Applications for training contracts can be made as far in advance as two years for the larger commercial and corporate firms, whereas for broader-based firms recruitment may only be one year in advance. Some high street practices and organisations in the Public Sector may recruit no more than 6 months in advance, and it is not unusual for a small firm to offer a traineeship for an immediate start. Some commercial organisations have been authorised by the Law Society to offer in-house traineeships. An employer will look at your educational and personal achievements, relevant work experience and your skills set and it is vital that you tailor your background and experience to what each employer is looking for.

Our careers service will:

• Keep you updated of relevant deadlines throughout the year.
• Notify you when a law firm or other legal employer opens their application procedure.
• Appraise your CV to tailor it to the legal market.
• Review your applications and give you guidance on how to approach competency questions on application forms and how to write a cover letter for your CV.
• Show you examples of successful applications for many employers which will illustrate to you the language, grammar and attention to detail that you must achieve before submitting your application.
• Help you prepare for interview and assessment centre.
• Conduct a mock interview to give you the opportunity to think on your feet and answer questions based on your application. You will also get feedback which will help you fine tune your preparation for the big day.

Work experience
It is vital that you get relevant work experience to show your commitment to and understanding of the legal profession. Getting experience with different law firms and employers will enable you to compare and contrast and find out what suits you whilst you develop the skills legal recruiters are looking for. From formal vacation scheme placements to visiting the courts and shadowing a lawyer - there are many ways in which you can gain that all important work experience. Paralegal work can lead to a training contract and may even reduce the length of your training. It will certainly give you valuable experience. Why not consider volunteering? Many large organisations and institutions have legal departments where you may be able to shadow their in-house lawyers and find out what sort of work they do. Industry experience will develop your commercial awareness which is a key skill for most aspiring lawyers.  Initially, you should try to get a range of work experience to help you decide on your career path. However, if you have decided what sort of lawyer you want to be you should get experience in that field.

Why is relevant work experience so important?
Most law firms will expect you to have some legal work experience and many firms tell us that this is one of the key things that they look for when screening applications.  Work experience is of great benefit to you as it will develop your understanding of the legal profession.  You will get a good idea of what will be expected of you in terms of skills, experience and personal attributes.  On your application forms you can use your work experience to demonstrate that you have developed the key competencies that employers want.  It will also give you something interesting to talk about at interview - interesting work experience can make you stand out from the crowd!  Work experience is a good way of showing your dedication and commitment to a career in the legal profession.

Presentations and open days
Many law firms know that it is very difficult to obtain a vacation scheme placement - many students secure training contracts without the experience of a vac scheme - so they run open days in addition to their formal schemes. These are designed for you to find out as much as you can about the firm and for them to find out as much as they can about you – so therefore treat it as a day’s assessment/interview. You will usually have to apply by CV and a covering letter. Performing well at an open day can lead to a training contract.

Law firms also arrange presentations, usually in the evenings to give law students an opportunity to find out more about the firm. It gives you the opportunity to meet and network with potential employers and find out from trainees what their jobs entail.