Planning your career
By the time you've qualified and reached the stage of applying for jobs, you should have a clear idea of what area of law you want to work in.If you’re newly qualified, you'll probably have some relevant work experience from volunteering and your period of training.
If you’re already working and want to take the next step in your career you should think about how you want to progress.
If you’re changing career, your experience and industry insights may be useful for certain law firms, especially if the firm has clients in your previous industry.
Look at firms’ recruitment information to find out which may value your skills and experience.
Find out more about career options in law
Preparing for job seeking
Before applying for jobs, look at your knowledge, experience and skills. Think about:
- your strengths and weaknesses
- your experience
- the types of work and areas of law that interest you
- skills that you want to develop
- the qualities you can bring to an employer
- where you want to work and the opportunities that are available
You should leave enough time to research and prepare applications to improve your chances of success.
Resources
Articles from the Law Society Gazette
How to prepare for a video job interview
A new world of work – Maria Shahid reports on life for solicitors in the 'new normal'
A junior lawyer's guide to cover letters
Your guide to writing the best personal injury lawyer CV
Three things recruiters want candidates to know about the legal recruitment process
A guide to negotiating your salary as a solicitor
Blogs
Four tips to advance your legal career this year
Essential questions to ask a legal interviewer
10 top tips for supercharging your legal job application
Webinars
Recharge: the dos vs don'ts when planning your return to the legal profession (Tuesday 16 January 2024)
This free panel discussion with Q&As is aimed at individuals seeking inspiration and advice for returning to the legal profession after a lengthy career hiatus.
Hear from a panel of guest speakers who have successfully returned to private practice or an in-house role, who will share tips based on their personal journeys back to law.
Past webinars
Virtual group career coaching for those returning or changing careers
Changing career direction – career options
Preparing second-year trainees for qualification
A conversation on returning to work and working flexibly
Skills audit for returning to the profession following a career break
Changing career direction:
- Hear from those who have successfully changed career (webinar held 19 October 2021)
- What are my realistic options? (webinar held 20 April 2021)
- Options outside of practice (webinar held 20 May 2021)
Recharge series:
- Interview tips (60 minutes)
- Recharge: Job searching techniques (60 minutes)
- How to navigate the job market as a returner (46 minutes)
- Marketing yourself (96 minutes)
- Confidence building (webinar held 29 September 2021)
- How to turn your career ideas into action (90 minutes)
- Networking tips for job hunters (90 minutes)
Podcasts
How to sell yourself as a candidate with JMC Legal Recruitment (38 minutes)
Law Society careers clinic
Dates for 2023
15 and 21 June
12 and 18 July
14 and 21 September
19 and 25 October
16 and 22 November
7 and 12 December
Cost: free
Location: telephone or via Zoom for individuals based overseas (subject to prior agreement)
Who is the clinic suitable for?
- LPC paralegals (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
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
- available options for trainees approaching qualification
- available 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, or business consulting services regarding setting up your own firm or working as a freelance lawyer. Furthermore, they are not able to advise on areas such as applications for practising certificates and professional indemnity insurance.
For further enquiries or to book a place, email careers@lawsociety.org.uk.