The Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Law

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The Beginner’s Guide to a Career in Law sponsored by The University of Law

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Your non-law student hub

You don’t need a law degree to become a lawyer - visit LCN's non-law student hub!

Your non-law student hub

Education hub

Find your undergraduate or postgraduate law course

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Discover your options

Find out about the various legal apprenticeships on offer

Kickstart your career in law

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The Beginner's Guide to a Career in Law

Your essential first step to a career in law

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Key law career questions

Find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about a career in the legal sector

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Key law career deadlines

Discover several key events and deadlines that you need to diarise

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Reality check

Without wanting to detract from the exciting and challenging legal career on offer, here are some things to bear in mind

Beginner's Guide

First steps checklist

Here's what you can do even before you start university

First-year checklist

Find out what you should be doing in your first year at university as a law or non-law student

Meet the Lawyer

Read how today's lawyers went from student to qualified lawyer

Legal career paths

Take a look at our simple career timetable

Solicitor versus barrister

What's the difference and which career would suit you? Use this guide to get you started

Meet the Lawyer

Matt Leech

Gateley Legal’s training and graduate partner Matt Leech outlines his work in restructuring and explains his role in building Gateley’s Leeds office from the ground up.

Meet the Recruiter

Lucie Rees

Should you use AI in your applications to HFW? How’s the firm adopting the Solicitors Qualifying Exam and what kind of work can you expect to experience on the vacation scheme? All of this and more is covered by HFW’s early careers manager Lucie Rees in this Meet the Recruiter profile.

Meet the Lawyer

Daniel Millard

Daniel Millard, an associate in Cooley (UK) LLP’s cyber/data/privacy team, speaks about the important role work experience had on his career, his decision to pursue a career as a technology lawyer and how his team intersects with the rest of the firm in this Meet the Lawyer profile.

Meet the Recruiter

Rachel Chapman

Head of early talent Rachel Chapman shares the most common ways candidates let themselves down, what you need to know about Trowers & Hamlins LLP and all the ways the firm prioritises diversity and inclusion.

Videos

See more videos

LawCareersNetLIVE London 2023: trainee panel

Five top tips for FIRST YEAR LAW STUDENTS

First steps for those considering a LEGAL CAREER

Masterclass | Legal apprenticeships

Vacation Scheme Insiders

University of Exeter

Law

Summer 2024

Vacation Scheme Insiders

Archie Hogarth

University

University of Glasgow

Subject

Law

Started

Summer 2024

Vacation Scheme Insiders

University of Leeds

Law and history

Summer 2024

The Law Apprenticeships Guide 2025

"Where should I start?"

Practice areas

Find out what life is like in practice

Becoming a solicitor

Find out what becoming a solicitor involves

Becoming a barrister

Find out what becoming a barrister involves

Becoming an in-house lawyer

Find out what becoming an in-house lawyer involves

Useful content!

Feature

An aspiring lawyer's guide to choosing where to apply

There are several factors to consider when choosing which solicitors’ firm or barristers’ chambers to apply to, including the type of law and office locations. This guide will help you to narrow down potential employers based on your preferences and interests.

Ask the Oracle

Does it matter when I submit my training contract application?

Does it matter if I wait until the deadline to submit my training contract application?

LCN Says

Ellie Nicholl - Pro bono: how to find the right scheme for you

Ellie Nicholl

Pro bono is voluntary work undertaken by lawyers and law students aimed at improving access to legal advice. This article aims to set out the steps you should take to finding the right pro bono opportunity for you.

About the legal sector

What lawyers do

Learn more about the branches of the legal profession, areas of law, and practice areas

Types of lawyers

Read our table of key facts to help you distinguish between the different types of lawyers

Paralegals

Find out about this distinct group of legal professionals

Work experience

Find out about the various work experience opportunities available for aspiring lawyers

News

Milbank announces December bonuses

US law firm Milbank LLP has published its year-end bonus figures for its associates, which will be between $15,000 (£12,000) and $115,000 (£90,000) depending on their experience level.

News

Birketts to use London office as “springboard” to expand globally

Birketts LLP, a full-service law firm with office locations across the East of England, London and the South East, eyes plans to develop its international practice by using its City office as a “springboard”.

News

Walker Morris boosts NQ salaries to £65,000

Leeds-based law firm Walker Morris LLP has increased the salaries of its newly qualified (NQ) solicitors by 6.5% from £61,000 to £65,000.

News

Legal training providers call for government to protect solicitor apprenticeships amid funding cuts

BARBRI and Damar Training are urging the government to consider the impact that withdrawing levy funding for some level 7 programmes could have on access to the legal profession.

Beginner's Guide to a Career in Law

Beginner's Guide

Videos

"Where should I start?"

Useful content!

About the legal sector

More insights

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