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By now you’ll have an idea of your interests in and outside of law school and will be looking to embark to take your final steps towards the legal industry.

Applications

This is the most time-consuming activity you’ll complete in your final year. It’s easy to get caught up in competing to get pupillage, a training contract or a graduate job but you should focus on doing your best during application season and being supportive of your peers. A positive application season experience is enhanced by using those around you to keep you engaged and motivated to apply to your favourite firm or chambers. As you may well be aware, you’re now required to complete the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) and qualifying work experience to qualify as a solicitor. For aspiring barristers, the BTC remains, but you’ll be pleased to know that you no longer need to take the BCAT to obtain a place at bar school. Now is the time to plan how you’ll fund these courses and to explore wider options post-academia.

Explore your options

Familiarise yourself with the resources around you such as LCN’s LawCareersNetLIVE and MyLCN. You might find you’d rather pursue further academia and in that case you’ll be looking to embark on a master's post-final year. Don’t be afraid to change your mind. If up until now you’ve wanted to be a barrister, it’s fine to make the switch and explore the path to become a solicitor. Maybe even start looking for some part-time legal work. This could be in the form of internships and clinics, or even part-time work at a law firm. If you make a good impression during your final year, you may be able to turn this into a full-time opportunity after law school. Even if you decide not to pursue an internship or work in a clinic full-time, it’s a great way to expand your legal network and make connections that will ultimately help you to a job in the legal industry. Plus, take advantage of legal events offered by your law school.

Study plans

If you haven’t already created a study plan for your first and second years of law school, now is the time to do it. Many students complain about not having enough time to revise, complete their research and still maintain a healthy work-life balance. By planning your time in advance, you can reduce the stress of having to decide each day how you’ll manage your time, whilst still meeting timely demands.

Prepare now

Exam season is closer than you think. Start to prepare for your exams now. This includes completing the necessary reading, practising your legal writing skills, and engaging in feedback from your lecturers. Engaging with your lecturers and tutors is the best way to clarify any content about which you are confused. Just because exam season seems like months away, now is the time to review the content you’re taught to evaluate your knowledge, understanding and performance.

Act professionally

The first and second years of law school will have you feeling like newbies to the profession. It’s easy to forget by the final year of law school that you’re here for a purpose – to obtain the necessary skills to begin your career. Final year is an opportunity to get into good habits such as forming a routine, being punctual and reading the news. If you haven’t done so by now – try to get a subscription to the Financial Times, The Economist and reading the News section of the LCN website.

And finally…

This is the final year to make a difference to your grades, hobbies, and future path – all without having pressures from the real world of work. The most important thing to remember during this final year is to study, have fun and make the most of your final year!

Read Neide's previous Blog post: 'To master's, or not to master's?'