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JOB SECTORS Legal
Introduction This factsheet contain useful information to assist you in your career planning and job seeking. This sector has the following main areas: § Solicitors
§ Barristers
§ Ancillary Legal Professionals
Type of Jobs The following are examples of the type of jobs in this sector: § Barrister
§
Licensed conveyancer
§ Barrister's clerk
§
Paralegal
§ Chartered legal executive (England and Wales)
§
Solicitor
Research a career Use the websites below to:-
§ §
Find information and industry news to help you find out about a career or job sector Find out about a particular job such as: þ Typical work activities þ Career development
Professional Bodies and Key Organisations
Content
þ Salary
þ Entry requirements
þ Training
þ Typical employers Link
Key websites The Law Society website for junior lawyers
ü
Careers info
Aimed at student members of the Law Society
ü
Industry news
Government Legal Service Overview of government legal careers
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Careers info
www.gls.gov.uk/
Detailed information on job roles
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Careers info
www.lawcareers.net/
Student Law Site
ü
Careers info
www.chambersandpartners.com/chambe
Careers info, news, training info
ü
Industry news
rsstudent/
ü
Industry news
www.sahca.org.uk
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Careers info
www.ilex.org.uk/
ü
Careers info
www.alcd.org.uk
http://juniorlawyers.lawsociety.org.uk/
Law Careers Net
Solicitors Solicitors' Association of Higher Court Advocates Specialist professional body The Institute of Legal Executives Professional body representing over 22,000 members and provider of legal education. Ancillary Legal Professionals Association of Law Costs Draughtsmen
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Content
Link
Institute of Paralegals Training and accreditation, support and career development for non-lawyers doing legal work.
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Careers info
www.instituteofparalegals.org/
The National Association of Licensed Paralegals Promotes qualifications and careers development.
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Careers info
www.nationalparalegals.com
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Careers info
www.sra.org.uk/
Solicitors Regulation Authority Website includes careers and training information Magazine sites The Law Gazette
Link www.lawgazettejobs.co.uk
Vacancy information; legal links to specialist and international associations. www.thelawyer.com
The Lawyer General legal news and information and includes a job section Legal Week
http://www.legalweek.com/
Council for Licensed Conveyancers
www.conveyancer.org.uk
Information on qualifications leading to a career in the buying and selling of property.
Find training and study Law for non-law graduates As a non-law graduate who wishes to practice as a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales you will need to take a law conversion course. This will either be the Common Professional Examination (CPE) or the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). Both are one year courses designed to put you at the same level as a law graduate. The two-year Senior Status Law Degree (LLB) offers an alternative to the CPE/GDL. This degree covers the foundations of legal knowledge required for the completion of the academic stage of training. Once you have passed the CPE / GDL, you are then eligible to apply for a place on: §
The Legal Practice Course (LPC), for solicitors, followed by a two-year traineeship to qualify as a solicitor, at which stage you will receive a salary
§
The Bar Vocational Course (BVC) or Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) for barristers, followed by a 12month pupillage to become a practicing barrister.
FUNDING §
If you are considering becoming a solicitor, most commercial law firms (and the Government Legal Service) provide financial sponsorship as part of their offer of a traineeship.
http://www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/cdl/ for details of the Career Development Loan scheme. https://www.prospects.ac.uk/ maintains online lists of firms that are recruiting trainees, and provides information about firms offering sponsorship. The following websites contain information on training or further study to help you pursue a career path.
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Link
Central Applications Boards
www.lawcabs.ac.uk
LPC and CPE/Diploma in law applications Chambers and Partners
www.chambersandpartners.com
Venables
www.venables.co.uk
Law Careers Net Traineeships, pupillages/mini-pupillages work
www.lawcareers.net
Solicitors Regulation Authority
www.sra.org.uk
Solicitors Directory of Solicitors Law Society site identifying training firms
www.solicitors-online.com
Ancillary Legal Professionals The Institute of Legal Executives
www.ilex.org.uk
Association of Law Costs Draughtsmen
www.alcd.org.uk
Institute of Paralegals Training and accreditation, support and career development for non-lawyers doing legal work. The National Association of Licensed Paralegals
www.instituteofparalegals.org www.nationalparalegals.com
Find a job or work experience The following websites contain information where you can search for jobs or work experience. Organisations and Agencies
Link
Venables Student advice, CV clinic & vacancies
www.venables.co.uk
Jobs Boards Targetjobs careers site Butterworths
http://targetjobs.co.uk/graduate-jobs www.butterworths.co.uk
Top Legal Companies Burges Salmon LLP
www.burges-salmon.com
Clifford Chance LLP
www.cliffordchance.com
Edwards Wildman Palmer UK LLP
www.edwardswildman.com
Eversheds
www.eversheds.com
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
www.freshfields.com
Hogan Lovells International LLP Linklaters LLP Mills & Reeve LLP Penningtons Manches LLP Shoosmiths
www.hoganlovells.com www.linklaters.com www.mills-reeve.com www.penningtons.co.uk www.shoosmiths.co.uk
Action Points
§ Find work experience by contacting local companies to see if you can volunteer, work shadow or participate in a work placement
§ View the factsheet ‘Career Planning’ to view more information about finding work experience. § Online Jobs Board, search for work experience and job opportunities, http://bishopg.prospects.ac.uk
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Help and information Go to the Resource Centre in the Hardy Building with your initial enquiries or email bgfutures@bishopg.ac.uk. ยง Resource Centre, Hardy Building. Take your initial enquiries to the Resource Centre where staff are available to help you. Resources include job sector section with books and information and job hunting guides. ยง Online. Our section on Blackboard and the website has information about available services and information on researching careers and finding jobs and work experience. ยง Advice. If you require advice with exploring your further study or career options you can book an appointment with a Careers Adviser. Please email bgfutures@bishopg.ac.uk to request an appointment booking form.
BG Futures: Careers, Employability and Enterprise operate in accordance with the University Diversity and Equality Policies. If you require this document in an alternative format, for example in large print, please email us at bgfutures@bishopg.ac.uk For up to date opening times and more information www.bishopg.ac.uk/careers