How to Actually Find Legal Work Experience (Being Proactive Really Helps)
Hi everyone 👋
I’ve seen a lot of posts from people worrying they don’t have any legal work experience yet, or not knowing where to start. I thought I’d share a practical, proactive approach I got from the amazing employability team at The University of Law that goes beyond just waiting for vacation schemes and insight days to open.
⸻
1. Think smaller: if you’re climbing a ladder you start from the bottom, local firms are your best friend buttom
Everyone dreams of magic City vac schemes, but your first bit of experience often comes from:
• High-street firms
• Small local practices
• Niche specialist firms (immigration, family, employment, crime, etc.)
At this stage, it’s less about prestige and more about:
• Understanding what lawyers actually do day to day
• Getting used to a professional environment
• Having something real to talk about in future applications and interviews
⸻
2. Use the Law Society’s “Find a Solicitor” tool
Instead of randomly Googling, use the Law Society’s “Find a Solicitor” search tool:
1. Put in your postcode / town
2. Filter by area of law (e.g. family, criminal, immigration, commercial)
3. Make a list of 10–30 local firms
4. Check each firm’s website briefly to see what they do and if they mention work experience
Then: email them. All of them. Don’t just send one email and give up.
⸻
3. Emailing solicitors: keep it short, polite and specific
You don’t need a huge sob story or a formal cover letter for smaller firms. Something short and respectful works best.
You can adapt this:
Subject: Work experience / shadowing request – [your name]
Dear [name or “sir/madam”],
I am a [year of study, e.g. first-year llb / pgdl / lpc / sqe student] at [university of law campus or your uni]. I am very interested in [area of law they practise, e.g. family / crime / immigration] and would really like to gain some insight into day-to-day practice.
I was wondering if your firm ever offers short periods of informal work experience, shadowing, or even a day of observing, so I can better understand the work of a solicitor and the realities of practice.
I am available on [give a rough range of dates / days] and would be very grateful for any opportunity, even if just for a day or two. I am happy to help with basic admin tasks while I’m there.
Kind regards,
[your full name]
[course, university]
[phone number]
Tips:
• Personalise one or two lines: mention their practice area or something from their website.
• Don’t send obvious copy-paste emails with no changes.
• Follow up once if you don’t hear back after 1–2 weeks.
⸻
4. Don’t be scared to walk into local firms
If you’re comfortable doing it, a face-to-face approach can make you stand out:
• Dress smart-casual
• Bring a one-page CV printed out
• Go into local solicitors’ offices, be polite and say something like:
• “Hi, I’m a law student at [uni], I’m really keen to understand what solicitors do in practice. Do you ever take on students for a few days’ work experience or shadowing?”
Worst case, they say no. Best case, they say “leave your CV and we’ll be in touch.”
⸻
5. Look beyond law firms: legal-adjacent experience counts
Recruiters don’t just care about “law firm or nothing.” Lots of things count as legal or quasi-legal experience:
• Law clinics / Pro bono
• Check if your uni runs a legal advice clinic or partners with local charities
• Citizens Advice
• Client interviewing, problem-solving, understanding real-life legal issues
• Charities and NGOs
• Especially ones dealing with housing, immigration, human rights, domestic abuse etc.
• Court visits / marshalling
• You can email local courts or judges’ clerks asking if any judges take students for marshalling (shadowing in court)
Even if it’s not in a law firm, anything involving advice, advocacy, problem-solving or dealing with rules/processes is useful.
⸻
6. Use what your uni already offers
Since this is for the University of Law crowd (and similar):
• Careers service:
• Book a 1:1, get your CV checked, ask them which local firms have taken students before.
• Careers fairs / employer talks:
• Don’t just go for the free pens – talk to people. Ask directly:
• “Do you ever offer informal work experience or open days outside the main vacation scheme?”
• Alumni network / LinkedIn:
• Search “[your campus] University of Law” on LinkedIn
• Message alumni: short, polite, asking for advice (not just “give me a job”).
⸻
7. Make it a weekly habit, not a one-off push
If you treat this like one big scary task, you’ll put it off forever.
Instead:
• Pick 1 hour a week (e.g. Sunday evening)
• In that hour:
• Find 3–5 new firms
• Send them personalised emails
• Log who you’ve contacted in a simple spreadsheet or note
• Over a couple of months, you could easily contact 30–50+ firms without burning out.
The reality is: most people won’t reply. That’s normal. You only need a few “yes” responses to get started.
⸻
8. Don’t underestimate non-legal part-time jobs
While you’re hunting for legal experience, things like:
• Retail
• Hospitality
• Call centres
• Tutoring
…are still very good for your CV. They show you can:
• Work with the public
• Handle responsibility
• Communicate clearly
• Commercial Awareness!!!!!
You can always “translate” those skills into legal contexts later in applications.
⸻
Final thoughts
Legal work experience doesn’t usually fall into your lap, especially early on. The people who get it are often the ones who:
• Email lots of firms (not just one or two)
• Are willing to start small and local
• Are polite, persistent, and organised
If anyone wants to share email templates, success stories or questions, drop them below – it would be good to turn this thread into a mini-resource for ULaw / TSR students who feel stuck.
Good luck, and be brave enough to ask – that’s often the hardest part. 💬⚖️
2nd year LLB student
Hayder
I’ve seen a lot of posts from people worrying they don’t have any legal work experience yet, or not knowing where to start. I thought I’d share a practical, proactive approach I got from the amazing employability team at The University of Law that goes beyond just waiting for vacation schemes and insight days to open.
⸻
1. Think smaller: if you’re climbing a ladder you start from the bottom, local firms are your best friend buttom
Everyone dreams of magic City vac schemes, but your first bit of experience often comes from:
• High-street firms
• Small local practices
• Niche specialist firms (immigration, family, employment, crime, etc.)
At this stage, it’s less about prestige and more about:
• Understanding what lawyers actually do day to day
• Getting used to a professional environment
• Having something real to talk about in future applications and interviews
⸻
2. Use the Law Society’s “Find a Solicitor” tool
Instead of randomly Googling, use the Law Society’s “Find a Solicitor” search tool:
1. Put in your postcode / town
2. Filter by area of law (e.g. family, criminal, immigration, commercial)
3. Make a list of 10–30 local firms
4. Check each firm’s website briefly to see what they do and if they mention work experience
Then: email them. All of them. Don’t just send one email and give up.
⸻
3. Emailing solicitors: keep it short, polite and specific
You don’t need a huge sob story or a formal cover letter for smaller firms. Something short and respectful works best.
You can adapt this:
Subject: Work experience / shadowing request – [your name]
Dear [name or “sir/madam”],
I am a [year of study, e.g. first-year llb / pgdl / lpc / sqe student] at [university of law campus or your uni]. I am very interested in [area of law they practise, e.g. family / crime / immigration] and would really like to gain some insight into day-to-day practice.
I was wondering if your firm ever offers short periods of informal work experience, shadowing, or even a day of observing, so I can better understand the work of a solicitor and the realities of practice.
I am available on [give a rough range of dates / days] and would be very grateful for any opportunity, even if just for a day or two. I am happy to help with basic admin tasks while I’m there.
Kind regards,
[your full name]
[course, university]
[phone number]
Tips:
• Personalise one or two lines: mention their practice area or something from their website.
• Don’t send obvious copy-paste emails with no changes.
• Follow up once if you don’t hear back after 1–2 weeks.
⸻
4. Don’t be scared to walk into local firms
If you’re comfortable doing it, a face-to-face approach can make you stand out:
• Dress smart-casual
• Bring a one-page CV printed out
• Go into local solicitors’ offices, be polite and say something like:
• “Hi, I’m a law student at [uni], I’m really keen to understand what solicitors do in practice. Do you ever take on students for a few days’ work experience or shadowing?”
Worst case, they say no. Best case, they say “leave your CV and we’ll be in touch.”
⸻
5. Look beyond law firms: legal-adjacent experience counts
Recruiters don’t just care about “law firm or nothing.” Lots of things count as legal or quasi-legal experience:
• Law clinics / Pro bono
• Check if your uni runs a legal advice clinic or partners with local charities
• Citizens Advice
• Client interviewing, problem-solving, understanding real-life legal issues
• Charities and NGOs
• Especially ones dealing with housing, immigration, human rights, domestic abuse etc.
• Court visits / marshalling
• You can email local courts or judges’ clerks asking if any judges take students for marshalling (shadowing in court)
Even if it’s not in a law firm, anything involving advice, advocacy, problem-solving or dealing with rules/processes is useful.
⸻
6. Use what your uni already offers
Since this is for the University of Law crowd (and similar):
• Careers service:
• Book a 1:1, get your CV checked, ask them which local firms have taken students before.
• Careers fairs / employer talks:
• Don’t just go for the free pens – talk to people. Ask directly:
• “Do you ever offer informal work experience or open days outside the main vacation scheme?”
• Alumni network / LinkedIn:
• Search “[your campus] University of Law” on LinkedIn
• Message alumni: short, polite, asking for advice (not just “give me a job”).
⸻
7. Make it a weekly habit, not a one-off push
If you treat this like one big scary task, you’ll put it off forever.
Instead:
• Pick 1 hour a week (e.g. Sunday evening)
• In that hour:
• Find 3–5 new firms
• Send them personalised emails
• Log who you’ve contacted in a simple spreadsheet or note
• Over a couple of months, you could easily contact 30–50+ firms without burning out.
The reality is: most people won’t reply. That’s normal. You only need a few “yes” responses to get started.
⸻
8. Don’t underestimate non-legal part-time jobs
While you’re hunting for legal experience, things like:
• Retail
• Hospitality
• Call centres
• Tutoring
…are still very good for your CV. They show you can:
• Work with the public
• Handle responsibility
• Communicate clearly
• Commercial Awareness!!!!!
You can always “translate” those skills into legal contexts later in applications.
⸻
Final thoughts
Legal work experience doesn’t usually fall into your lap, especially early on. The people who get it are often the ones who:
• Email lots of firms (not just one or two)
• Are willing to start small and local
• Are polite, persistent, and organised
If anyone wants to share email templates, success stories or questions, drop them below – it would be good to turn this thread into a mini-resource for ULaw / TSR students who feel stuck.
Good luck, and be brave enough to ask – that’s often the hardest part. 💬⚖️
2nd year LLB student
Hayder
(edited 1 month ago)
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