What should Law students be doing over Easter?

According to Lawcareers.net  students shouldn't be spending all their time eating Easter Eggs! Maybe you might have time to enjoy a little chocolate in the holidays, but click this link to find out what you really should be doing. 

In addition to the points mentioned in the article you might wish to consider the following depending on what year you're currently in  - 

Level 4 students 

Try to get at least one week of work experience in a Law firm in the Summer vacation.  It could be a formal insight event, such as the one offered by White & Case
here but it could also be  in a local firm of solicitors.  To find out about solicitors' firms in any location in England and Wales go to www.solicitors-online.com  This website will provide you with a list of firms which you can then research for opportunities.  Make sure your CV is up-to-date  and write a brief cover letter explaining that you are studying Law and are now looking for experience in a firm.  Always find the name of the firm's HR manager or the name of a Senior Partner to write to and be specific re the dates you are available.

Level 5 students 

Prepare for Work Based Learning or Experiential.  If you are doing Work Based Learning in a Law firm, make yourself indispensable!  Be prepared to go the extra mile and don't forget to ask questions. Always be polite and keep note of anyone you speak to who you might want to contact at a later date.  Sometimes Law firms ask students to stay on after WBL and you never know, you might even get paid! Join LinkedIn and start networking!

Level 6 students 

If you're planning on studying for the LPC you need think about applying.  Go to www.lawcabs.ac.uk to apply for the full time course or go directly to the institution's website to apply for the part-time course.  You can only get the postgraduate student loan if you apply for the MSc or LLM with the LPC.  If you need to work alongside the LPC or just want to work in a Law firm before signing up for another course, keep checking CareerHub and recruitment sites like Indeed for vacancies. If you're looking for a job not connected to Law use websites such as Prospects and Target Jobs as well as CareerHub.

Happy Easter!

University of Chester Law students visit Lincoln's Inn

On Wednesday 14 March 7 Law students from the University of Chester Law School attended an Information Afternoon and Evening at Lincoln's Inn in London.

The students mingled with undergraduates from other Universities over tea before sitting down to an afternoon of very interesting talks, given by practising barristers from both the employed and the self-employed bar.  The aim of the talks was not to try to recruit students to the Inn or the Bar as a profession, but to give them a realistic view of  life as a Barrister and the challenges they may meet along the way.

The talks were followed by a drinks reception, giving students the opportunity to network with Members of the Inn, including the speakers, other barristers and judges.  Everyone then took their places in the Old Hall for a formal dinner with speeches.

The students, who are all first years, thoroughly enjoyed the event.  Victoria Milton, one of the students who attended, said "I was fortunate enough to be seated opposite a now retired judge and to be able to speak to him throughout dinner about his experiences, and listen to his advice, was amazing!"  

Pictured below are the Law students who attended from the University of Chester.

University of Law to offer Graduate Diploma in Law and Legal Practice Course in Liverpool

Please see below for details of press release issued by the University of Law 
which may be of interest to Liverpool-based students.

"Kick-start your legal career in the heart of one of the most dynamic  and inspiring cities in the world.  From September 2018, study the Graduate Diploma in Law and  Legal Practice Course full-time with The University of Law (ULaw) in Liverpool.*  Our new arrangement with the University of Liverpool, a leading Russell  Group university, will build on our tradition as the longest established  legal training provider and strengthen our reputation for delivering  market leading legal training courses by our tutors who are qualified  lawyers. Study at The University of Law in Liverpool and we’ll offer you access to the same services as our Chester and Manchester students,  including our award-winning Careers and Employability service  which highlights our impressive 96% employability rate.** Any questions? ULaw staff will be running a drop-in session in the  Rendall Building on Saturday 17 March from 10am until 3pm.  If you can't make that, come to our Open Day on Saturday 28 April from 10.30am to 1pm. Find out more

* Subject to approval.
**96% of our full-time 2015/2016 and accelerated 2016/16 LPC students graduating in summer 2016 secured employment, a training contract or further study within nine months of successfully completing their course."

Find out about alternative roles to becoming a solicitor in a Law firm

Have you ever thought that, although Law firms employ solicitors, trainees and paralegals, there are actually other roles for graduates, with or without Law degrees, available.

What sort of roles might there be?  Here's a few to start with:

• Marketing and Business Development  -  an increasingly important role within a Law firm in order to attract new clients
• Human Resources - roles available in more Law firms 
• Financial services -  accounting and finance is an important department in any Law firm
• Research and Information Services  - including keeping IT systems up-to-date
• Graduate recruitment - particularly in larger Law firms recruiting high numbers of trainee solicitors
• Facilities and Property Management - seeking new premises for expanding and merging Law firms as well as maintaining existing buildings.

Shearman & Sterling is a leading corporate and commercial Law firm in London, with over 150 employees working in the area they call "Business Services".

The firm is now offering a month-long paid internship in the business areas mentioned above for July 2018. 

Applications for the 2018 business internship programme are now open and close on 8 April 2018.

For more information click here

There will be a free Business Services Open Evening on 27 March which is optional to attend.

It will be an opportunity to find out more about the internships on offer and provide you with an overview of Shearman & Sterling.

You can register here

Crown Prosecution Service Legal Trainee Scheme 2018 now open

This blog post is more for information as far as undergraduate Law students are concerned, but it is definitely worth knowing about for possible future recruitment campaigns!

The Legal Trainee Scheme is offered to those who wish to complete their pupillage or period of recognised training (PRT) with the CPS. There are two different roles on offer in the scheme – a pupil barrister and a trainee solicitor. 

Academic Qualifications 

• Candidates must have a minimum of a 2:2 undergraduate degree – please note that this does not need to be a degree in Law. Candidates with a degree other than law must have completed a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or Common Professional Examination (CPE)

• Candidates must have successfully completed, or be due to complete the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) or the Legal Practice Course (LPC) to enable them to start within the CPS by November 2018


Please note the closing date for applications is midnight on Wednesday 21 March 2018.

Duration of the scheme - 

Pupillage - 1 year in duration 

PRT (formerly known as a training contract) - 2 years in duration 

Number of positions available on the scheme - Approximately 30 x Legal Trainee posts are available throughout England and Wales. 

Upon successful qualification Legal Trainees will be offered permanent posts as Crown Prosecutors, with the expectation that they will gain the necessary skills and competence to apply for Senior Crown Prosecutor posts through regular recruitment procedures. 

Legal Trainees are offered a starting salary of £23,509 per annum (more in London) with 25 days leave


For more information please go to CPS National Legal Trainee Scheme 2018