LawCareersNetLIVE Manchester: why this is a must-attend event

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My experience

I was selected to attend LawCareersNetLIVE as a delegate candidate in Manchester last November. As a law conversion student, I was relatively new to the legal profession and wanted to develop my commercial awareness, as well as find out more about the intricacies of legal practice by getting the opportunity to network.

I also wanted to gain a deeper insight into my practice areas of interest. The event provided candidates with the opportunity to attend two workshops. With a number of workshops based on various contrasting practice areas to choose from, delegates could tailor their day to best suit their interests.

The event

The event was extremely well organised from start to finish. Delegates were provided with networking opportunities throughout the day. This allowed me to significantly expand my network and develop my networking skills, which are imperative to the legal profession.

The event began with a talk from the keynote speaker Nik White, managing partner at Brabners LLP. This talk was eye-opening for aspiring lawyers as it highlighted that an individual’s journey into law is not always simple and that setbacks are an opportunity for growth and success. Hearing about the importance of courage and adaptability as a commercial solicitor was something that left me feeling inspired and reaffirmed my goal to begin my legal journey at Brabners.

I then attended my first workshop with the real estate team at Shoosmiths. As someone with a strong passion for property law, this workshop enabled me to look beyond my land law studies and gain an insight into the way a property sector operates within a law firm.

Afterwards, there was an opportunity to attend a panel talk with a number of partners. The panel addressed the key issues facing law firms in 2024. This discussion developed my understanding of law firms as a business and the role trainees play in contributing to the success of the business. As the talk concluded, each partner provided one piece of advice for aspiring solicitors. The advice given here has been something I’ve kept with me and continued working on since the event.

In the afternoon, I attended the ‘ESG in sport’ workshop with Brabners. The inclusive and welcoming environment of the workshop allowed candidates to get involved in discussions around the topics of transgender participation in sport and reducing environmental impact.

Lastly, there was a trainee panel discussion. This panel was incredibly informative for aspiring lawyers as the panellists offered first-hand insights into the experiences of trainee solicitors and shed light on what life’s really like in a law firm. Here are a few key takeaways:

• The panellists discussed their journey through the law firm application process. They shared tips on crafting compelling applications, preparing for interviews and standing out among other candidates.
• The talk provided a glimpse into the daily tasks and responsibilities of trainees, from legal research and drafting documents to client meetings.

My journey post-event

I recommend attending LawCareersNetLIVE to anyone considering a career in the legal profession. I left the event feeling inspired. Not only did it reaffirm where I wanted to begin my legal career and which practice areas I was interested in, but it also helped me demonstrate my commitment and passion to working at that firm when it came to submitting my application.

The event highlighted the importance of building your network in the legal profession and provided a perfect opportunity for me to do so. It also reflected that you cannot understand how a law firm operates or gain insight into its cultures by simply reading the website alone.

Since my attendance, I’m thrilled to have accepted a training contract with Brabners, commencing in 2026. I truly believe that attending LawCareersNetLIVE was one of the contributing factors to my achievement and, therefore, I hope it reflects the value of attending events such as this in order to achieve your career goals.

Applications are open for LawCareersNetLIVE 2024! Apply now for our exclusive legal careers conference taking place in Manchester on 29 November 2024, London on 6 December 2024 and virtually on 10-11 December 2024. The deadline for applications is 31 October 2024 but we encourage applicants to apply early as we’ll be making offers on a rolling basis from autumn. For more on what we’re looking for in your applications, read this LCN Says: ‘Five tips for flawless LawCareersNetLIVE applications’.

Charlotte Ainge is now embarking upon her SQE1 studies and an incoming 2026 trainee solicitor at Brabners LLP.