Career Planning – Why Now? 1 st Year Law

1. Career Planning – Why Now? 1st Year Law Darren Johnson Careers Adviser

2. Why Now? • Certain sectors very competitive increase your chances of success - vacation/open day opportunities even in 1st year • Career Planning A Process – Needs Time • To raise awareness of opportunities including help from CAS

3. University – Are You Making The Most Of It? • Student Societies • College Activities • Be proactive as employers want….

4. What Employers Want Evidence of: • Achievement – drive and determination • Soft Skills- persuasion/negotiation/customer focused/attention to detail/problem solving/teamwork/leadership • Commercial Awareness for many career areas

5. Career Planning- What Makes You Tick ? • Interests • Strengths • Motivation • Skills • Starting Points • Prospects Planner/Options With Your Subject – www.prospects.ac.uk – What Jobs Would Suit Me • MyPotential – details on CAS website

6. Destinations • Almost 2/3 went into postgraduate study for BVC/LPC or LLM • Employment – legal related and non legal careers………

7. Considering A Career As a Solicitor /Barrister • Exploration: • Occupational Role – skills and qualities – use reports and contacts of Durham alumni and regional employers from CAS • Organisation – size/specialisms/location/clients • Self • Make comparisons - be realistic • Its competitive

8. 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

9. Exploration Tips • Durham Law University Law Fair , D.S.U , 12 – 3.30pm , 24/25 November • Publications - Target Jobs /The Lawyer – limited numbers available at the • law fair • Reports and Contacts of Durham Alumni – visit CAS Information Room • www.lawcareers.netwww.lawyer2B.com • Employer Events • Check events being run by the Student Law Society

10. Considering Solicitor: Taking Action in your 1st year • Michaelmas/Epiphany • Research firms and apply to Open Days/ informal work experience (solicitors-online.com)- ask at Law Fair • Speculative Approach for Informal Work Experience = CV and cover letter / networking. Note: many of the larger firms will not offer this • Remember many firms will look at 1st year results as part of selection for future vacation schemes and training contracts • Get actively involved in the student Law Society

11. Preparing For The Law Fair • Pick up a leaflet today • Research employers attending – CAS website • Shortlist ones of interest • Ask relevant questions • Approach employers with a positive attitude

12. Questions – some tips • Training and development - early years and beyond qualification. • What makes a strong application? • How can you best impress at the interview?

13. Law Commission Research Assistant Constituency Assistant for MP Police Trainee Chartered Accountant Law Librarian Executive Officer , Home Office Teach First Marketing P.R Recruitment Consultant (Banking and Finance Commercial Lender – Alliance and Leicester Alternative Careers To Solicitor/Barrister – Durham Law Graduate Destinations 2006

14. Property Consulting Legal Publishing Investment Banking Civil Service Fast Stream Human Resources Lecturing Company Secretary HM Customs and Excise Compliance Charities/NGOs European Commission Research more at www.prospects.ac.uk Other Popular Career Areas For Law Graduates U.K wide

15. Considering Barrister – Taking Action In Your 1st Year • Throughout the year • Research minipupillages/apply for non formal placement for vacations (www.lawcareers.net) • Construct a strong CV and cover letters for the above – get checked at CAS Applications Advice/Quick Queries • Become an active member of the student Law Society • Work hard at degree, sets will look at your first year results • Research Inns of Court and consider joining one – network and attend events • www.online-law.co.uk/bar/inns_of_court.html

16. Useful Events http://www.dur.ac.uk/careers-advice/forthcomingcareerevents/

17. Other opportunities • Some employer sectors such as Investment Banking have: • Open Days • Formal vacation schemes/internships (efinancialcareers.com/CAS website) • Use Durham alumni contacts in Careers Folders at CAS for a range of career areas – may lead to work experience.

18. Cover Letter • Demonstrate enthusiasm for the particular set/firm • Length – 1 page A4 , typed unless stated to be handwritten • Structure • Introduce yourself –stage of study, why you are applying, if advertised vacancy , where you observed this. • Why them • Why You • Ending Paragraph – when you are available for interview • Remember basics, no room for spelling errors ! • Read it back to yourself as if you were the recruiter, does it impress?

19. CV – a self marketing tool • No more than 2 pages A4 • Keep content relevant • Include personal details and relevant skills/achievements (academic and extra curricular), work experience, positions of responsibility, interests • State your contributions where relevant • Font no less than 10, consistent headings • Easy to read, concise, effective use of space • Spell Check! • Get it checked – CAS Applications Advice/Quick Queries

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

21. 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