We’re aware that some solicitors are facing difficulties in their careers due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
This could include solicitors going through the redundancy process or uncertainty due to the end of furlough.
As part of our Reset, Resilience and Recovery campaign, we’ve developed a support package for individual solicitors below.
Free careers clinic
We offer a free careers clinic where you’ll get a one-to-one consultation with an expert career coach or legal recruiter.
Each one-to-one appointment lasts up to 40 minutes and will be scheduled from 9.30am to 5.30pm.
Appointments will take place via telephone, or Zoom for individuals based overseas (subject to prior agreement).
Dates available in 2021:
- 20 April
- 18 May
- 15 June
- 24 June
- 13 July
- 22 July
- 7 September
- 15 September
- 5 October
- 14 October
- 2 November
- 11 November
- 8 December
- 15 December
Who is the clinic suitable for?
- Paralegals completing the Legal Practice Course (LPC) (including those completing Qualifying Work Experience)
- Trainee solicitors
- Qualified solicitors (including those admitted overseas)
- Returners and career changers who are considering a switch to law
Solicitors going through redundancy will get a priority slot.
What’s covered?
Our careers consultants can share sector insight and offer objective practical advice and tips on the following areas:
- CVs, applications and interviews
- job search strategies
- career planning, including progression or changing career direction
- options for trainees approaching qualification
- options for overseas lawyers to work in England and Wales
- how to plan a return to practice after a career break
- how to work more flexibly, including options for a portfolio career
- how to break into law as a career changer
- how to leave practice and change careers
Please note that our consultants are not qualified to offer:
- tax advice
- regulatory advice
- business consulting services on setting up your own firm or working as a freelance lawyer
- advice on applications for practising certificates
- advice on professional indemnity insurance
Contact us
For further enquiries or to book a place, email careers@lawsociety.org.uk with your preferred date and time slot.
Find out more on our career development hub
Careers resources
Read our articles on:
- career options for solicitors
- changing career direction
- help to progress your career
- advice about changing roles
- guidance on how to work differently
Careers events
Webinar: Changing career direction – what are my realistic options? (22 April 2021)
This webinar is designed to support individuals, across all levels of post-qualified experience (PQE), who are seeking to return to the profession following a career break. It is also designed to support those considering changing career direction or seeking re-invention.
Date: 22 April 2021
Time: 2pm to 3.30pm
Cost: free
Location: online
Live career Q&A: How to create a compelling legal job application in 2021 (6 May 2021)
At this event, legal recruitment experts Clayton Legal will help you understand how to land your next legal job; from tips to enhance your CV, to the principles of writing a great cover letter – all in an informal live Q&A format.
Date: 06 May 2021
Time: 10am to 11am
Cost: free
Location: online
Recharge webinar: Skills audit for returning to the profession (13 May 2021)
This free webinar is for individuals across all levels of PQE who are seeking to return to law following a career break, or those considering changing career direction.
Date: 13 May 2021
Time: 2pm to 3.30pm
Cost: free
Location: online
Lawtech skills
Lawtech will play a vital role in driving the post-coronavirus recovery across all sectors of the economy, including legal services. We hold regular sessions giving an introduction to lawtech, and offer bespoke sessions on legal technology and GDPR.
Register your interest by emailing andrew.mcwhir@lawsociety.org.uk.
Insight on the legal services market
LexisNexis has released its first Gross Legal Product Index, which analyses the impact of COVID-19 on the legal sector.
The report concluded that lockdown has had a negative impact on some practice areas, such as residential conveyancing, commercial real estate and immigration.
However, it also showed that other practice areas are accelerating their recent strong growth, including employment law and company law.
Read the Gross Legal Product Index report
Mental health hub
Going through career uncertainty can affect your mental health and wellbeing.
We offer one-on-one support through LawCare and a series of online resources to build resilience and manage stress:
Visit our wellbeing and mental health hub
Redundancy legal advice
If you have questions or concerns on the redundancy process, you can contact the Solicitors' Assistance Scheme or consult an employment solicitor.
You may also find this government information on your redundancy rights useful.
Gazette Jobs portal
Visit the Law Society Gazette Jobs portal
Find out how to prepare for a video interview
Watch a video on making the move in-house
Other support available
Support for partners and senior in-house lawyers
BCKR is a specialist organisation which works with senior lawyers to help them navigate the relatively unknown world of identifying and securing non-executive roles.
Joining the judiciary is a great opportunity for solicitors who want to take their career in a new and challenging direction. Our judicial careers hub has information and advice for aspiring judges.
Join our Solicitor Judges Division
Would you like to write blogs or articles for us? Get in touch through coronavirus@lawsociety.org.uk.
Support for senior solicitors
Practice notes
Practice note on freelance solicitors
Practice note on offering legal services from unregulated entities
Webinars
Changing career direction: recharge webinar
Marketing yourself: recharge webinar (96 minutes)
Changing career direction during COVID-19: Q&A with JMC Legal Recruitment (webinar held 24 November 2020)
Career planning for 2021, Q&A with JMC Legal Recruitment (webinar held 23 February 2021)
Step-by-step guide to returning to the profession following a career break: recharge webinar (webinar held 17 March 2021)
Podcasts
Working as a freelance lawyer and consultant – lawyers from AG discuss the practical considerations involved in working as a freelance lawyer and consultant
Recharge: Impressing at interview when returning after a career break (18 minutes)
JMC Legal Recruitment podcast about selling yourself as a candidate (38 minutes)
An overview of the legal jobs market with JMC Legal Recruitment (6 minutes)
Changing career direction during COVID-19: Q&A with JMC Legal Recruitment (webinar held 18 November 2020 – 61 minutes)
Support for trainees
Read our guidance on what to do if your training is terminated
Listen to our podcast on navigating the internal qualification process or external NQ market
Listen to our podcast on marketing yourself and application tips
Join our Junior Lawyers Division
Working remotely as a trainee solicitor – in this podcast, Husnara Begum talks with two trainee solicitors, Kyria Mputu-Mombo and Sajeed Jamal, about managing their training whilst working remotely
