Law Society Diversity Access Scheme now open for applications

Are you applying for the LPC to start in 2018?

Please see below for details of the Law Society Diversity Access Scheme (DAS) which is now open for applications and closes on Sunday 8 April 2018.

The Law Society’s Diversity Access Scheme (DAS) is a scholarship with a difference. It provides awardees with:


Finance 

Funding for up to the full cost of your LPC fees.

Professional contacts

A professional mentor to help answer your questions about starting your career in law.

Opportunities to gain work experience

Work experience placements, brokered through the Law Society.
Already it has helped over 180 students complete their professional education. Without the DAS these students would not have been in a position to join the profession.

If you don’t have the financial means to pay for your LPC, the DAS might be able to help.

Who should apply?

We encourage applications from graduates and those in their final year of a law degree, including mature students.

The DAS 2018 application round is for the academic year 2018/19.

Application criteria

You have to fulfil certain criteria to be eligible for the DAS. To check your eligibility, please visit our website.

www.lawsociety.org.uk/das

How many awards are available?

Up to ten standard DAS scholarships will be available this year.

When do applications open?

The applications are now open and close at midnight on 8 April 2018. The application form and guidance are now available to download from our website.

To find out more visit www.lawsociety.org.uk/das
or email diversityaccessscheme@lawsociety.org.uk 

Applications close on 8 April 2018

CILEx Presentation at the University of Chester: The route to qualification as a Chartered Legal Executive

Have you heard of CILEx?  What do those initials stand for? What is the difference between a Chartered Legal Executive and a Solicitor?  Is there any difference? How do I train to be a Legal Executive?  What are the costs involved?

If you choose the CILEx route as a Law graduate, you are exempt from studying certain Law subjects. The CILEx Graduate Fast-track Diploma is an alternative for Law graduates who want to qualify as lawyers without studying for the costlier Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC).

If you would like to hear the answers to the questions posed above, and find out more about CILEx, please come along to:

CILEx presentation by Noel Inge, Managing Director, CILEx Law School

Wednesday 28 February 2018

1.30pm to 2.30pm

Binks 106/1

To book your place please sign up on CareerHub

Free events for students 'Assessment Days - A Time to Shine' BPP Law School Liverpool and Manchester

These events are free for students to attend and there will be a session for aspiring barristers at the BPP Manchester event on 7th March.

The event details are below:

1.      BPP Liverpool

2-12 Lord Street

#1st Floor

Liverpool

L2 1TS

Wednesday 21^st February
4:00 – 8:30pm

2.      BPP Manchester

79 Oxford Street

Manchester

M1 6FQ

Wednesday 7^th March
4:00 – 8:30pm

Sharpen up your professional skills and walk away with greater confidence by attending our mock assessment day events.

This session includes:

• Practising mock assessment centre tasks, with an opportunity to obtain individual feedback

• Drafting, resilience and negotiation activities

• A panel session with speakers and BPP University Alumni

• Dedicated session for aspiring barristers at the BPP Manchester event

• Networking with local practitioners

• Walk away with our “Professional Skills and Commercial Awareness” certificate to enhance your CV

• No preparation required

Students can reserve their place via Eventbrite:

·        BPP Manchester https://bpp-assessmentcentre-manchester2018.eventbrite.co.uk

·        BPP Liverpool https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/myevent?eid=42232859620

Free Law event - Secrets to Success, at University of Law, Manchester Thursday 22 February

Law students from any year can apply to attend this event.  Representatives from Law firms BLP, Pinsent Masons, Fletchers plus Exchange Chambers will be present at The University of Law, Manchester.

Top lawyers share their secrets to success; students ask the questions

As the technological change sweeping society gathers pace, and the legal profession begins to feel the effect of what is being dubbed the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’, Legal Cheek is holding a series of events – in association with The University of Law (ULaw) – to help students boost their commercial awareness as they apply for training contracts and pupillages.

The Manchester session takes place on the evening of Thursday 22 February at ULaw Manchester, and features a panel of leading lawyers from Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP), Pinsent Masons, Fletchers, Exchange Chambers and ULaw. The quintet will share the secrets to their own success, while also advising students on how they can best position themselves to obtain training contracts with leading firms. They will look, too, to the future and give their views on what changes we can expect in the legal market.

After the Question Time-style discussion, there will be drinks and networking with the speakers and a collection of the firms’ trainees and members of their graduate recruitment teams.

In order to gain a place you will need to submit a CV and two questions for the panel.

To apply please click here

Pupillage Gateway opens on Monday 8 January!

Happy New Year to all Law students!

If you are an aspiring barrister in your second or final year of your Law degree, you need to start preparing your pupillage applications now! Pupillage Gateway is open from Monday 8 January to Wednesday 7 February.

Make your way to the Pupillage Gateway where there is some really useful information for applicants in the User Guide.

All vacancies are advertised on the Gateway and around 100 chambers will require you to apply through the system.  The remainder of chambers will ask you to apply directly via their website.

You have until 7 February to submit up to 12 different applications through the Gateway. You have the opportunity to tailor each application and this is really important.  You must do your research on each chambers in order to submit targeted applications. Because of the shortage of pupillages, any applicant who doesn't spend time preparing tailored applications, is likely to be rejected.

There is a practice application form on the Gateway website to help you.

I am always happy to check pupillage applications so do contact me if you need any help - 
p.steed@chester.ac.uk

Why not use the Christmas break to start those work placement applications for 2018?

The Christmas break is a great time to unwind with family and friends and have fun.  You've worked hard all term so why not relax a bit? It might be a good idea, however, to give some thought to getting some legal work experience in 2018, particularly if you are a second or final year Law student.

You can leave it until after New Year but you do need to be aware that Work Placement or Vacation Scheme application deadlines will be coming up fast at the end of January or February 2018.  The holiday might give you time to look at the list of closing dates on Lawcareers.net and decide which, if any, of the larger firms you'd like to apply to.  

If you are interested in becoming a barrister, start applying for mini-pupillages for next summer.  See Lawcareers.net for details.

A growing list of Law firms offer open days for first years.  This is an ideal opportunity to spend a day at a large commercial Law firm.  For further details go to Lawcareers.net
Work Placements in the larger commercial firms usually last for one or two weeks during Easter or Summer 2018 and they are paid! You can also apply for other work placements in smaller firms.  You probably won't get paid but the experience gained could be just as valuable and you will be adding useful contacts at the same time.

If you are a second year opting for Work Based Learning in May 2018, why not look for opportunities at home to carry out your 5 week placement?  You can search for local firms at Find a Solicitor

Seasons Greetings from all of us in Careers and Employability!

Applications for the BPTC open on Monday 18 December 2017

If you are an aspiring barrister in your final year of university, Monday 18 December 2017 should already be imprinted on your memory.  In case it isn't, this is the date from which you can apply for the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) on the BARSAS website.

There is a very useful guide on the website which is worth reading before you start your application.

I have summarised the key points below:

Students can apply for up to 6 programmes across the 8 Providers of the BPTC.
The 8 providers are:

1. BPP University Law School - London , Leeds, Manchester Birmingham
2. University of Law - London, Birmingham, Leeds
3. The City Law School (formerly Inns of Court School of Law)
4. Manchester Metropolitan University
5. Nottingham Law School
6. The University of Northumbria at Newcastle
7. University of the West of England at Bristol
8. Cardiff Law School

Most providers offer full time (1 year) and part-time (2 years) options.  

Funding

The costs of the BPTC vary from £14,500 to over £18,000 depending on the provider and its location.  You may be fortunate to receive a Scholarship for at least part of the cost from one of the Inns of Court if you applied in November.

If not, you may be eligible for a postgraduate loan from the Student Loans Company for up to £10,000 if you choose to study the BPTC with a Masters option.  Check with providers to see if they offer this.

Other options include:

• Future Finance Loans
• Professional and Career Development Loans
• High Street Bank loans

Applicants are not required to be a member of an Inn of Court upon submission of their application but must be a member by 31 May 2018.

The closing date for BPTC applications is Wednesday 17 Jan 2018 at 12 noon.

 Applicants must pass an aptitude test, known as ‘BCAT’. It is a multiple choice computer based test which assesses applicant’s critical thinking and reasoning. Applicants will not be able to enrol on the BPTC without passing it. For further guidance on the BCAT click here