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.

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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