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Law For Non Law Students Darren Johnson, Careers Adviser

Law For Non Law Students Darren Johnson, Careers Adviser. How to become a Lawyer in England & Wales. Legal Practice Course Full-time = 1 year Part-time = 2 years. Training contract 2 years including Professional Skills course (Up to 4 years if taking the Part Time Study Contract.

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Law For Non Law Students Darren Johnson, Careers Adviser

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  1. Law For Non Law Students Darren Johnson, Careers Adviser

  2. How to become a Lawyer in England & Wales Legal Practice Course Full-time = 1 year Part-time = 2 years Training contract 2 years including Professional Skills course (Up to 4 years if taking the Part Time Study Contract If you intend to be a Solicitor Admission as a Solicitor Graduate Diploma in Law Full-time = 1 year Part-time = 2 years A Degree other than Law If you intend to be a Barrister Bar Vocational Course Full-time 1 year Part Time 2 years Pupillage 6 months non -practising & 6 months practising Practise as a barrister

  3. Considering A Career As a Solicitor /Barrister Exploration: Occupational Role – skills and qualities Organisation – size/specialism's/location/clients Self Make comparisons - be realistic Weigh up the Risk – competition and potential cost of postgraduate training (BVC/LPC)

  4. Barrister – Ask Yourself • Are you comfortable speaking in front of large groups of people? • Can you get your point across clearly? • Can you think quickly enough to respond to challenges? • Are you able to improvise? • Could you take knock backs in court without showing too much emotion? • Do you inspire confidence in others? • Could you cope with lots of travelling around the country to different courts? • Are you comfortable with initial financial insecurity ?

  5. Solicitor – Ask Yourself • Happy with a great deal of teamwork • Comfortable with large amounts of client contact and • ability to develop good client relationships over time • In “City” firms willingness to travel abroad when necessary

  6. For Both • Good interpersonal skills • Stamina , willingness to work antisocial hours • Enthusiasm and commitment • Good judgement • Attention to Detail • Good written and research/analytical skills • An interest in learning about new areas and • providing practical advice to clients

  7. Researching Firms • International “City” Firm • National/Regional Firm • High Street/Legal Aid Firms • CPS/GLS • In-House i.e Barclays Capital/Tesco • Research – www.lawcareers.net/ Law Fair 24th/25th November

  8. Banking & FinanceCommercial LitigationCommercial PropertyCompany/Commercial & CorporateConstructionCorporate TaxCrime EmploymentEnvironmentEU/CompetitionFamilyHuman RightsInsuranceIP/ITPersonal InjuryPrivate ClientShippingTMT Areas of Law for Solicitors

  9. Timetable - Solicitor Final Year Before Xmas and into New Year (many deadlines by 31st January, some earlier) apply for vacation schemes – don't forget Open Days too! Epiphany Term /Easter Term up to July 31st (majority of law firm deadlines) research and apply for training contracts Conversion Year – apply to LPC by Dec 1st www.lawcabs.ac.uk

  10. Researching Barrister profession- Types of Chambers • Supersets – examples No5 Chambers/St Phillips Chambers • Regional Sets - outside of London (Birmingham/Bristol/Leads/Liverpool/Manchester) • Niche Sets – i.e Construction/I.P/Tax Law

  11. Admiralty ChanceryCivilCommercialCommon LawConstructionCrimeEmploymentFamily HousingHuman RightsIPInternationalMediaPersonal InjuryPlanning and EnvironmentProfessional NegligencePublic LawRevenue Barrister specialism's

  12. Competition Solicitor 2007 6,012 training contracts 5,921 LPC passes Note: Up to a ¼ of T.Cs go to conversion (mainly Bar) and still previous LPC candidates applying Barrister – 34% of successful BVC candidates obtained pupillage Hence the importance of vacation scheme/mini pupillage/other legal related experience

  13. GDL/PGDL/CPE • www.lawcabs.ac.uk • For full time courses • Part time apply direct to institutions • Current Deadline February 1st • Guaranteed Places Scheme – College of Law /BPP –conditions apply

  14. Choosing the Law Conversion Course • Consider: • Location • What are the teaching and assessment methods? Do they suit your • needs/preferences? • Facilities • Staff levels • Cost (£2,900 – £8,100) – some firms will sponsor • Pass Rate • Accommodation • Extra – Curricular • Visit institutions to help confirm where is best for you to study

  15. Law Conversion • Intensive – consider your motivation and self discipline • Get legal work experience before the course to confirm interest • Seven compulsory foundation subjects: • Law of contract • Law of tort • Criminal law • Property law • Public law • Equity and Law of Trusts/Law of European Union

  16. Choosing a Training Contract • Research: Rotational Seats on offer (minimum 4 , some offer more for a broader experience, less time spent in each, or option to spend more time in one area) • Do you have an area of specialist interest you would like to have the opportunity to practise in after qualifying? • What are the support mechanisms – buddy e.t.c • Do you want the possibility of sitting one of your rotations overseas?

  17. Training Contracts/Pupillages What do employers want? • Strong academics – • Achievement – drive and determination • Soft Skills- persuasion/negotiation/customer • focused/attention to detail/problem solving/teamwork • Commercial Awareness

  18. Useful Sources for Vac Scheme/Mini Pupillages / Training Contract/Pupillage • Limited Copies At Law Fair: • Training Contract and Pupillage Handbook • Target Law • Chambers and Partners • www.lawcareers.net • www.solicitors-online.com • www.chambersandpartners.com • www.pupillages.com

  19. LPC/BVC • LPC ratings at www.sra.org.uk –commendable practise /confidence in provision/failure to meet required level of provision • Skills Developed : • LPC – legal drafting /interviewing and advising skills/advocacy/legal research • BVC – advocacy/case prep/interviewing skills/negotiation/drafting/opinion writing – Life At The Bar –pass rate and number obtaining pupillage

  20. Timetable Barrister • Final Year • Michaelmas /Epiphany Term – apply for mini-pupillages (lawcareers.net) and research and • Epiphany Term – apply to chambers who recruit 2 years in advance (www.pupillages.com) • Apply for Inn of Court Scholarships for GDL • Apply to join an Inn of Court

  21. Barrister Timetable • GDL Year • Michaelmas – Apply for BVC (bvconline.co.uk) • Apply for Inns of Court Scholarships by 1st week of November • Epiphany – Apply for pupillages (www.pupillages.com) – OLPAS / Non OLPAS • Attend pupillage fairs & apply to chambers recruiting 1 year in advance

  22. Useful Events http://www.dur.ac.uk/careersadvice/forthcomingcareerevents • Law Firm Applications-Basic Blunders & How To Avoid (18th Nov ER142, 12-2pm ) • Law Fair – 24th and 25th November 12pm-3.30pm, D.S.U • Commercial Awareness Workshop , Nabarro (4th Dec), • BPP Law School (9th Dec)- Interview Skills Workshop

  23. Prepare For The Fair • Research the firms attending • Make a list of who you want to target • Plan RELEVANT questions to ask • - creates a professional and lasting impression • - builds rapport • You gain maximum benefit from your interactions • Practise asking questions • Demonstrate a positive attitude

  24. Help from CAS • Applications Advice • Quick Queries • Guidance Consultation • Events • Lunchtime Talks CV/Applications/Interviews • Information

  25. Careers Advisory Service • 49 New Elvet (next to D.S.U) • Term Time – 10am – 5pm • Vacation – 10am – 1pm 2.15pm – 5pm • Tel: 0191 334 1424/1437 • careers- advice@durham.ac.uk • www.durham.ac.uk/careers-advice

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