Legal work experience | Law Careers

With 300,000 students graduating each year and 59% of such number achieving 2.1 degrees or higher^[1], employers are now looking for the CV that stands out from the rest, subsequently competition has become tougher.

Although a good degree classification is crucial in securing a legal career, without relevant legal experience, a pupillage or training contract will be unachievable.

I think work experience is vital for a variety of reasons; primarily, through such experience, you are showing your commitment to the career path, whilst giving yourself a chance to research the career you are interested in, you are also showing you have an understanding of the first hand issues you will be dealing with.

Work experience enables you to develop skills such as working with others, talking to a variety of people, and taking decisions solo, as well as working in a team.

Throughout my three years of university, I have tried to get involved with as many extra-curricular activities as possible, primarily mini-pupillages. A mini-pupillage is the perfect way to experience legal work first hand and meet other barristers.

Such work experience is usually covered over a week or two, and gives you the opportunity to follow and shadow a barrister for a week, subsequently you have the opportunity to chat to others about your career choice and realise the day to day work of a barrister.

From my personal experience of a mini-pupillage, I learnt that pupillage interview committees expect their candidates to have relevant experience, emphasising the candidate’s passion for the career. For those who are interested in becoming solicitors there are formal schemes which again allow you firsthand experience within a firm.

Following on from my mini-pupillages, I have also volunteered for two years at the Citizens Advice Bureau. Advising at the bureau gives you firsthand experience in key legal issues such as debt, housing law and welfare law. You are taught how to research the key issues you are dealing with and how to advise your clients on further action.

Furthermore, once experienced and trained, you may be given the opportunity to represent clients in court and work alongside the bureaus solicitors. By working through the bureau, you have the opportunity to prove how dedicated and hard working you are, as well as learning key skills such as communication along the way.

Whilst at university I also volunteer with County Durham Criminal Justice Youth Independent Advisory Group; Working with other young people, volunteering for the YIAG enables me to make a difference within the local community, through monthly meetings, the group meet and discuss ways to improve police, courts, the CPS and prisons to name a few.

An example of work I’ve taken part in includes, youth proofing the arrest to release leaflet; drafting and producing the leaflet, which is available to young people who are in custody, giving them, a greater understanding of how the criminal justice system works. In my opinion such experience makes my CV stand out as it is relevant yet to any other work experience I have previously taken part in.

There are a variety of other work experiences placements that you can become involved in whilst studying; some students do court work, known as marshalling, spending time with a judge and seeing the process from a judicial perspective. One may also become involved in mentoring younger students enabling them to settle in to university better.

Activities such as mooting competitions are useful, enabling you to experience acting as a barrister in a mock courtroom. Many universities also have a law society within which students can gain advice on gaining work experience.

In conclusion, one may say it is vital to gain work experience alongside ones academic achievement. Employers now look for the CV’s that stand out through wider experiences, and show a range of personal skills. Without legal experience it is unlikely ones legal career will succeed past university.

Emily Bardsley

LLB Graduate

[1] A Degree is Not Enough- Bright Futures