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Work Experience for Law
I was wondering, how many people who study law / intend to study law have done work experience with a law firm or similar? I have tried to find work exp. at a local solicitors but have never managed to find anywhere that would take on a 6th form student. I do have [or, actually, will have] work exp. that isn't relevant- i.e. working three weeks in the Finance and Mangement departments of a large international company, plus yr 10 work experience and Saturday jobs. But still, will I be greatly disadvantaged when applying for law, seeing as most people seem to have done relevant work exp.? Assuming I have fairly good grades and other extra-curricular activities etc.?
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If you can show your interest in law in another way, for example by reading books on law....or attending 'law conferences' then it shouldn't matter too much. However...you should still try to get some work-experience....i did a week in a solicitors firm and they brought it up in interview.
Good luck
G
Good luck
G
When I was 16 years old I did two weeks of work experience with a solicitor, I just phoned up and asked if they accept applications at all and then sent off my application and CV. I wasn't asked to an interview, but to a sort of informal chat beforehand. Then at sixth-form I shadowed a barrister on two occasions (for just one day, each).
Try asking your parents, relatives, teachers etc. if they know a barrister or solicitor, then phone them up and ask if you can send them an application. If they can't take you for whatever reason, try asking them if they knew someone in their firm (or outside) who might be willing to take you.
Good luck!
Try asking your parents, relatives, teachers etc. if they know a barrister or solicitor, then phone them up and ask if you can send them an application. If they can't take you for whatever reason, try asking them if they knew someone in their firm (or outside) who might be willing to take you.
Good luck!
Reply 3
Thanks for the replies. Yes, I intend to keep looking but I'm not having much luck and time before applying is quite limited, so it might come down to just having to show my interest in law in other ways, like background reading etc.
ChloeChloe
Thanks for the replies. Yes, I intend to keep looking but I'm not having much luck and time before applying is quite limited, so it might come down to just having to show my interest in law in other ways, like background reading etc.
ChloeChloe
Thanks for the replies. Yes, I intend to keep looking but I'm not having much luck and time before applying is quite limited, so it might come down to just having to show my interest in law in other ways, like background reading etc.
I went to a law conference in London about the criminal justice system which was for A-level studsents...even though i don't do a level law....so if you're interested...i'll try and dig up a link for you.
G
Reply 6
gzftan
I went to a law conference in London about the criminal justice system which was for A-level studsents...even though i don't do a level law....so if you're interested...i'll try and dig up a link for you.
G
G
Thanks, that would be great.
Yes, I had thought about going to sit in on things in court as well. I just still feel that no matter how many other law-related things I do, they won't quite make up for the lack of work exp. at a law firm or with a solicitor / barrister that many other applicants will more than likely have.
Yes, I had thought about going to sit in on things in court as well. I just still feel that no matter how many other law-related things I do, they won't quite make up for the lack of work exp. at a law firm or with a solicitor / barrister that many other applicants will more than likely have.
Reply 7
I would really recommend you do all you can to get some work experience. The magistrates courts would probably take you quite readily, and if you get chatting to enough people there then you may get to shadow a stipendiary judge there or something - warning magistrates courts are pretty boring as they do deal with the lesser cases and I turned down the offer of spending more time with a stipendiary because of this!
Be really persistent, email as many chambers and solicitors firms in your area as possible. Also it may be worth contacting your local crown court asking if you could marshal for a judge (this is something I did and it was a very worthwhile experience, though I knew the judge through a friend and thats how I got it, don't know how easy it would be to get it otherwise.)
If your college does it get involved in the Nation Mock Trial Bar Compeition (I think this is what it is called) and aim for getting the role of barrister - a really fantastic experience that looks great on your personal statement and from this I got work experience with barrister's present at the court so good for contacts too.
Failing this, definately make sure you go and watch court cases and in your personal statement appear really interested in what you saw and talk abou what you found interesting.
Also any debating experience could look good - see if tehre are any local competitions or anything like that.
Hope that was helpful, if you want to have a look at my personal statement send me a private message and i'll email it to you
Be really persistent, email as many chambers and solicitors firms in your area as possible. Also it may be worth contacting your local crown court asking if you could marshal for a judge (this is something I did and it was a very worthwhile experience, though I knew the judge through a friend and thats how I got it, don't know how easy it would be to get it otherwise.)
If your college does it get involved in the Nation Mock Trial Bar Compeition (I think this is what it is called) and aim for getting the role of barrister - a really fantastic experience that looks great on your personal statement and from this I got work experience with barrister's present at the court so good for contacts too.
Failing this, definately make sure you go and watch court cases and in your personal statement appear really interested in what you saw and talk abou what you found interesting.
Also any debating experience could look good - see if tehre are any local competitions or anything like that.
Hope that was helpful, if you want to have a look at my personal statement send me a private message and i'll email it to you
ChloeChloe
Thanks, that would be great.
Yes, I had thought about going to sit in on things in court as well. I just still feel that no matter how many other law-related things I do, they won't quite make up for the lack of work exp. at a law firm or with a solicitor / barrister that many other applicants will more than likely have.
Yes, I had thought about going to sit in on things in court as well. I just still feel that no matter how many other law-related things I do, they won't quite make up for the lack of work exp. at a law firm or with a solicitor / barrister that many other applicants will more than likely have.
Here's the link...
http://www.a-grades.com/
With regards to WE...you should do what fit said....just keep applying and 'harrassing' law firms..and i'm sure at least one of them will give you a place.
G
Reply 10
ChloeChloe
I was wondering, how many people who study law / intend to study law have done work experience with a law firm or similar? I have tried to find work exp. at a local solicitors but have never managed to find anywhere that would take on a 6th form student. I do have [or, actually, will have] work exp. that isn't relevant- i.e. working three weeks in the Finance and Mangement departments of a large international company, plus yr 10 work experience and Saturday jobs. But still, will I be greatly disadvantaged when applying for law, seeing as most people seem to have done relevant work exp.? Assuming I have fairly good grades and other extra-curricular activities etc.?
Its quite invaluable
Reply 11
Is it possible if I could martial a judge in specialist courts such as the patents county court, copyright tribunal, trade marks registry etc?
I am seriously thinking in joining the Intellectual Property Institute as this is what I want to get into, amongst other related areas. Then, if possible, upon being a member attend their exclusive seminars. Then may be I could ask a member of staff like the secretary and ask if I could do some voluntary work with specialist judges like Lord Justice Jacob and Mr Justice Laddie? Don't know what the chances are but it's worth a try.
Anyone else managed to get involved with voluntary work with judges on specialist areas in particularly?
I guess this is more likely to be done during degree. Just I've already thought of joining Gray's Inn and they do a court pupillage, which no other does. And if I manage to shadow a judge for experience and get good results, this should show to Gray's Inn why I have chosen them.
Any thoughts will be most welcomed. I'm starting to wish I had considered law a lot sooner than I did in my life.
Thanks, Az.
I am seriously thinking in joining the Intellectual Property Institute as this is what I want to get into, amongst other related areas. Then, if possible, upon being a member attend their exclusive seminars. Then may be I could ask a member of staff like the secretary and ask if I could do some voluntary work with specialist judges like Lord Justice Jacob and Mr Justice Laddie? Don't know what the chances are but it's worth a try.
Anyone else managed to get involved with voluntary work with judges on specialist areas in particularly?
I guess this is more likely to be done during degree. Just I've already thought of joining Gray's Inn and they do a court pupillage, which no other does. And if I manage to shadow a judge for experience and get good results, this should show to Gray's Inn why I have chosen them.
Any thoughts will be most welcomed. I'm starting to wish I had considered law a lot sooner than I did in my life.
Thanks, Az.
Reply 12
ChloeChloe
I was wondering, how many people who study law / intend to study law have done work experience with a law firm or similar? I have tried to find work exp. at a local solicitors but have never managed to find anywhere that would take on a 6th form student. I do have [or, actually, will have] work exp. that isn't relevant- i.e. working three weeks in the Finance and Mangement departments of a large international company, plus yr 10 work experience and Saturday jobs. But still, will I be greatly disadvantaged when applying for law, seeing as most people seem to have done relevant work exp.? Assuming I have fairly good grades and other extra-curricular activities etc.?
I decided on a law degree quite late, and although i have had some experience (attending court hearings with my now gap year emplyers) I havnt spent any time working in a solicitors or chambers, and I got offers from lse and ucl, just show you are interested in other ways, work experience is not the most important thing in the world, but it can be very useful I gather, so am therefore currently seeking some in the forthcoming summer.
Reply 13
i am currently looking for a work experience placement in a solicitor firm,and i am finding it really difficult.i have triedsigning onto agencies such as moser legal and jm legal to to no avail.when you apply for a job they like it when the person has got experience but how do they expect us to get experience when they not giving us a chance.i have been looking for an office junior/office assistant role for over a year and a half with no luck.the worst thing is that know that i am capable of doing this type of work i did my gcse's ,A s level and i just successfully passed my ilex vocational legal studies level 2 exam.
CRAP
CRAP
Dreama
I was fortunate enough to spend a week with a Crown Court Judge. Tremendous experience 
Good luck
Good luck
Did you have any interesting cases? I went to the Crown Courts in Bristol and Swindon, one case was a 23 year old who slept with a 13 year old, and another was an ABH... It was interesting to talk to the barrister I was shadowing (who was working for the CPS), but it wasn't really overwhelming. We spent most of the time walking about the court looking for the defendants, the witnesses and the defence
Definately
Make sure at the end of your WorkEx you leave contact details and express an interest in returning...
I disagree with the opinion that Work Experience is useless..
It is, of course, the opposite! In a course as competitive as Law, you need to grab every single opportunity to tread on other people's heads
Dreama xxx
Make sure at the end of your WorkEx you leave contact details and express an interest in returning...
I disagree with the opinion that Work Experience is useless..
It is, of course, the opposite! In a course as competitive as Law, you need to grab every single opportunity to tread on other people's heads
Dreama xxx
I agree...work experience is one of the most important things you do because it either confirms your initial interest of something i.e. law, which means you would like to study it at uni, or it could completely dissuade you, which is equally as beneficial because it means you will not be doing a degree you hate for three or four years
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