Support for individual solicitors
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:
- 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
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
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.
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
Other resources
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.
Practice notes
Freelance solicitorsOffering legal services from unregulated entities
Webinar recordings
- Preparing 2nd year trainees for qualification (webinar held 9 June 2021)
- Skills audit for returning to the profession following a career break (webinar held 13 May 2021)
- Changing career direction: what are my realistic options? (webinar held 20 April 2021)
- Changing career direction: options outside of practice (webinar held 20 May 2021)
- A conversation on returning to work and working flexibly (webinar held 5 October 2021)
Recharge series
- Confidence building (webinar held 29 September 2021)
- Step-by-step guide to returning to the profession following a career break (webinar held 17 March 2021)
- Marketing yourself (webinar held 12 November 2020)
- Changing career direction (webinar held 13 August 2020)
With JMC Legal Recruitment
- Changing career direction during COVID-19 (Q&A held 24 November 2020)
- Changing career direction during COVID-19 (Q&A held 18 November 2020 – 61 minutes)
- Career planning for 2021 (Q&A held 23 February 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)
Find out 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 tips on marketing yourself and applications
Join our Junior Lawyers Division
Working remotely as a trainee solicitor – Husnara Begum talks with two trainee solicitors, Kyria Mputu-Mombo and Sajeed Jamal, about managing their training whilst working remotely