Interesting article in @Independent this week re skills gained from a Law degree

If you're not sure what to do with your Law degree and are looking for alternatives to solicitor or barrister, have a read of this article in this week's Independent newspaper.

http://www.independent.co.uk/student/legal-education-a-law-degree-can-be-a-perfect-route-to-a-career-in-other-fields-a6737931.html

Law Society sets new recommended minimum salary for trainee solicitors

A year on from the abolition of the old required minimum salary for trainees by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the Law Society has recommended its reinstatement.

Although not enforceable, The Law Society’s new recommendation is that trainees should be paid at least £20,276 in London, and £18,183 elsewhere. This is based on the living wage plus the average yearly Legal Practice Course repayment. It will be reviewed every November.

This is a step in the right direction for trainees, some of whom were being paid only the minimum wage since the old minimum salary was abolished.  It is hoped that this move will also encourage greater social mobility within the legal profession.

Win a week's work experience at the London office of Law firm Ropes & Gray!

Lawyer 2B and Ropes & Gray have teamed up for our latest competition! Students are invited to submit three-minute videos addressing the question: Is national security more important than individual privacy? Who can Enter? The competition is open to all undergraduates, GDL and LPC students. How to Enter Videos should be no more than three minutes long. Email your video submission to londonHR@ropesgray.com with the subject line "Video Competition". The deadline for entries is 23.59 on 15 November 2015. In your email please also include your full name and brief academic details (undergraduate university and course with result or predicted result; current course and institution if a postgrad; and A Level grades). The Prizes Finalists will be invited to a drinks evening at Ropes & Gray on the evening of 26 November 2015, where the overall winner will be announced. The firm will pay for reasonable travel expenses for finalists residing outside the M25 area. The top prize is one week’s work experience at Ropes & Gray’s London office (date of work experience to be between March and August 2016). The best video entries will be published on Lawyer2B.com.

BPTC Scholarships Deadline is now approaching (Friday 6 November)

If you are considering the BPTC for September 2016 you can apply now for a Scholarship from one of the Inns of Court to help with the cost of the course.  Here's a few things you need to know:

• The four Inns of Court are:

        Lincoln's Inn
        Inner Temple
        Middle Temple
        Gray's Inn

The criteria they use for selection are:

Intellectual qualities (ability to analyse complex information and identify essentials, judgement, perceptiveness, good memory - academic achievement generally being good evidence on all counts)

• Motivation (very high level of drive and determination, commitment to appropriate aspects of work at the Bar)
• Relationships (ability to get on with a wide range of people, diplomacy, ability to sustain relationships)
• Character (calmness under fire, ability to work hard for long hours and against deadlines, sound personal values and integrity)
• Impact (articulacy, persuasiveness, confidence, ability to suit conduct to the occasion)

• All the Inns have huge sums of money to give to aspiring barristers in the form of Scholarships
• You can only apply to one Inn.
• You do not have to join an Inn before you apply, but if you are successful in gaining a Scholarship you would then have to join that Inn.
• Inner and Middle Temple interview all candidates who apply to them for a Scholarship.
• Lincoln's Inn and Gray's Inn preselect on application before interview.
• The closing date for Scholarship applications is Friday 6 November - check the time of day on each Inn's website. They are different.
• Make sure you have read and understood the reference requirements.  They differ for each Inn, too!
• Remember, the Inns award Scholarships based on merit but it is in your interests to provide your financial information, too.

 Good luck with your application!

Don't delay, apply today for NationalLaw Live in Manchester Friday 4 December

NationalLawLIVE is a one-day student careers conference for those considering a career at a large, national law firm.

It will take place in the conference centre at the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) in Manchester on Friday 4 December 2015.

NationalLawLIVE offers delegates an immersive, full-day event looking at the economics of national firms, what they do, how a career might progress and the life of lawyers working in this sort of business.
The event offers;

• advice on crafting excellent applications, shining at interview and forging a successful career;
• exposure to, and insight from, some of the UK’s most experienced recruiters and lawyers;
• networking opportunities with those same recruiters and lawyers, and fellow delegates; and
• participation in interactive firm-led workshops, which drill down into what it’s like to work in a particular practice area within a national firm.

Places are limited so don't delay in applying at http://www.nationallawlive.com/

Please note there is a charge of £24 to be paid if you are successful in gaining a place.

Important dates for all Second and Third Year Law Students

Welcome back to all returning Law students.

Here are a few key dates you need to be aware of:

•Wed 21 October 2.00 - 4.30pm  CWE019

    University of Law – LPC talk and

    Springboard into Law Part 1 –

    Training Contracts and Vac Schemes
 

Free tea, coffee and cakes will be available!

 

 

 

 

 

• Wed 28 October 10.00 – 4.00pm

    Airbus Employability Workshop

•Wed 2 December 1.00 – 3.00pm

    BPP Law School –

    Commercial Awareness for the Legal Sector
 

Please sign up for any of the above talks by emailing careers@chester.ac.uk

For further details please look at our website www.chester.ac.uk/careers
 

Also if you are interested in the Bar and want to apply for a Scholarship you must submit your application by Friday 6 November 2015. Please let me know and I can help you with your application but don't leave it until the last minute!

 

• Tues 17 November

        Manchester Law Fair
See details at http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/recruit/fairs/law/

Have a good term!

 

 

Welcome to Careers and Employability at the University of Chester

Hello

My name is Philippa Hardie and I am the specialist Law Career Consultant here at the University of Chester.

A warm welcome to the University and to Careers and Employability, in particular. Enjoy Freshers' Week!

You might wonder why you are getting this message about Careers so early in your studies but it really is important that you start thinking about your future, whether in Law or elsewhere, from Level 4 onwards.

I will be meeting all of you during the Law School Induction during Freshers' Week and hope to be able to talk to some of you at the Social Event on Tuesday 29 September.

I am based in Careers and Employability on the Parkgate Road campus opposite the Binks Building.

Please have a look at the Careers and Employability web pages at www.chester.ac.uk/careers where you will find further details of how we can help you:

UniJob (jobs on campus): closing date Monday 19th Oct 2015

Interested in part-time work on campus?

·        Download an application form via: www.chester.ac.uk/unijob 

·        Make sure your application stands out (we receive hundreds of applications each year for a few places):

·     Attend our workshop on submitting a successful UniJob application -

         14/10/15, 12-2pm – book a place via http://www.chester.ac.uk/eyetraining/book or email unijob@chester.ac.uk
 

Finding other part-time work:

·        Register for vacancy alerts via: http://www.chester.ac.uk/careers/vacancies

·        Email your draft CVs or applications to careers@chester.ac.uk if you’d like feedback

·        You can also call into one of our drop-ins with your CV or application:

·        Ring 01244 513066 (Chester), find out drop-in times for each week

Work Shadowing service (visits to organisations/companies to find out more about specific roles or areas of work):

·        Register online to receive monthly emails about work shadowing visits: www.chester.ac.uk/work-shadowing

Chester Difference Award (CDA) - gain points and Awards for extra-curricular activities to enhance your future employability:

·        Find out more about The CDA here: http://www.chester.ac.uk/careers/chester-difference-award

·        Download and complete The CDA application form here: http://www.chester.ac.uk/careers/chester-difference-award/apply

My email address is p.hardie@chester.ac.uk

I look forward to meeting you. Enjoy your studies!