NationalLawLive applications now open for students - Manchester, Friday 1 December 2017

Are you considering a career at a large, national Law firm?  If so, this one day careers conference in Manchester on 1 December 2017, could be for you.  

Please see below for more details from the organiser, Lawcareers.net

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. It is timed to maximise the benefit to students intending to apply for 2018 vacation schemes.

The event includes:

• 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; and
• networking opportunities with those same recruiters and lawyers, and fellow delegates, including during interactive firm-led workshops, which drill down into what it’s like to work in a particular practice area within a national firm.

Why should you attend?

If you want to learn more about life as a lawyer in a national firm, from the people who are already living it and those who hire them, and you have the experience and grades to back up your enthusiasm, then NationalLawLIVE is the perfect event for you.

Who will be there?

Graduate recruiters, trainees, associates and partners from some of the UK’s most prestigious firms. You will have a chance to hear their opinions and advice, speak to them directly at the numerous networking opportunities and impress them personally during the workshops.

How do you apply?

The application form is available here. The closing date for applications is 29 October 2017 but applications will be looked at on a rolling basis so apply sooner!  

If you are successful in gaining a place you will have to pay the delegate fee of £24. 

Make sure that you give your application the due care and attention required; we are looking for many of the same things that law firms are, so consider this good practice!

Think you’ve got what it takes? We look forward to receiving your application and wish you luck in your bid to be one of the hand-picked delegates at this unique careers event.

Government Legal Service (GLS) legal trainee scheme now open for applications

The application process for the 2017 GLS Legal Trainee Scheme (LTS) is now open.

The deadline for completion of the application form and situational judgement test (SJT) is 12pm (noon) on Friday 28 July 2017.

There are 47 trainee solicitor and pupil barrister places being advertised this year and the majority of the places are for 2019.  However, there are some places still available for 2018. 

All trainee places will be based in London.

You must have, or be predicted to obtain, a minimum of a 2:2 in an undergraduate degree. This does not have to be in law.
Please see Psychometric tests to practise verbal, numerical and situational judgement tests before you do them as part of the application.

The GLS recruits most of its trainees 2 years in advance so you need to be at least  in your second year of a Law degree or the third year of a non-law degree to apply. Graduates can also apply.

For more information please click here

Book your place now at The University of Law's National Law Fair on 5 July 2017

The University of Law is holding its annual national law fair on Wednesday 5 July 2017 at its centre in Moorgate, London from 1.00pm to 4.00pm.  The fair is open to all Law students.

This is an excellent opportunity to speak to the law firms and organisations about work placements and training contracts.  

Please book here . There is also a list of firms and organisations attending on this website.

There is some very useful information - Preparing for the Law Fair - which I recommend you read before you attend.  

Don't delay, book today!

What do all those legal terms mean? Read this A-Z guide to find out!

Have you ever wondered what some legal jargon actually means?

Do you know the difference between an ABS and a traditional law firm?

What does ABS actually mean?  For those that don't know, it stands for Alternative Business Structure! They were brought in after the 2007 Legal Services Act.  An ABS is actually a structure which allows non-lawyers to have a financial stake in a law firm. Examples of ABSs include established Law firms such as Irwin Mitchell, Weightmans and Knights 1759.  Riverview Law, based in Bromborough, Wirral and Manchester is also an ABS, as is Co-operative Legal Services (CLS).

The Lex 100 has put together a very useful A-Z guide of legal terms here

It's especially important to know the relevant jargon when preparing for an interview at a law firm, so don't get caught out, do your research beforehand!

What we know so far about the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE)

Lawcareers.net has published an interesting article about the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) this week.

This is definitely worth a read for any student thinking of qualifying as a solicitor from 2020 onwards. 

From then there will be four elements to qualifying as a solicitor:

• gaining a degree or equivalent qualification;
• passing the SQE;
• completing two years’ qualifying legal work experience; and
• passing the SRA’s character and suitability test.

Anyone who has already started the process of qualifying as a solicitor by 2020 will be able to continue to do so for a number of years afterwards.

"The Solicitors Qualifying Examination:what we know so far" is available here

Deadlines for 2019 training contracts coming closer!

The deadline for the majority of training contracts for 2019 is still 31 July, but there are some firms who have decided to bring their deadlines forward, mainly to 30 June instead.

Don't be caught out by missing a deadline.  Some of the well-known firms with deadlines of 30 June include:

• Eversheds Sutherland ( nationwide)
• Brabners (Liverpool, Manchester, Preston)
• Irwin Mitchell (nationwide)
• Burnetts (Carlisle, Newcastle, Penrith, Cockermouth)
• Shoosmiths (nationwide)

For the full list Lawcareers.net is probably the best resource. It is worth remembering that these deadlines do, on the whole, apply only to the larger commercial Law firms.

Use the list to identify firms you wish to apply for, note the closing date, so you leave yourself enough time to put together a strong application.

My piece of advice on this is, that it is better to do fewer applications but do each one well, than to try to do as many as possible before the deadline.

There are resources available to help you with your applications on CareerHub as well as on Lawcareers.net

Fieldfisher, a European law firm with a particular focus on technology, finance & financial services and energy &natural resources, will be hosting an early assessment centre on 15 July for training contracts starting in 2019 in London.

Applicants need to have applied and also completed the required psychometric tests before 2 July in order to be eligible to attend the assessment centre on 15 July, if selected.

More information on Fieldfisher can be found here

What next after your Law degree? What are your options with postgraduate study?

Many of you now coming to the end of your undergraduate Law degree may be thinking about           postgraduate study for next academic year or beyond.

This can be divided as follows:

Vocational Study related to your Law degree

This, at present, comprises the Legal Practice Course (LPC) for aspiring solicitors or the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) for intending barristers.

LPC

If you are considering applying for the LPC for September 2017 there are still places available at most providers.

There is no official closing date so providers will keep their course lists open for as long as possible.

If you study the LPC LLM, MSc in Law, Business and Management, or the new MA Law at the University of Law, you could be eligible for a £10,280 postgraduate loan from the Student Loans Company.  Similarly, BPP Law School offers the LLM Legal Practice, which would also qualify you for a postgraduate loan.

How to apply

If you are applying for a full time LPC, you use the Central Applications Board website Lawcabs
You are allowed to make up to 3 choices of institution.  Bear in mind, that if you are a Law student at the University of Chester, you are guaranteed a place at the University of Law centre of your choice, provided you get at least a 2:2 in your undergraduate degree.

BPTC

Applications for the BPTC have now closed for September 2017 and will reopen for 2018 in late November. Check for updates on the BarSAS website.

You will also have to pass the Bar Course Aptitude Test before starting your course. See
Bar Standards Board for further information.

You must also join one of the Inns of Court before enrolling on the BPTC.

Don't forget, there are large sums of money available in scholarships from the Inns of Court. 

• The application deadline for scholarships is always the first Friday in November in the year before you wish to commence the BPTC.
• You can only apply to one Inn.

Both the University of Law and BPP Law School offer BPTC LLM course which would make you eligible for a Student Loans Company Postgraduate Loan.

Academic study related to your Law degree

LLM

You might be thinking about going on to Masters study and, in particular an LLM.  This could be a good idea if you really want to focus on a particular area of law, such as Human Rights, and intend to forge a career using that expertise.

A few points to remember about studying a Masters:

• It can be expensive, though a Student Loans Company Postgraduate Loan of up to £10,280 could help you with the finances. See Find A Masters for details.

• If you had received a postgraduate loan for an LLM you would not be eligible for more funding from the Student Loans Company in order to study for an LPC or BPTC LLM

• You can often study part-time enabling you to work at the same time as studying

• You need to be motivated to study your chosen specialism at a higher level.  Even if you are doing a taught Masters as opposed to a Research Masters (known as an MPhil) you will be expected to carry out hours of study outside of lectures.

• Think again, if you are considering a Masters to make up for a poor result in your undergraduate degree.  Employers will see through this and look at your original degree result first!