programme and how to apply for a place can be found at www.citylawlive.com.

Attendance at the conference will be a great way for you to learn about the reality of legal practice at a leading City firm. You will come to understand the value of English law in the world economy, gain a much better idea of the types of work undertaken by City firms, and be able to participate in firm-led workshops. The conference offers some fantastic networking opportunities with law firm partners, and in conjunction with the College of Law we will also be running an Application Surgery that will give individuals 15 minutes of one-on-one advice from a law firm recruiter or specialist law careers adviser.

The event will be fully catered, including a two-course networking lunch. It takes place at One Great George Street, just off Parliament Square in Central London.  Our sponsors have generously agreed to heavily subsidise the event, meaning that successful applicants need pay only a commitment fee of £29 (inc VAT).

 

Career Planning for Law Students

This booklet is a step-by-step guide to becoming a solicitor or a barrister. It is available to download here or from the Careers and Employability pages on the University of Chester website. www.chester.ac.uk/careers


http://www.chester.ac.uk/sites/files/chester/CareerplanningforLawstudentsbooklet2012.pdf

Welcome to my Blog

Welcome to my Law Careers blog.  My name is Philippa Hardie and I am the specialist Law Career Consultant at the University of Chester. I am based in the Careers and Employability Centre (opposite Binks) on the main Campus.

I am going to use this blog to note down anything that I find that might be useful to anyone considering a legal career.  I hope you will find this blog interesting.