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

BPP Law School presentation - The Commercially Aware Lawyer Wednesday 6 December

BPP Law School is coming to the University of Chester on Wednesday 6 December to present on:

The commercially aware lawyer: What to bring to the table

Designed for aspiring solicitors, this interactive workshop is designed to cover the key attributes that recruiters look for in a prospective trainee.

The session includes:

·        What employers mean by commercial awareness

·        What it means to be a commercially aware lawyer in any area of law, including the high street

·        What commercial awareness means to clients

·        How to acquire, keep and demonstrate commercial awareness

·        Resilience - what is it, why is it needed and how to demonstrate it

·        Advice on how to enhance key employability skills.

The commercially aware lawyer: What to bring to the table – Training Session

Wednesday 6^th December 2017, 1:30 – 3:30 pm

Chester Parkgate Road Campus, Westminster CWE019

Book now: CareerHub. Don’t miss this opportunity!

ASK Law Q&A event on Wednesday 29 November 2017 - don't miss it!

This is an event not to be missed!

As part of the new ASK Q&A initiative  I have arranged for 3 speakers to come in to the University and answer

questions from students on anything concerning legal careers. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to talk to the speakers who are all from legal organisations in the North West.

Details are as follows:

We are organising a Law Q & A event as part of the ASK programme (Ask questions, Shape ideas, Kick-start Careers) on Wednesday 29 November.

This event will take place in White’s Dining Room from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. Free pizza will be provided!

The speakers attending are

Duncan McAllister, Partner, DTM Legal, Chester

Duncan is a partner in the dispute resolution department and has extensive experience in commercial disputes, particularly shareholder/partnership disputes, as well as employment issues such as breach of covenants and wrongful dismissal.

Alison Pye, Recruitment and Talent Specialist, Fletchers Solicitors, Southport

Alison deals with the recruitment of staff including trainees and paralegals to the firm

Shahid Azam, Solicitor and Team Leader, Riverview Law, Bromborough

Shahid works for Riverview, an Alternative Business Structure (ABS), based on the Wirral and in Manchester. Some of our Law graduates are working as Trainee Solicitors here.

This will be an excellent opportunity for networking so please don’t miss it!

You can book now on CareerHub.

Deadline for NationalLawLive extended to Sunday 5 November 2017

NationalLawLive - Manchester, Friday 1 December 2017

Please see below - deadline for applications extended to Sunday 5 November 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 5 November 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.

New resource for students - The Lawyer Portal

Want access to an amazing, brand new, FREE service to help you in your legal career? 

Check out The Lawyer Portal - officially partnered with The Bar Council and CILEX! 

Free guides written by lawyers and top law firms like Freshfields covering training contracts, pupillage, vacation schemes and mini-pupillage. Plus deadline calendars and direct links to application forms - 

 The Lawyer Portal

Find out more about being a TLP Ambassador for the University of Chester here