Law is a highly competitive profession, with thousands of law graduates joining every year. Your chances of getting a training contract or pupillage are likely to be significantly improved if you apply with some practical legal work experience on your CV. There are many ways to go about this.
Formal Placements
Perhaps the most direct route is to apply to a London law firm, such as www.forsters.co.uk but your options are by no means limited to the capital. Large City firms, national practices and local solicitors run holiday schemes during the summer and Easter breaks, lasting up to four weeks. You rotate through several departments, gathering insights into the culture of the firm culture and opportunities for recruitment. Barristers’ chambers offer mini-pupillages which do the same for aspiring barristers.
Informal and Voluntary
You can shadow solicitors or visit courts to watch how hearings and cases are conducted. For direct exposure to clients you could volunteer for Citizens Advice, the Free Representation Unit or university pro bono clinics. Community legal centres and law centres that focus on family and criminal law are also open to volunteers.
Other Routes
University law societies hold mooting competitions to simulate court advocacy. There may be internships with in-house legal teams at corporations like Barclays and EY, or charities such as JUSTICE. Some smaller firms may agree to offer unpaid shadowing, which is ideal for gaining experience of non-commercial law.
Be persistent. Adapt your application to each organisation and remember the value of networking via lecturers and events. Any experience will give you some advantages.
