The Student Room Group
Discovering Higher and Degree Apprenticeships with UWE Bristol, get free advice >>
Uni students - Complete our survey >>
Discovering Higher and Degree Apprenticeships with UWE Bristol, get free advice >>
Uni students - Complete our survey >>

What to do before starting TC?

Hi all,

I have secured a training contract starting September 2020, but I have already finished the LPC. I'm wondering how best to fill the gap.

My firm is a shipping specialist and I feel I would want to qualify into the shipping department if possible. I also have an interest in employment, and experience of employment law.

Paralegalling is the obvious option but I'm not sure that this would really add much to my career. Shipping paralegal positions also seem to come up infrequently.

I know an LLM in Maritime Law can be useful going into this field, but I'm also not convinced of this as I already have a Master's in another field and have been studying for the past seven years so I am keen to start working (and earning!).

Any suggestions?
Try paralegalling in-house at a company in a field of interest. This a great way to pick up relevant industry knowledge that you might not necessarily find in a law firm, and also a good chance to build a network outside of just lawyers.

I’ve paralegalled both in-house and private practice and both offer very different experience in terms of wider knowledge. Culture is certainly different in-house, something which I have enjoyed more tbh.

Even consider other non-legal roles that would help inform your experience on a TC. The fact that you’ve done the LPC and secured a TC means you don’t necessarily need paralegal experience, altho it’s still not bad to have. A role that would help inform your legal interests would be useful. E.g. if you’re interested in Employment Law then perhaps try being a HR Business Partner - this experience would help in an Employment seat during a TC. I have a friend who was a production assistant at a film production company who has since gone on to qualify as an IP lawyer with particular specialism in film & TV matters - her experience as a PA helped with this.

Note I don’t currently have a TC so probably not best to advise! Hopefully that changes this recruitment cycle though.

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you