As part of LCN's increased focus on diversity in the legal profession, we’ve been looking at the relationship between candidates and firms when it comes to diverse talent. 

Has the pandemic irrevocably changed the nature of work and the employment relationship in the UK?

Working as a paralegal before securing a training contract is increasingly the norm for thousands of candidates. It’s even possible to qualify as a solicitor by gaining relevant experience as a paralegal, instead of a formal training contract – a route that could become even more popular with the introduction of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam and qualifying work experience.

Ravi Pattani, partner at Reed Smith, explains what makes a successful application, the work of a corporate lawyer and how sector agnostics his matters are, and his advice for budding solicitors.  

Career changers and mature candidates can make great lawyers. Many solicitors’ firms and barristers’ chambers value the transferable skills and experiences that career changers bring, with some explicitly encouraging career changers to apply. Read on to learn how you can make the change from your old career into law.

Talent manager Grace Gibson-Venner provides her in-depth practical guide to the recruitment process at Vinson & Elkins and the firm’s semi-rotational training contract. 

Freya MacCormack, a disputes associate at Winston & Strawn London LLP, talks about the high level of responsibility available at the firm (including advocacy), the criteria she used to choose firms and the type of work she’s involved with day to day. 

Researching law firms is a crucial step when applying for vacation schemes or training contracts in the legal industry. To provide valuable guidance on this topic, LawCareers.Net recently hosted a virtual masterclass event, sponsored by Bristows LLP, Jones Day and White & Case LLP.

Why might firms in the same industry have diverse financial structures?

Looking for an ‘in’? Open days and insight schemes are invaluable opportunities to meet the people that work for the law firms you’re interested in. You’ll learn about life in the organisation, its culture, the work on offer and much more. Plus, if prepped well, it’s your chance to ace that initial interaction to set yourself up nicely for future encounters that could eventually lead to you securing your qualifying work experience (eg, a training contract or apprenticeship).

The coronavirus pandemic has delayed plans to change legal education and training in 2021 with the introduction of the new Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE). Here is everything we know about the new exams, from the syllabus, to the format of the exams themselves, to the cost for candidates, to what law firms, universities and law schools are doing.

The Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is a new system of exams that was introduced in September 2021, which all prospective solicitors must pass to qualify.

An important part of going to university is having a great time, meeting new friends and making the most of the wide variety of opportunities that being a student has to offer. That being said, focusing solely on fun and not paying attention to your academics is likely to result in a few missed opportunities. A healthy balance of work and socialising during your first year will have long-term benefits that you’ll appreciate later down the line.

Pursuing a career in law is hard. It’s as simple as that. It can feel like you’re the only person not securing vacation schemes or training contracts as your peers post their new roles at firms all over LinkedIn and Instagram – and you can’t work out where it is that you’re going wrong. It’s an easy mindset to fall into but it’s vital to take a step back, reassess, breathe and go again. We spoke to several aspiring lawyers whose routes into law were either put on hold, made difficult because of their background or disrupted as a result of the pandemic. This feature aims to show you that you’re not the only one having a bumpy ride into the legal world.

“Can I still qualify as a solicitor via the Legal Practice Course (LPC) even though the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE) is now the new pathway into the profession?” This is a question that’s becoming increasingly more familiar as many aspiring lawyers consider their next step towards qualification.

Which social trends and legal changes are influencing the real estate sector this year?

From trainee to partner at Devonshires, Asif Patel tells the story of his journey to partner, what makes Devonshires stand out and how you can be successful at a training contract interview with the firm. 

Despite the challenges that the UK’s lockdown presents, the importance of maintaining and building a professional online network has become increasingly evident.

Studying a law degree opens a world of possibilities when it comes to choosing a career and certainly doesn’t limit you to a job in the legal profession. Use this guide to six alternative careers for law graduates to help kickstart your career research.