ADVICE NEEDED: Training Contracts

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Be cautious about spending £thousands on the LPC if you don't have a training contract lined up. Latest figures are that there were 16,116 law graduates in 2014, but only 5,001 training contracts - and remember that a good proportion of those TCs go to non-law graduates. So even with a 2:1, nothing is guaranteed.

Reply 21

happyinthehaze

I agree - you need to pursue experience in areas that interest you for its own sake - there are loads of things that you can do; although work ex at law firms is a must, there are loads of things you can do around the edge you just need to think a bit sideways; it is entirely possible to build connections that can pay off in interview because you are genuinely interested in a particular case for example. I personally think drive and initiative are going to take you a long way

Original post by TurboCretin

You don't need a paralegal job to gain valuable experience/demonstrate interest. Most people at this stage simply do it to try and bring money in doing something relevant to their chosen career. Working as a caseworker will help to demonstrate some of the skills which firms seek in trainees, so that's good. But you're right to say that demonstrating interest in commercial work is something you will need to focus on.

Something which helped me a bit was thinking of things I could do with little permission from other people. If it's difficult to gain a position, start something on your own initiative. Start a society, start a commercial law blog - anything.

As J-SP says, apply to as many law firm open days as you can. They are easy to get a spot on (compared to vac schemes), and once you've done maybe ten of them it starts to demonstrate some genuine interest.

Reply 22

happyinthehaze

Use Chambers, make list of firms, target and keep applying and keep going. Target firms you want to work for - don't target firms you don't want to work for. There are many out there. Keep doing the apps - get useful experience, you must demonstrate your interest, you must give evidence.

I personally think, start now because it can take many apps to improve - the whole TC thing is a mission and you get better and better at it as you go along; your first round, you might not get a bite, then you will get one, then you will get several, then you will be batting them off!! (OK we all wish!) - but if you are doing it right, then it does kind of work like that.

Keep an open mind but follow your interests. And yes; I do believe that things that are deathly dull at an academic level are a lot more interesting in practice.

Start now, do not delay - target target target and get some proper experience - lots of exp from different sources - get going now!

If worried about paying for LPC, don't wait til you have a TC - dont forget people make their way twds qualification as a lawyer in a wider way than you will suspect

Original post by becc.a.j

I'm just about to start third year and I still haven't applied for training contracts. I want to be a solicitor so obviously the LPC is compulsory. However, much of the training contract applications with deadlines recently have been in the field of commercial law. An area not of interest.

I'd like to specialise in criminal/personal injury law....so how do I go about getting training contracts in this area????

Please help!