Training Contract Advice
I have been applying for training contracts for a while now and have been unsuccessful. I understand that the competition is fierce, and so I would like to ask for advice. I hoped to hear another point of view and understand what else I can do. I think a good starting point will be outlining my background.
I graduated in 2021 from a top 30 law school (Russell Group) with a first class. I really enjoyed my time at university, but it is not a highly regarded school for law. My degree integrated a year abroad which I did in Hong Kong. I also interned in Singapore (one month in-house legal internship), and studied law in Paris (summer course, competitive placement).
I have taken part in extracurricular activities during university, which include the StreetLaw project, negotiation competition, mediation course (training approved by the College of Mediators and certified by The CPD Certification Service). I also gained some experience through one of my modules (family law) which focused on providing legal advice under the supervision of a family law solicitor to individuals who approached the university law clinic.
I think my A-Levels are part of what is hampering my chances as I scored an A, B, C, and D.
I understand that my background is not exceptional, and other candidates have stronger marks from more prestigious universities, along with better extracurricular activities.
What I would ask for, is an objective opinion on my potential chances of securing a training contract, and anything else I should be doing. I am presently applying for practice assistant roles, paralegal roles, and training contracts. I have also looked at the GLS (application in process).
The firms I would be interested in are White & Case, HFW, and Herbert Smith Freehills, Taylor Wessing, and Mishcon de Reya.
I am happy to provide more details if helpful. Any advice would be really appreciated.
I graduated in 2021 from a top 30 law school (Russell Group) with a first class. I really enjoyed my time at university, but it is not a highly regarded school for law. My degree integrated a year abroad which I did in Hong Kong. I also interned in Singapore (one month in-house legal internship), and studied law in Paris (summer course, competitive placement).
I have taken part in extracurricular activities during university, which include the StreetLaw project, negotiation competition, mediation course (training approved by the College of Mediators and certified by The CPD Certification Service). I also gained some experience through one of my modules (family law) which focused on providing legal advice under the supervision of a family law solicitor to individuals who approached the university law clinic.
I think my A-Levels are part of what is hampering my chances as I scored an A, B, C, and D.
I understand that my background is not exceptional, and other candidates have stronger marks from more prestigious universities, along with better extracurricular activities.
What I would ask for, is an objective opinion on my potential chances of securing a training contract, and anything else I should be doing. I am presently applying for practice assistant roles, paralegal roles, and training contracts. I have also looked at the GLS (application in process).
The firms I would be interested in are White & Case, HFW, and Herbert Smith Freehills, Taylor Wessing, and Mishcon de Reya.
I am happy to provide more details if helpful. Any advice would be really appreciated.
(edited 1 year ago)
KC
A first class degree from a strong university is a big positive so well done there, ditto the extracurriculars sound positive too.
The A levels are in truth not ideal but I think on balance the first class degree offsets this mostly on the academic side - some firms will simply operate to a "you need AAB" or similar when reviewing applications so you may find yourself simply screened out. This was the case when I was applying for contracts 15 years ago - firms may take a slightly more flexible approach now. Essentially you will be up against candidates with decent 2.1s, the odd first and straight As with the odd B on the A levels.
What legal work experience do you have? ie. vac schemes, paralegalling, informal work experience in legal departments where friends/family work? Gaining as much of this as possible is key.
Is there any particular reason you've singled out the firms you have as they are all very different? TC applications are very much a numbers game and I remember making about 30 in a year to get my offer and if I had my time again I would have made more. Are you making it through to interview stage or not?
Without knowing more at this stage - I'd say your chances are reasonable - not great, not terrible. If I was in your position I would be trying to obtain as much work experience as possible (ideally paid paralegalling if you can) + anything else to maximise your chances and make a decision on how many yearly cycles of applications you're willing to make before looking at any alternative careers or options.
A first class degree from a strong university is a big positive so well done there, ditto the extracurriculars sound positive too.
The A levels are in truth not ideal but I think on balance the first class degree offsets this mostly on the academic side - some firms will simply operate to a "you need AAB" or similar when reviewing applications so you may find yourself simply screened out. This was the case when I was applying for contracts 15 years ago - firms may take a slightly more flexible approach now. Essentially you will be up against candidates with decent 2.1s, the odd first and straight As with the odd B on the A levels.
What legal work experience do you have? ie. vac schemes, paralegalling, informal work experience in legal departments where friends/family work? Gaining as much of this as possible is key.
Is there any particular reason you've singled out the firms you have as they are all very different? TC applications are very much a numbers game and I remember making about 30 in a year to get my offer and if I had my time again I would have made more. Are you making it through to interview stage or not?
Without knowing more at this stage - I'd say your chances are reasonable - not great, not terrible. If I was in your position I would be trying to obtain as much work experience as possible (ideally paid paralegalling if you can) + anything else to maximise your chances and make a decision on how many yearly cycles of applications you're willing to make before looking at any alternative careers or options.
Original post by AMac86
KC
A first class degree from a strong university is a big positive so well done there, ditto the extracurriculars sound positive too.
The A levels are in truth not ideal but I think on balance the first class degree offsets this mostly on the academic side - some firms will simply operate to a "you need AAB" or similar when reviewing applications so you may find yourself simply screened out. This was the case when I was applying for contracts 15 years ago - firms may take a slightly more flexible approach now. Essentially you will be up against candidates with decent 2.1s, the odd first and straight As with the odd B on the A levels.
What legal work experience do you have? ie. vac schemes, paralegalling, informal work experience in legal departments where friends/family work? Gaining as much of this as possible is key.
Is there any particular reason you've singled out the firms you have as they are all very different? TC applications are very much a numbers game and I remember making about 30 in a year to get my offer and if I had my time again I would have made more. Are you making it through to interview stage or not?
Without knowing more at this stage - I'd say your chances are reasonable - not great, not terrible. If I was in your position I would be trying to obtain as much work experience as possible (ideally paid paralegalling if you can) + anything else to maximise your chances and make a decision on how many yearly cycles of applications you're willing to make before looking at any alternative careers or options.
A first class degree from a strong university is a big positive so well done there, ditto the extracurriculars sound positive too.
The A levels are in truth not ideal but I think on balance the first class degree offsets this mostly on the academic side - some firms will simply operate to a "you need AAB" or similar when reviewing applications so you may find yourself simply screened out. This was the case when I was applying for contracts 15 years ago - firms may take a slightly more flexible approach now. Essentially you will be up against candidates with decent 2.1s, the odd first and straight As with the odd B on the A levels.
What legal work experience do you have? ie. vac schemes, paralegalling, informal work experience in legal departments where friends/family work? Gaining as much of this as possible is key.
Is there any particular reason you've singled out the firms you have as they are all very different? TC applications are very much a numbers game and I remember making about 30 in a year to get my offer and if I had my time again I would have made more. Are you making it through to interview stage or not?
Without knowing more at this stage - I'd say your chances are reasonable - not great, not terrible. If I was in your position I would be trying to obtain as much work experience as possible (ideally paid paralegalling if you can) + anything else to maximise your chances and make a decision on how many yearly cycles of applications you're willing to make before looking at any alternative careers or options.
AMac86,
Thank you kindly for taking the time to respond, this is helpful.
LEGAL EXPERIENCE
In terms of legal experience, this is quite limited. My only legal experience was in the in-house team of a Singaporean “maritime company involved in shipping, floating infrastructure, deepwater oil & gas production, and new sustainable technologies.” My work mainly involved document review and legal research. During university, one of my modules also involved legal work. For example, I wrote letters of advice and attended meetings whilst recording my work on system akin to that which lawyers use at law firms. Unfortunately, I cannot remember the name of it.
FIRM SELECTION
I chose the noted firms for varying reasons. Please see these noted below:
• White & Case: International law firm offering a guaranteed international secondment with a brilliant international arbitration team (IA). IA is what I hope my practice to focus on. I really enjoyed this module during my time at university, and also had some exposure to it in Singapore. I also attended the Arbitration academy in Paris and found the subject fascinating, cementing my decision to pursue this area of the law.
• HFW: Another international law firm which offers its trainees an international secondment. I understand that they have a strong shipping practice, which will offer a great opportunity to develop as an international arbitration practitioner, as it is my understanding that these types of disputes are often resolved in IA.
• HSF: Another strong disputes practice, particularly on the international arbitration side.
• Taylor Wessing: Very talented individuals working at this firm. I have spoken to the Head of their Private Equity team and have heard remarkable things about them. It would be a privilege to work under someone like this. I have also heard that the culture is fantastic.
• Mishcon de Reya: Another strong disputes practice.
I am mindful that these reasons are not very detailed, but this is an outline of my motivations for applying for them.
GAINING LEGAL WORK EXPERIENCE
On the point of gaining legal work experience, I have been applying to paralegal and practice assistant positions with no luck. I have reached out to recruiters to assist also but have been unsuccessful. Unfortunately, I have not made it to the interview stage.
I have also applied for the Government Legal Scheme (GLS). I have recently completed their Verbal Reasoning Test, with results being announced between the 12 – 14 June. Do you think I will have a better chance at securing a role here?
Based on this information, are you able to provide any further details as to what you think my chances may be at securing a training contract?
An as aside, I also considered doing an LLM. If I was to do this, I would apply to universities such as UCL and LSE. If I did an LLM at one of these universities, and secured a distinction, do you think this would improve my chances when applying for training contracts?
Thank you again for taking the time to respond.
(edited 1 year ago)
KC,
What you need to maximise your chances is legal work experience, however you can find it. I wouldn't recommend doing an LLM unless you want to do it purely for your own academic interest, it won't make any difference to applying for training contracts - particularly as you already tick the degree level academics box already. From my perspective - it's an expensive waste of a year when you could be doing something much more useful to get that TC.
How many TC applications are you making/ have you made, and are you getting through to interview stage or not?
Re work experience this is what I would do (and mostly did):
1) relentlessly apply for vac schemes at firms that offer them - it's a number games, the application need to be good quality, but you also need to do as many as you can
2) continue applying for paralegaling/legal assistant/company secretarial roles - again as many applications as you can.
3) - do you have any contacts through friends or family who work in companies that have a legal team/function/solicitor and can arrange some work experience, or a paralegaling role for you that way? I had no background or contacts in law but managed to gain some incredibly useful work experience from family friends who wern't lawyers, but worked in an office where they could ask the legal team "can a friend come in for a week of work experience" - this then led to a summer working as a legal assistant for the legal team of a local company.
I wouldn't pin your hopes on wanting to work for a specific firm and qualifying in a specific department, particularly a relatively niche area like International Arb & the firms that offer is (Like W&C, HSF etc... tend to be those wanting top top academics. All big firms have talented individuals working for them and who the head of private equity is is frankly irrelevant to a trainee or NQ - You'll be working for associates or senior associates and how they treat you is far more important. Culture is important and it does differ between firms, but ultimately if you're looking to do international work at city firms the culture is going to be pretty hard nosed and involve regular long, stressful hours with demanding clients wanting another all-nighter pulled to get something done. Not to say training at a city firm isn't great experience (it is), but it has its costs and drawbacks too. Obviously when you're applying you need to find some hook to answer the "Why Firm X" question but the reality is as a trainee or an NQ it's much of muchness which city firm you work for within their broad categories.
Realistically - do you have a reasonably chance of training at a top city or US firm that offers Int Arb as a seat? Unfortunately I think the answer here is no. I have a former international arbitrator in my team and he has a Oxbridge first and top A levels, very sharp, very astute
What you do have a chance of is finding a training contract *somewhere* and that needs to be your mental approach. That means working on increasing the work experience mentioned above, and applying for as many training contracts as you can in London, or any other area you would like to work in that does commercial work, many of these firms will be smaller that what you might want, but unless you end up with multiple offers you can't be fussy. Apply to the big firms too, because you never know..., but apply, apply, apply.
It's really hard to put chances into numerical terms because we're all different, your CV might catch someones eye, an interview goes incredibly well, you only need 1 lucky break etc... There's a chance, not a good chance, not a remote chance, but a chance. I would give it your best shot for up to 2 years so you've had at least 2 rounds of application cycles to see how it goes before re-appraising whether you want to keep trying.
What you need to maximise your chances is legal work experience, however you can find it. I wouldn't recommend doing an LLM unless you want to do it purely for your own academic interest, it won't make any difference to applying for training contracts - particularly as you already tick the degree level academics box already. From my perspective - it's an expensive waste of a year when you could be doing something much more useful to get that TC.
How many TC applications are you making/ have you made, and are you getting through to interview stage or not?
Re work experience this is what I would do (and mostly did):
1) relentlessly apply for vac schemes at firms that offer them - it's a number games, the application need to be good quality, but you also need to do as many as you can
2) continue applying for paralegaling/legal assistant/company secretarial roles - again as many applications as you can.
3) - do you have any contacts through friends or family who work in companies that have a legal team/function/solicitor and can arrange some work experience, or a paralegaling role for you that way? I had no background or contacts in law but managed to gain some incredibly useful work experience from family friends who wern't lawyers, but worked in an office where they could ask the legal team "can a friend come in for a week of work experience" - this then led to a summer working as a legal assistant for the legal team of a local company.
I wouldn't pin your hopes on wanting to work for a specific firm and qualifying in a specific department, particularly a relatively niche area like International Arb & the firms that offer is (Like W&C, HSF etc... tend to be those wanting top top academics. All big firms have talented individuals working for them and who the head of private equity is is frankly irrelevant to a trainee or NQ - You'll be working for associates or senior associates and how they treat you is far more important. Culture is important and it does differ between firms, but ultimately if you're looking to do international work at city firms the culture is going to be pretty hard nosed and involve regular long, stressful hours with demanding clients wanting another all-nighter pulled to get something done. Not to say training at a city firm isn't great experience (it is), but it has its costs and drawbacks too. Obviously when you're applying you need to find some hook to answer the "Why Firm X" question but the reality is as a trainee or an NQ it's much of muchness which city firm you work for within their broad categories.
Realistically - do you have a reasonably chance of training at a top city or US firm that offers Int Arb as a seat? Unfortunately I think the answer here is no. I have a former international arbitrator in my team and he has a Oxbridge first and top A levels, very sharp, very astute
What you do have a chance of is finding a training contract *somewhere* and that needs to be your mental approach. That means working on increasing the work experience mentioned above, and applying for as many training contracts as you can in London, or any other area you would like to work in that does commercial work, many of these firms will be smaller that what you might want, but unless you end up with multiple offers you can't be fussy. Apply to the big firms too, because you never know..., but apply, apply, apply.
It's really hard to put chances into numerical terms because we're all different, your CV might catch someones eye, an interview goes incredibly well, you only need 1 lucky break etc... There's a chance, not a good chance, not a remote chance, but a chance. I would give it your best shot for up to 2 years so you've had at least 2 rounds of application cycles to see how it goes before re-appraising whether you want to keep trying.
I agree. Ditch the list and just apply. I applied to loads in the final year of my LLB. This was a very long time ago as I am old and I applied to 139 London firms that year and had 25 interviews - definitely in my case a numbers game and I got the offer in Feb., before I finished my LLB for after my post grad year so that was a huge relief. I don't suggest everyone has to apply to 139 firms and these days the process is longer than must application form and getting trains to London for interviews of my day, but you certainly need to put a lot of work into applications and just keep going with vac scheme and TC applications.
You graduated presumably in law in 2021. You could have had 2 years of qualifying work experience by now in some paralegal jobs and then qualified as soon as SQE1 and 2 ere passed so may be you need to forget about those very hard to get into top law firms, get a paralegal job in any kind of firm at all but making sure whatever it is count as QWE under the new system and then consider studying for SQE1 and 2 at the same time to get qualified that way.
You graduated presumably in law in 2021. You could have had 2 years of qualifying work experience by now in some paralegal jobs and then qualified as soon as SQE1 and 2 ere passed so may be you need to forget about those very hard to get into top law firms, get a paralegal job in any kind of firm at all but making sure whatever it is count as QWE under the new system and then consider studying for SQE1 and 2 at the same time to get qualified that way.
Original post by KC1976
An as aside, I also considered doing an LLM. If I was to do this, I would apply to universities such as UCL and LSE. If I did an LLM at one of these universities, and secured a distinction, do you think this would improve my chances when applying for training contracts?
Thank you again for taking the time to respond.
My cousin attended a top 50 university for Law and achieved a first class honours degree. Then she did a LLM in Intellectual Property Law and obtained a Merit at Kings College London. Also she did the LPC as well. Now she is a paralegal, and will go onto become a City law firm solicitor in a few years.
So if I was you, apply to LLM programmes: Cambridge, LSE, UCL, KCL, QMUL and SOAS.
Original post by KC1976
I have been applying for training contracts for a while now and have been unsuccessful. I understand that the competition is fierce, and so I would like to ask for advice. I hoped to hear another point of view and understand what else I can do. I think a good starting point will be outlining my background.
I graduated in 2021 from a top 30 law school (Russell Group) with a first class. I really enjoyed my time at university, but it is not a highly regarded school for law. My degree integrated a year abroad which I did in Hong Kong. I also interned in Singapore (one month in-house legal internship), and studied law in Paris (summer course, competitive placement).
I have taken part in extracurricular activities during university, which include the StreetLaw project, negotiation competition, mediation course (training approved by the College of Mediators and certified by The CPD Certification Service). I also gained some experience through one of my modules (family law) which focused on providing legal advice under the supervision of a family law solicitor to individuals who approached the university law clinic.
I think my A-Levels are part of what is hampering my chances as I scored an A, B, C, and D.
I understand that my background is not exceptional, and other candidates have stronger marks from more prestigious universities, along with better extracurricular activities.
What I would ask for, is an objective opinion on my potential chances of securing a training contract, and anything else I should be doing. I am presently applying for practice assistant roles, paralegal roles, and training contracts. I have also looked at the GLS (application in process).
The firms I would be interested in are White & Case, HFW, and Herbert Smith Freehills, Taylor Wessing, and Mishcon de Reya.
I am happy to provide more details if helpful. Any advice would be really appreciated.
I graduated in 2021 from a top 30 law school (Russell Group) with a first class. I really enjoyed my time at university, but it is not a highly regarded school for law. My degree integrated a year abroad which I did in Hong Kong. I also interned in Singapore (one month in-house legal internship), and studied law in Paris (summer course, competitive placement).
I have taken part in extracurricular activities during university, which include the StreetLaw project, negotiation competition, mediation course (training approved by the College of Mediators and certified by The CPD Certification Service). I also gained some experience through one of my modules (family law) which focused on providing legal advice under the supervision of a family law solicitor to individuals who approached the university law clinic.
I think my A-Levels are part of what is hampering my chances as I scored an A, B, C, and D.
I understand that my background is not exceptional, and other candidates have stronger marks from more prestigious universities, along with better extracurricular activities.
What I would ask for, is an objective opinion on my potential chances of securing a training contract, and anything else I should be doing. I am presently applying for practice assistant roles, paralegal roles, and training contracts. I have also looked at the GLS (application in process).
The firms I would be interested in are White & Case, HFW, and Herbert Smith Freehills, Taylor Wessing, and Mishcon de Reya.
I am happy to provide more details if helpful. Any advice would be really appreciated.
Hey KC,
How did you get on?
I am looking to study Law LLB for 2025 and securing a training contract is a major concern for me. I understand that it will be a couple years until I have to worry about getting one however trying to find a university that would help me essentially has been a headache. What russell group university did you go to if you don't mind me asking?
Original post by thegeek888
My cousin attended a top 50 university for Law and achieved a first class honours degree. Then she did a LLM in Intellectual Property Law and obtained a Merit at Kings College London. Also she did the LPC as well. Now she is a paralegal, and will go onto become a City law firm solicitor in a few years.
So if I was you, apply to LLM programmes: Cambridge, LSE, UCL, KCL, QMUL and SOAS.
So if I was you, apply to LLM programmes: Cambridge, LSE, UCL, KCL, QMUL and SOAS.
As noted above, an LLM will make no difference to a candidate's chances of obtaining a training contract. I reiterate the advice that a candidate may have to apply to a wide range of firms, including perhaps firms outside London.
Some people who sign on as paralegals in big firms progress to be trainee solicitors. Others find themselves trapped as paralegals, with no career progression. Boutique firms may offer a more viable path from paralegal to trainee to solicitor.
The brutal reality is that there are more aspirants for places than there are places available, and as someone suggested above each aspirant has to take a view on how many cycles of applications he or she is willing to go through before he or she either obtains a contract or decides on a different career.
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by KC1976
I have been applying for training contracts for a while now and have been unsuccessful. I understand that the competition is fierce, and so I would like to ask for advice. I hoped to hear another point of view and understand what else I can do. I think a good starting point will be outlining my background.
I graduated in 2021 from a top 30 law school (Russell Group) with a first class. I really enjoyed my time at university, but it is not a highly regarded school for law. My degree integrated a year abroad which I did in Hong Kong. I also interned in Singapore (one month in-house legal internship), and studied law in Paris (summer course, competitive placement).
I have taken part in extracurricular activities during university, which include the StreetLaw project, negotiation competition, mediation course (training approved by the College of Mediators and certified by The CPD Certification Service). I also gained some experience through one of my modules (family law) which focused on providing legal advice under the supervision of a family law solicitor to individuals who approached the university law clinic.
I think my A-Levels are part of what is hampering my chances as I scored an A, B, C, and D.
I understand that my background is not exceptional, and other candidates have stronger marks from more prestigious universities, along with better extracurricular activities.
What I would ask for, is an objective opinion on my potential chances of securing a training contract, and anything else I should be doing. I am presently applying for practice assistant roles, paralegal roles, and training contracts. I have also looked at the GLS (application in process).
The firms I would be interested in are White & Case, HFW, and Herbert Smith Freehills, Taylor Wessing, and Mishcon de Reya.
I am happy to provide more details if helpful. Any advice would be really appreciated.
I graduated in 2021 from a top 30 law school (Russell Group) with a first class. I really enjoyed my time at university, but it is not a highly regarded school for law. My degree integrated a year abroad which I did in Hong Kong. I also interned in Singapore (one month in-house legal internship), and studied law in Paris (summer course, competitive placement).
I have taken part in extracurricular activities during university, which include the StreetLaw project, negotiation competition, mediation course (training approved by the College of Mediators and certified by The CPD Certification Service). I also gained some experience through one of my modules (family law) which focused on providing legal advice under the supervision of a family law solicitor to individuals who approached the university law clinic.
I think my A-Levels are part of what is hampering my chances as I scored an A, B, C, and D.
I understand that my background is not exceptional, and other candidates have stronger marks from more prestigious universities, along with better extracurricular activities.
What I would ask for, is an objective opinion on my potential chances of securing a training contract, and anything else I should be doing. I am presently applying for practice assistant roles, paralegal roles, and training contracts. I have also looked at the GLS (application in process).
The firms I would be interested in are White & Case, HFW, and Herbert Smith Freehills, Taylor Wessing, and Mishcon de Reya.
I am happy to provide more details if helpful. Any advice would be really appreciated.
Have you been getting interviews?
Original post by Stiffy Byng
As noted above, an LLM will make no difference to a candidate's chances of obtaining a training contract. I reiterate the advice that a candidate may have to apply to a wide range of firms, including perhaps firms outside London.
Some people who sign on as paralegals in big firms progress to be trainee solicitors. Others find themselves trapped as paralegals, with no career progression. Boutique firms may offer a more viable path from paralegal to trainee to solicitor.
The brutal reality is that there are more aspirants for places than there are places available, and as someone suggested above each aspirant has to take a view on how many cycles of applications he or she is willing to go through before he or she either obtains a contract or decides on a different career.
Some people who sign on as paralegals in big firms progress to be trainee solicitors. Others find themselves trapped as paralegals, with no career progression. Boutique firms may offer a more viable path from paralegal to trainee to solicitor.
The brutal reality is that there are more aspirants for places than there are places available, and as someone suggested above each aspirant has to take a view on how many cycles of applications he or she is willing to go through before he or she either obtains a contract or decides on a different career.
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by thegeek888
I think in my cousin's case because she achieved ABC grades in History, Maths, and French meant that she had to go via UCAS Clearing for a Law degree. Also, many solicitors firms won't accept less than AAB grades?! However, she is working in a £35k pa paralegal role after 3 years of graduating. Also, neither parent was a graduate or worked in the household. But I think she is determined, especially after achieving a 1st class honours Bachelor's in Law degree, as well a Masters in IP Law from Kings College London. Perhaps she will afterall qualify as a Solicitor. 🙂
I wish your cousin luck, but her position may exemplify how tough the entry level legal jobs market now is.
Not so very long ago, a person with a first from KCL would probably find a training contract with reasonable ease. Now there is a danger that your cousin and others could be stuck in jobs which provide relatively low pay, by London lawyer standards, and doubtful career progression. If they tough it out, they may move on up the ladder, but I fear that some people are being turned into a sort of white-collar proletariat, in many business sectors. See The Office (UK original more than US remake) for a fictional commentary on this.
One route out of paralegal purgatory may be project work. For example, I observed law graduates doing file reviews on financial services mis-selling redress projects for the big banks. I was advising one such bank and met some of its ad hoc file review team.
They were young graduates making about 70K a year working 9 am to 6pm with no out of hours work, but NB they were doing gigs, without long term continuity, and the work could be a bit boring and repetitive.
A few of them made it from there to training contracts, pupillages, or in house legal jobs. Others went from project to project. There are a small number of project manager and supervisory roles in such projects, although the teams tend to be led by a qualified lawyer in his or her forties, for example a commercial solicitor returning to work after having children.
Gigging can be OK if it suits your lifestyle. Some people gig for a year, travel for a year, gig again, and so on.
(edited 1 month ago)
Another route to consider is Professional Support Lawyer. This is in essence the Law Librarian/Knowledge Manager for a law firm or a large set of chambers. PSLs help to keep the fee earners up to date with the law, and play a marketing role by producing articles and social media content. The senior ones tend to be former practising lawyers, but they may have more junior assistants.
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by Stiffy Byng
I wish your cousin luck, but her position may exemplify how tough the entry level legal jobs market now is.
Not so very long ago, a person with a first from KCL would probably find a training contract with reasonable ease. Now there is a danger that your cousin and others could be stuck in jobs which provide relatively low pay, by London lawyer standards, and doubtful career progression. If they tough it out, they may move on up the ladder, but I fear that some people are being turned into a sort of white-collar proletariat, in many business sectors. See The Office (UK original more than US remake) for a fictional commentary on this.
One route out of paralegal purgatory may be project work. For example, I observed law graduates doing file reviews on financial services mis-selling redress projects for the big banks. I was advising one such bank and met some of its ad hoc file review team.
They were young graduates making about 70K a year working 9 am to 6pm with no out of hours work, but NB they were doing gigs, without long term continuity, and the work could be a bit boring and repetitive.
A few of them made it from there to training contracts, pupillages, or in house legal jobs. Others went from project to project. There are a small number of project manager and supervisory roles in such projects, although the teams tend to be led by a qualified lawyer in his or her forties, for example a commercial solicitor returning to work after having children.
Gigging can be OK if it suits your lifestyle. Some people gig for a year, travel for a year, gig again, and so on.
Not so very long ago, a person with a first from KCL would probably find a training contract with reasonable ease. Now there is a danger that your cousin and others could be stuck in jobs which provide relatively low pay, by London lawyer standards, and doubtful career progression. If they tough it out, they may move on up the ladder, but I fear that some people are being turned into a sort of white-collar proletariat, in many business sectors. See The Office (UK original more than US remake) for a fictional commentary on this.
One route out of paralegal purgatory may be project work. For example, I observed law graduates doing file reviews on financial services mis-selling redress projects for the big banks. I was advising one such bank and met some of its ad hoc file review team.
They were young graduates making about 70K a year working 9 am to 6pm with no out of hours work, but NB they were doing gigs, without long term continuity, and the work could be a bit boring and repetitive.
A few of them made it from there to training contracts, pupillages, or in house legal jobs. Others went from project to project. There are a small number of project manager and supervisory roles in such projects, although the teams tend to be led by a qualified lawyer in his or her forties, for example a commercial solicitor returning to work after having children.
Gigging can be OK if it suits your lifestyle. Some people gig for a year, travel for a year, gig again, and so on.
Also, I could qualify as a Solicitor or Barrister at a later date in Taxation.
Original post by thegeek888
I am considering doing the CTA: Chartered Tax Adviser qualification once I join one of the Big 4: PwC, Deloitte, KPMG or EY. Because it is a challenging 'atmosphere' and on a typical day you could be working on 10 different tax client cases!!! 😉 lol
Also, I could qualify as a Solicitor or Barrister at a later date in Taxation.
Also, I could qualify as a Solicitor or Barrister at a later date in Taxation.
Your plans seem to change with the wind. Your latest plan to die of boredom as a tax accountant is a little more modest than your previous plan to invent Capitalism and become mega rich by the novel method of selling stuff; so credit to you for a rare moment of realism.
Original post by Stiffy Byng
Your plans seem to change with the wind. Your latest plan to die of boredom as a tax accountant is a little more modest than your previous plan to invent Capitalism and become mega rich by the novel method of selling stuff; so credit to you for a rare moment of realism.
More importantly, I already saw myself in a dream and I was at JFK airport in New York and got my friend out of trouble whilst he was being stopped and questioned. But I don't know if I was a Barrister or Solicitor but I do know I was a Lawyer!!! 😉 lol
Also, the Big 4 Accounting firms all have Legal departments and offer "Training Contracts."
More over, the ACA/CTA exams can be completed in 12-18 months. So leaving ample time to also qualify as a Lawyer too.
(edited 1 month ago)
Yep, the FBI/Homeland Security/NYPD are always impressed when some Brit steps in and says that he's a lawyer back in dear old England. The Feds and cops aren't in any way a bunch of unsmiling types with guns who don't like being interrupted by people not licensed to practise law in the State of New York.
Anyway, back to the Training Contracts...
Anyway, back to the Training Contracts...
(edited 1 month ago)
These are the 66 UK based firms with London offices that offer Training Contracts and the number of contracts is listed next to the Law firm:
It is not surprising that 50% of Law graduates pursue careers outside the Law profession?! 😧
1.
CLIFFORD CHANCE 100
2.
LINKLATERS 100
3.
FRESHFIELDS 100
4.
CMS 95
5.
SLAUGHTER AND MAY 95
6.
CLYDE AND CO 73
7.
PINSENT MASONS 69
8.
HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS 65
9.
ADDLESHAW GODDARD 60
10.
SLATER GORDON 53
11.
EVERSHEDS SUTHERLAND 50
12.
IRWIN MITCHELL 50
13.
FREETHS 50
14.
TLT 47
15.
ASHURST 40
16.
DWF 40
17.
TRAVERS SMITH 40
18.
CAPSTICKS 37
19.
OSBORNE CLARK 35
20.
BIRKETTS 35
21.
MACFARLANES 33
22.
KENNEDYS 30
23.
MISHCON DE REYA 30
24.
MILLS AND REEVE 30
25.
GATELEY 28
26.
BURGES SALMON 27
27.
CHARLES RUSSELL SPEECHLYS 26
28.
GOWLING WLG 25
29.
SIMMONS AND SIMMONS 25
30.
WOMBLE BOND DICKINSON 25
31.
STEPHENSON HARDWOOD 25
32.
TROWERS HAMLINS 25
33.
TAYLOR WESSING 22
34.
FIELDFISHER 22
35.
SHOOSMITHS 22
36.
CLARKE WILMONT 21
37.
DAC BEACHCROFT 20
38.
JMW 20
39.
HUGH JAMES 20
40.
CWFW 19
41.
BIRD AND BIRD 18
42.
WEIGHTMANS 18
43.
PENNINGTON MANCHES C. 18
44.
BLAKE MORGAN 16
45.
HFW 15
46.
BROWNE JACOBSON 15
47.
FOOT ANSTEY 15
48.
RPC 14
49.
WITHERS 13
50.
SHAKESPEARE MARTINEAU 12
51.
FORSTERS 12
52.
BEVAN BRITTAN 12
53.
BDB PITMANS 12
54.
RUSSELL COOKE 12
55.
VEALE WASBROUGH V. 10
56.
FARRER & CO 10
57.
BRISTOWS 10
58.
FLADGATE 10
59.
KINGSLEY NAPLEY 9
60.
HOWARD KENNEDY 8
61.
WINCKWORTH SHERWOOD 8
62.
WEDLAKE BLAKE 8
63.
LEWIS SILKIN 7
64.
STEWARTS 6
65.
HARBOTTLE & LEWIS 6
66.
WIGGIN 6
(edited 1 month ago)
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