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, and 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 during the pandemic
A new world of work – Maria Shahid reports on life for solicitors in the 'new normal'
New year, new career: career planning for 2021 – Jason Connolly, CEO of JMC Legal, discusses how to build your career plan, get organised and stay ahead of the game to achieve your career goals in 2021
A junior lawyer's guide to cover letters in 2021
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
10 top tips for supercharging your legal job application
Webinars
Marketing yourself: recharge webinar (96 minutes)
An overview of the legal jobs market during COVID-19 with JMC Legal Recruitment (6 minutes)
Changing career direction during COVID-19: Q&A with JMC Legal Recruitment (webinar held 18 November 2020)
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)
Skills audit for returning to the profession following a career break (webinar held 13 May 2021)
Preparing 2nd year trainees for qualification (webinar held 9 June 2021)
Changing career direction webinar – what are my realistic options? (webinar held 20 April 2021)
Changing career direction webinar – options outside of practice (webinar held 20 May 2021)
Podcasts
Impressing at interview when returning after a career break: recharge webinar (18 minutes)
How to sell yourself as a candidate with JMC Legal Recruitment (38 minutes)
Events
Confidence building: recharge webinar
This webinar will be exploring the techniques solicitors can use to reset failure as a learning experience if they are considering changing career direction or returning to practice after a lengthy break.
Date:15 September 2021
Time: 2pm to 3.30pm
Cost: free
Location: online
Law Society careers clinic
Dates for 2021: 7 September, 15 September, 5 October, 14 October, 2 November, 11 November, 8 December and 15 December
Time: each one-to-one appointment lasts up to 40 minutes and runs between the hours of 9.30am and 5.30pm
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.