Need help with understanding Assessment Centres?

If so, put Wednesday 29 January in your diary now!

If you are applying for training contracts or vacation schemes in 2014 you may have to attend an assessment centre as part of the interview process.

Careers and Employability is hosting a workshop called “Advanced group work and presentation skills” which will equip you with the skills to guide you through the group exercise element of employer assessment centres.

Our facilitator is Angus Farr, an ex-Head of Graduate Recruitment, who has seen plenty of good candidates fail, either because they make it far too easy to get rejected, or they simply don’t ‘play the game’ expected of them.

In this workshop, based around a real group exercise, Angus will explain why and how recruiters use assessment centres in the first place and in particular identify the secrets of success to getting through.

 Workshop runs from 11 – 2.30 pm on Wednesday 29 January 2014.

Please email chesterdifference@chester.ac.uk to book your place.

Forthcoming presentations for Law students - don't miss them!

We are now nearly halfway through January and presentations are coming at you thick and fast!

The deadline for a lot of summer vacation schemes is approaching all too quickly (31 January 2014) and I know you all have assignments to do as well.

So, all in one place, here is a list of presentations of particular interest to Law students over the next few weeks.

 

Please attend if you can as these talks are organised for your benefit!

 

Wednesday 22 January  Vacation Scheme and Training Contract applications

Binks CBK 106/1   1.30 pm to 2.30 pm

 

The deadline for a lot of vacation scheme applications for summer 2014 is 31 January so you need to start applying now!

 

Wednesday 29 January “Advanced Group Work and presentation skills”

Cloisters CCL102  11am – 2.30pm

This session will cover the group exercise section of an assessment day and give you the skills and confidence to succeed if you are invited to attend as part of a selection process.  Email chesterdifference@chester.ac.uk to secure your place.

Wednesday 5 February  CILEX Presentation

Binks CBK 010  1.30pm to 2.30 pm

 CILEX is the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives and offers an alternative route to becoming a lawyer without doing the LPC.  You gain exemptions from your Law degree to some of the CILEX exams. Come along to find out more.

 

Thursday 6 February  Tackling Difficult Application forms

Careers and Employability Seminar Room 1pm – 2pm

 

Part of the Developing your Graduate Career programme, this session will help you to provide good answers with evidence to support them, on application forms.

 

To book a place, please visit www.chester.ac.uk/careers/events and login to our Vacancy and Events portal. (If you haven’t used the system before you will need to register).

Research Assistant posts at the Law Commission - September 2014

Please see below for details.  Jobs start in September 2014 and are fixed term for 51 weeks.  Closing date Thursday 30 January 2014.

 

Research Assistant - Law Commission

• Reference Number

LAJG00076

• Location

102 Petty France, London. SW1H 9AJ

• Business Group

Law and Access to Justice Group

• Full / Part Time

Full Time

• Contract Type

Fixed Term

• Salary

£24007

Overview

DETAILS OF THESE POSTS ARE SET OUT IN A SEPARATE GUIDE FOR APPLICANTS AVAILABLE AT http://lawcommission.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission/working-for-us/jobs.htm.

YOU MUST READ THE GUIDE BEFORE APPLYING. IF YOU ATTEMPT TO APPLY WITHOUT DOING SO YOUR APPLICATION IS LIKELY TO FAIL AUTOMATICALLY. DO NOT SUBMIT A CV FOR THIS POST.

The Law Commission is a statutory body set up under the Law Commissions Act 1965 to keep the law of England and Wales under review and to recommend reform where it is needed.

Its aims are:

To ensure that the law is fair, modern, simple and as cost-effective as possible

To conduct research and consultations in order to make recommendations for reform for consideration by Parliament

To codify the law, eliminate anomalies, repeal obsolete and unnecessary enactments and reduce the number of separate statutes

The Law Commission is an independent non-departmental body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. Further information about the Law Commission and its work can be obtained from its website at http://lawcommission.justice.gov.uk/.

The posts are on a fixed term basis, for approximately 51 Weeks. The start date will be 1 September 2014.

Job Description

Please see Guide: http://lawcommission.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission/working-for-us/jobs.htm

Skills & Qualifications

Please see Guide: http://lawcommission.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission/working-for-us/jobs.htm.

Essential Academic Skills

Our minimum criteria are that by August 2013 you should have completed two years’ full-time substantive legal studies (or the equivalent in part-time study). The results must be at, or at the equivalent of, first class or good 2.1 standard, with at least some elements of first class work.

Further details on what constitutes two years’ legal studies and results at, or at the equivalent of, first class or good 2.1 standard can be found in the Guide for Applicants, which is available at: http://lawcommission.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission/working-for-us/jobs.htm.

Other Essential Skills

Please see Guide: http://lawcommission.justice.gov.uk/lawcommission/working-for-us/jobs.htm.

Salary, Working Arrangements & Further Information

Starting Salary

The salary for this position is £24,007 per annum pro rata.

Vacation Scheme Deadlines now looming

I am planning on delivering a 1 hour session on "Applying for Vacation Schemes and Training Contracts" at 1.30pm on Wednesday 22 January 2014 in Binks CBK106/1.

 

The time of year is approaching when you need to focus on vacation scheme applications if you see yourself as a commercial solicitor in the future. Many firms who offer these will have a deadline to apply for an Easter or Summer vacation scheme by 31st January 2014.

The application process for vacation schemes can be very similar to the training contract application process and in some cases, applications for both are made on the same form.

In order to ensure that you stand the best chance of securing your vacation scheme, make sure that you:

 

1. Plan ahead – don’t leave it until the last minute. Application forms can take a considerable amount of time to prepare (if you are doing them properly!).
2. Do your research – be clear about who you want to apply to and why. Be sure to check the minimum application criteria.
3. Target your applications. Make sure that you understand what the firm is all about, looking at key practice areas, location, key clients and culture.

This will help you to answer the application form questions in order to maximise your chances of success.

I am happy to look over applications but don’t delay, start today!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all Law students!

The first event of 2014 for aspiring solicitors is the Solicitor Insight Day at the University of Law, Chester on Thursday 9 January from 3pm to 7pm.

This is an excellent opportunity to network with local Law firms and find out more about life as a solicitor.

There will be employability workshops, a legal panel to answer your questions and an information fair.

To register, please sign up at http://www.law.ac.uk/about/chester-events/