career planning – why now? 1 st year law darren johnson careers adviser
TRANSCRIPT
Career Planning – Why Now? 1st Year Law
Darren Johnson
Careers Adviser
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Why Now?
• Certain sectors very competitive increase your chances of success - vacation/open day opportunities even in 1st year
• Career Planning A Process – Needs Time
• To raise awareness of opportunities including help from CAS
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University – Are You Making The Most Of It?• Student Societies
• College Activities
Be proactive as employers want….
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What Employers Want
Evidence of: Achievement – drive and determination
Soft Skills- persuasion/negotiation/customer focused/attention to detail/problem solving/teamwork/leadership
Commercial Awareness for many career areas
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Career Planning- What Makes You Tick ?
•Interests
•Strengths
•Motivation
•Skills
Starting Points
Prospects Planner/Options With Your Subject – www.prospects.ac.uk – What Jobs Would Suit Me
MyPotential – details on CAS website
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Destinations
• Almost 2/3 went into postgraduate study for BVC/LPC or LLM
• Employment – legal related and non legal careers………
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Considering A Career As a Solicitor /Barrister Exploration:
Occupational Role – skills and qualities – use reports and contacts of Durham alumni and regional employers from CAS
Organisation – size/specialisms/location/clients
Self
Make comparisons - be realistic
Its competitive
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Competition
Solicitor
2007 6,012 training contracts
5,921 LPC passes
Note: Up to a ¼ of T.Cs go to conversion (mainly Bar) and still previous LPC candidates applying
Barrister – 34% of successful BVC candidates obtained pupillage
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Exploration Tips
Durham Law University Law Fair , D.S.U , 12 – 3.30pm , 24/25 November
Publications - Target Jobs /The Lawyer – limited numbers available at thelaw fair
Reports and Contacts of Durham Alumni – visit CAS Information Room
www.lawcareers.net www.lawyer2B.com
Employer Events
Check events being run by the Student Law Society
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Considering Solicitor: Taking Action in your 1st yearMichaelmas/Epiphany Research firms and apply to Open Days/ informal work experience
(solicitors-online.com)- ask at Law Fair
Speculative Approach for Informal Work Experience = CV and cover letter / networking. Note: many of the larger firms will not offer this
Remember many firms will look at 1st year results as part of selection for future vacation schemes and training contracts
Get actively involved in the student Law Society
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Preparing For The Law Fair
• Pick up a leaflet today• Research employers attending – CAS website• Shortlist ones of interest• Ask relevant questions
• Approach employers with a positive attitude
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Questions – some tips
•Training and development - early years and beyond qualification. •What makes a strong application?
•How can you best impress at the interview?
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Alternative Careers To Solicitor/Barrister – Durham Law Graduate Destinations 2006 •Law Commission•Research Assistant
•Constituency Assistant for MP
•Police
•Trainee Chartered Accountant
•Law Librarian
•Executive Officer , Home Office
•Teach First
•Marketing
•P.R
•Recruitment Consultant (Banking and Finance
•Commercial Lender – Alliance and Leicester
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Other Popular Career Areas For Law Graduates U.K wide
•Property
•Consulting
•Legal Publishing
•Investment Banking
•Civil Service Fast Stream
•Human Resources
•Lecturing
•Company Secretary
•HM Customs and Excise
•Compliance
•Charities/NGOs
•European Commission
•Research more at www.prospects.ac.uk
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Considering Barrister – Taking Action In Your 1st YearThroughout the year
Research minipupillages/apply for non formal placement for vacations (www.lawcareers.net)
Construct a strong CV and cover letters for the above – get checked at CAS Applications Advice/Quick Queries
Become an active member of the student Law Society
Work hard at degree, sets will look at your first year results
Research Inns of Court and consider joining one – network and attend events
www.online-law.co.uk/bar/inns_of_court.html
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Useful Events
http://www.dur.ac.uk/careers-advice/forthcomingcareerevents/
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Other opportunities
Some employer sectors such as Investment Banking have:
Open Days
Formal vacation schemes/internships (efinancialcareers.com/CAS website)
Use Durham alumni contacts in Careers Folders at CAS for a range of career areas – may lead to work experience.
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Cover Letter
Demonstrate enthusiasm for the particular set/firm
Length – 1 page A4 , typed unless stated to be handwritten
Structure
• Introduce yourself –stage of study, why you are applying, if advertised vacancy , where you observed this.
• Why them
• Why You
• Ending Paragraph – when you are available for interview
Remember basics, no room for spelling errors ! Read it back to yourself as if you were the recruiter, does it impress?
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CV – a self marketing tool
No more than 2 pages A4Keep content relevant Include personal details and relevant skills/achievements
(academic and extra curricular), work experience, positions of responsibility, interests
State your contributions where relevantFont no less than 10, consistent headingsEasy to read, concise, effective use of space Spell Check!Get it checked – CAS Applications Advice/Quick Queries
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Help from CAS
Applications Advice
Quick Queries
Guidance Consultation
Events
Lunchtime Talks CV/Applications/Interviews
Information
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Careers Advisory Service
49 New Elvet (next to D.S.U)Term Time – 10am – 5pmVacation – 10am – 1pm 2.15pm – 5pmTel: 0191 334 1424/1437careers- [email protected]/careers-advice