LCN Blogs - LawCareers.Net

The future of law is diverse: here’s why

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The law is stepping up its game when it comes to diversity and we’re starting to see a real push to make things more inclusive these days, which is pretty exciting to see. There are more and more initiatives aimed directly at underrepresented groups. It’s all about creating opportunities and making sure that everyone, no matter their background, has a fair shot at success. A few standout examples of this shift include scholarships, charities, open days and broader diversity access schemes.

Understanding commercial awareness: why it's essential for you

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Commercial awareness is the ability to understand the context in which organisations operate, including their clients, customers and suppliers, as well as the internal and external challenges they currently face and those that may arise in the future.

Family matters: prenups and postnups

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The prenuptial agreement – or 'prenup', for short – has an undeservedly (yet understandably) awkward reputation. But in a legal context, alongside its post-nuptial counterpart, the ‘postnup’, it’s an incredibly useful asset for any married couple. As an aspiring solicitor with a budding interest in family law, this article is the product of some research into the infamous prenup – with the aim of dispelling some common misconceptions around it.

A guide to the six-minute interval

Wed, 02 Oct 2024 00:00:00 GMT

At the LawCareersNetLIVE conference last December, I asked a trainee from one of the attending law firms for her best advice for trainees starting their training contracts. I expected to hear something along the lines of “networking” or “taking initiative and asking for work”. Instead, she stressed the importance of getting into the habit of “recording your hours”. That interaction, combined with my lack of knowledge surrounding the mysterious billable hour, resulted in the creation of this article.

Starting a new course? Here’s how to hit the ground running

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 00:00:00 GMT

In September, many students start their new venture into university to study all kinds of different subjects. Preparation before starting a course can help you hit the ground running. I don't just mean buying stationary (although that can most definitely help motivation) but also preparing for the course itself.

Can and should your philosophical beliefs result in dismissal?

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

In July 2024, Waterstones was criticised for dismissing Tilly Fitzgerald, a bookseller and book influencer, who told author Christina Dalcher on X (formally Twitter) that she was “going to throw away her books” in response to Dalcher’s gender-critical beliefs.

What I learned from my law conversion course

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

This past year was gruelling (to say the least) and demanded a lot of flexibility and adaptability. Not only did I have to adjust to learning an entirely new discipline, but I also had to do it all in one year! A law conversion course is certainly not for the faint of heart, but I can't say it wasn't worth it.

Your final year on the LLB: what to expect

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

With the start of the new academic year coming up, no doubt your anticipation is intensifying and a sense of responsibility mounting. This final year will not merely test your legal knowledge; it's one of the key last steps before a career in law. This is a period marked by intense academic rigour, critical decision making regarding specialisations and much career planning. Let's delve into what this crucial year entails

Intellectual property: an insight

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

I understood the gist of IP law – working with creatives and businesses to protect their ideas from copyright infringement – but had never fully explored it. From that uncertainty and curiosity, this article was born: so if, like me, you're curious about IP law, read on!

Dealing with dissertations

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The final year of your LLB programme presents a tremendous opportunity, and what might be the magnum opus of your time at university – your dissertation. This is not merely an academic requirement (though some universities offer alternatives), but a chance to delve deeply into a topic that fascinates you.

Advice for new University starters

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Now that I’ve completed all three years of my Law degree and graduated with a first class, I feel suitably experienced to provide some key advice to students starting their university journey this coming September.

The future of the partnership model

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

If you're looking to be a solicitor in private practice, most of the firms you'll be looking at will probably be limited liability partnerships (LLPs). But in recent years, a series of new career paths for lawyers have emerged, threatening to replace the traditional partnership model – or, at the very least, to compete with it.

Legal films and TV shows I’d recommend for law students (part two)

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

This blog post follows on from a previous article I wrote in which I recommended five legal films/shows. Part two is here and we’re back with another five.

My week in local government law

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 00:00:00 GMT

This July, I was fortunate enough to partake in Local Lawyers in Government (LLG)'s work experience week. I was assigned to a local authority and spent my mornings shadowing different legal departments, and attending informative workshops organised by LLG in the afternoon. In this article, I'll take you through how I spent my week – and the many things I learned.

An introduction to planning law

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

During my work experience week with Lawyers in Local Government, I spent a notable amount of time working with property lawyers and paralegals. This introduced me to planning law − a subsection within property law that I’d never looked into before. This article, in turn, offers an opportunity for me (and you) to learn more about this niche practice area. What’s planning law?

How the recent general election could bring change to current assisted dying legislation

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Assisted dying is a contentious subject, so much so that a clear definition is yet to be universally agreed for the practice. Some describe it as a compassionate choice, allowing those who live in grave pain or suffering to end their life in dignity within a controlled environment; others describe it as unethical and against the core principles of human life.

The rise and fall of football hooliganism: how true are reports of a recent revival?

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Football fans are often seen by the media, as well as those outside of football, as being disruptive, aggressive and even violent. This is a viewpoint that’s been historically painted through ‘football hooliganism’, which was at its peak in the 70s and 80s. While football hooliganism has been greatly on the decline since the 90s, there has been concerns among the government of a reported rise in violent football-related activity in the past couple of years.

Generative AI and the evolving legal business model

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Despite the efforts to move the legal business model towards alternatives, the billable hour remains the predominant model of law firms globally. However, with the arrival of Generative AI (GenAI), the legal business model is beginning to be challenged.

The "no treating" orders of WWI: control in crises

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Picture a bustling London pub in 1915. What you might not consider is that buying your friend a drink could land you in trouble with a constable. During World War one (WWI), the British government introduced the Defence of the Realm Act 1914 (DORA). This emergency legislation and its various amendments created a series of regulations, providing broad powers to bolster Britain’s national security.

An introduction to family law

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Ever since I tuned into the Forsters LLP’s 'Breaking Good – Rethinking Separation and Divorce' podcast, I began to develop an interest in family law. However, I wasn't sure whether it was the interesting and jovial discussions on the podcast that drew me in, or whether it was the topic itself. As a result, this article – a product of curiosity and compiled research – was born.

Local government law for beginners

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 00:00:00 GMT

While the private sector offers a wide range of opportunities, such as working with individuals, families, and businesses on local and international levels, it's not for everyone.

My first vacation scheme experience

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

In early June, I took part in my first vacation scheme with Brabners LLP in the firm’s Liverpool office.

What I learnt from judge marshalling

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Shadowing a judge, often referred to as judge marshalling, is a beneficial form of work experience for both aspiring solicitors and barristers. While both groups can benefit, it’s aspiring barristers who usually endeavour to secure the scheme, as it gives a huge insight into their future career (ie attending court, practising advocacy). As part of the experience, some students even get the chance to sit on the judge’s bench.

How to find your PhD subject area

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Over the last couple of months, I’ve spent many hours pondering what subject I might be able to extensively research for a PhD. As I look to start my journey towards lecturing, this is the first real step into the subject that I may be covering for the next many decades.

Artificial Intelligence and copyright

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Trained on vast datasets, Generative Artificial Intelligence models can produce impressively sophisticated outputs - some of which are perhaps indistinguishable from human-created works. However, these new tools raise significant legal quandaries, particularly for copyright law.

How law firms can make their vacation schemes more accessible for autistic candidates

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Earlier this year, I attended a vacation scheme at a firm that I’ve come to admire for its values, ethos, the people who make up the firm and the high-quality work its lawyers do. Proper preparation is key for something as important as this, as a vacation scheme is essentially a week-long interview. However, as an autistic aspiring lawyer, there are other things that I need in order to feel as prepared as I can. But how can firms help with this and make their vacation schemes more accessible?

Storytelling for applications and interviews

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how stories are told, how they can be told well and how you can use this to your advantage in a job interview.

The big bad SQE

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Whoever said law was an uphill battle wasn't lying. With my Postgraduate Diploma in Law exams over and done with (at last!), I've got the glorious SQE to look forward to. Having heard the horror stories from friends and family, I've decided to do a little research to understand what, exactly, I'm getting myself into − and in this article, I'll be taking you along with me.

Potential impact of restricting international students for UK universities

Wed, 29 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The UK government has been restricting international students from coming over to continue their studies in the UK for the past number of years.

Ghostbots: who ya gonna call?

Tue, 21 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

At this point, I assume most of us are at least vaguely aware of Generative AI, most likely in the form of natural language models and image generators. However, a somewhat obscure, and rather more macabre application of GenAI has been developing for a few years now, in the form of ‘ghostbots’ − AI-powered digital recreations of the dead.

Privatisation and overcrowding of UK prisons

Fri, 10 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The current overcrowding in UK prisons is something of a silent crisis. A mix of a covid-19 backlog, harsher sentencing and increased police presence has caused record numbers of people currently in prisons in the UK, with the numbers only expected to grow in the coming years.

My experience of Amicus’ spring training weekend: part two

Thu, 09 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The second Saturday began with an in-depth explanation and advice on mitigation in the US criminal justice system. This is particularly important for death penalty litigation, as this is the best way for defendants to have their sentences changed.

The AI Act - how Europe’s first AI legislation could pave the way for future laws

Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT

The AI Act (the act) was first proposed by the European Commission in 2021 due to the risk posed by the technology. Although the act hasn’t yet come into force in Europe, it’s likely to do so sometime within the coming months.

Why choose Birmingham to be your home and work city?

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

With so much happening in Birmingham over the next few years, it’s an exciting time to be working and training in the second city.

The pros and cons of working at an international law firm

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Coming from an international background, I've always thought an international law firm would be the perfect fit - mimicking the culturally diverse contexts in which I grew up. However, when answering the question "Why would you like to work at an international firm?" on an application form, I found it hard to articulate my exact reasons without sounding too generic.

Private client law: explained

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

After listening to a few podcasts, I've developed an interest in what I've always thought were called ‘personal legal services' - an umbrella term including family, wills and estates and trusts - and started researching firms that provide these services.

Are doctors' right to protest on life support?

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

It’s a doctors’ duty to put public safety at the forefront of their minds, protecting not only their own patients, but anyone who could reasonably be affected. However, outside of the hospital and medical practice, this duty becomes slightly cloudier.

How flexible working changes will impact a five-day office week

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Boots is a name in a sea of other employers that are mandating a full-time return to the office, including several law firms all over the country.

How to stay disciplined in law school

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

With the end of the academic year approaching, a lot of students may struggle with maintaining motivation and studying for exams. Towards the end of the year, students are more likely to procrastinate, feel a lack of energy or face burnout. So, what’s the solution? Read on for some tips to help you ensure you keep on your best form all the way to the finish line.

Five film/TV show recommendations for law students (part one)

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

It’s no secret that the portrayal of the legal world on TV is often dramatised and wildly inaccurate. Nevertheless, the shows and films I’ve put together can actually be helpful for law students, whether it’s for education or mere entertainment purposes. If watching legal dramas provides motivation for your studies or helps you retain just a few nuggets of useful information, they still have value. In fact, a Suits episode once helped me ask a question about the stock market in an interview! Below are my top 10 films/shows and takeaways.

The aspiring solicitor's question bank

Sat, 06 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Part of applying to law firms involves talking to qualified solicitors and trainees - either at open days and events, or by reaching out to them on LinkedIn. As many of my teachers and mentors have advised me, contacting individuals at a firm you want to apply to is a great way to not only get an insight into the firm and their culture, but also gain a better understanding of how to tailor your application.

Let's talk about Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

I hope that by writing about this – something not uncommon with neurodivergent people – then our peers, colleagues and employers can be more accepting of our experiences.

Raw sewage in our rivers: the legal and environmental impact

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

You may have been reading headlines like “sewage dumping leaves fish full of cocaine”, which sounds more akin to an Alan Partridge radio headline than serious news. However, this is in fact from an official marine expert, following the recent sewage dumping over the last few weeks.

An aspiring solicitor's guide to property law

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 00:00:00 GMT

To the surprise of myself and everyone around me (including my professor!), I've really enjoyed my land law module so far this term. The structure and organisation of the module itself, coupled with the range of clients we get to work with in our problem questions – from residents with personal or familial issues, to businesses selling commercial properties – showcased just how varied this area of law can be.

Entering into your first legal role? Here's what to expect

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Starting your first legal role can be quite daunting. Well, don’t fear! I’m here to ease those thoughts and to help you understand the role of a legal assistant or paralegal.

How to make the most out of your Easter holiday revision

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Well done to everyone for getting through the second semester. Easter holidays are a time for rest, rejuvenation and spending time with family and friends. However, many students have exams after the holidays and need to also find the time for revision. This blog post aims to give you some tips on how to balance all of this and get the most out of the holidays.

Five tips to help you secure a training contract

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

We’ve reached the time of year again when many law students are in the midst of training contract applications. As daunting as this process may be, here are a few tricks that may help you stand out from the crowd.

AI generated images - a silent crisis

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

While I've already discussed how AI is being used by legal professionals and how it may be used in the future, there’s also a rise of individuals using AI imagery to create anything they can conjure. This creates a real legal grey area when it comes to potential ‘evidence’ of a crime, or the creation of nonconsensual indecent images.

What’s international human rights law

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

International human rights law is founded on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which represents the universal protection of inalienable, inherent and fundamental rights and freedoms of everyone.

My experience of Amicus’s spring training weekend: part one

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Amicus is a legal non-profit organisation based in London, which helps secure equal access to justice for those facing the death penalty in the United States. Every year, the organisation provides autumn and spring training for those interested in volunteering.