Careers in Law and the Legal Sector
Whether you are currently studying for a Law degree or not, our sector-themed week from 21-25 October 2024 will provide an opportunity for you to explore some of the exciting options open to you and to hear from alumni on their experiences. You will also learn more about the qualifications, as well as networking with a range of professionals from the sector.
Plus, look out for the return of the University of Law Coffee Cart on Founder's Square from 11am to 3pm on Wednesday 23 October and grab a free coffee!
What's On?...
Monday 21 October, 1-2pm Online
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Join the team from The University of Law for an in-depth look at Qualifying Work Experience.
This new route to qualification as a solicitor can seem daunting, with its many new options seemingly making qualifying appear more simple, whe in fact it could potentially be more confusing.
The session aims to demystify these options, looking at the many points to consider, what may actually count as QWE, and how to effectively sell this experience to your future employers
Monday 21 October, 6.30-7.30pm Online
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Whether you're studying law, business, science, tech, or any other field, come and learn how a legal perspective can enhance your career and open doors you never knew existed. Don’t miss this chance to gain insights from professionals who have turned their law degrees into dynamic and impactful careers!
Alumni panel confirmed so far are:
- Amie Roberts - Legal Counsel (Technology and Commercial), Informa
- Ffion Collins - Advanced Paralegal, LLB Law graduate, Admiral Law
- Arron Kapoor - Corporate Solicitor, Gardner Leader LLP
Tuesday 22 October, 1-2pm Online
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Stay ahead of the curve and equip yourself with the essential skills necessary for a successful legal career.
In this workshop, we will delve into the evolving demands of the legal profession and provide invaluable guidance on the key competencies future lawyers should possess.
From critical thinking and problem-solving to effective communication and resilience, discover how to thrive in a rapidly changing legal landscape.
Tuesday 22 October, 6.30-7.30pm Online
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Are you a 2nd or 3rd-year non-law student contemplating a future in law? Join us for an engaging and informative session where our expert team will guide you through the essentials of law conversion courses, brought to you by the University of Law. (All year groups welcome though).
What to Expect:
Course Practicalities: Get detailed insights into what law conversion courses entail and how to navigate them successfully.
Career Pathways: Discover the diverse career options available post-conversion and learn how to achieve your professional goals.
Exams & Qualifications: Receive an overview of the Solicitor Qualifying Exams (SQE) and the process of qualifying as a Barrister.
Industry Insights: Stay updated with the latest trends and developments in the legal marketplace.
Wednesday 23 October, 12-3pm Enterprise & Careers Hub, Davison Building
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Get some all-important practice in a safe, friendly environment! Our legal professionals will be on campus to support you to showcase your skills and potential to the very best. You will have the chance to practice some interview questions in a relaxed way and get feedback on how to improve and impress those future interviewers.
You will then have the opportunity to meet with the other attendees to network and connect and grow your network at the same time. Take a look at these networking tips from The Law Society ahead of the day
Employers attending:
Shelley Boyd: Partner, Gordons Partnership Solicitors
Mona Gholami: Serious Injury Solicitor at Fieldfisher
Graeme Black: Partner, Private Wealth & Inheritance, Herrington Carmichael LLP
(Graeme will also be bringing along a junior associate who will be able to talk about their career journey to date & share their experiences and advice)
Maria Jefcoate, HR Officer, B P Collins LLP
Thursday 24 October, 11am-3pm, Picture Gallery Founder's Building
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Meet a range of law firms and legal training providers and discover some of the opportunities available to you. More information coming soon....
Thursday 24 October, 3.30-4.30pm, Event Space Davison Building
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Increasingly, Recruiters are moving towards strengths-based interviews.
This interview style allows employers to see the ‘real’ person and select them based on their natural abilities, regardless of prior work experience.
In this session, we’ll give you our tips on how to identify your strengths and excel at interview. We’ll also outline how to approach motivational questions, like "Why Law?”.
Finally, you’ll have the opportunity to ask the Reed Smith Graduate Recruitment team your application questions.
Thursday 24 October, 6-7pm Online
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Choosing the right law firm is a critical decision that can shape your entire legal career. This workshop will guide you through the process of researching and evaluating law firms to find the perfect fit for your aspirations. Learn how to assess firm culture, practice areas, training programmes, and more, to ensure a harmonious match between your professional goals and the firm's ethos
Friday 25 October, 1-2pm Online
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Unlock your path to becoming a solicitor with our exclusive SQE Workshop, delivered by The University of Law.
This dynamic session covers the essential elements of the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE), offering crucial insights into the exam process and what to expect.
Plus, you'll get hands-on experience with an interactive demonstration of Single Best Answer Questions.
Don’t miss this opportunity to get ahead on your journey to qualification!
All these events can be found on the Careers Portal.
Beginner's Guides
Careers in Law - Solicitor
Careers in Law - Barrister
Keep track of application deadlines
Use this Handy Tracker to check when applications open and close for some of the UK's major firms, whether you are looking for a Vacation Scheme, Training Contract or First Year Scheme.
Law Careers Guides
The Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Law
The Law Apprenticeships Guide
Careers Moodle, books, podcasts and other resources
Check out some great additional resources:
Discover your prospects!
Prospects is a useful website, where you can explore the different roles in a sector. Read job profiles in the law sector here.
Webinars to watch
This webinar will help you explore the barriers that might be holding you back from making applications and enable you to put strategies in place to build confidence ahead of law firm applications and interviews. Open to students in all year groups and academic disciplines.
Watch the webinar
Open to students in all year groups and from all academic disciplines. Join Royal Holloway alumni talking about their currrent roles within the legal sector, hear their top tips for success in this competitive sector and get the chance to increase your professional network. Panel members:
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Mona Gholami - Solicitor CL Medilaw D&I Representative at the Surrey Junior Lawyers Division | Mentor at GROW
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Ben Brzezicki - Senior Lawyer – Attorney General's Office International Law and National Security Team
- Lucas Hobbs, Trainee Solicitor - Private Wealth at Knights, Mentor at GROW, Law LLB LLM LPC Graduate
- Hamdi Najib - Trainee Solicitor & Notary Public FidLaw
Watch the webinar
This interactive session will outline what SQE1 exams involve, what skills and 'functioning legal knowledge' are needed for the SQE, how to approach 'single best answer questions' (SBAQs) and the chance to practice some. Most relevant to final year students from any academic discipline.
Watch the webinar
Daisy Mortimer from the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, delivered an introduction to the bar followed by a live Q & A.
Watch the webinar
The CMA is the UK's world-leading competition and consumer agency and an independent non-ministerial department, with staff in London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff. They work to promote competition for the benefit of consumers, both within and outside the UK, and aim to help markets work well for consumers, businesses and the economy.
The speaker of this session was Ali Sadek. He is a Legal Adviser at the CMA’s Legal Advisory Service. The session provided an overview of the CMA and opportunities available at the CMA for aspiring lawyers. The event is relevant to both law and non-law students.
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A very useful session for students who are not currently studying law, who would still like to pursue this career. A presentation by Bethany Wren, Content & Events Manager at LawCareers.Net, followed by a Q&A.
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A presentation for students to explore how they can use their law degree. Are you looking for a role where you could work with board at an early stage in your career? Interested in a role where you could implement and build on the knowledge from your degree? Intrigued by a role that is transportable between sectors? This session looked at the role of the company secretary and governance professional, with a panel of Company Secretaries, as they shared their journey about their careers, focusing on highlights such as:
• why they chose to become a Company Secretary or governance professional;
• their academic and career backgrounds
• what drew them to the role
• what a typical day looks like and why they love what they do
• What they love, (and like less) about their role
• the breadth of their in-company stakeholder reach
• how they can use their unique position to support, advise and influence the board.
Watch the webinar