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THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO A CAREER IN

2023

If you decide that a career as a lawyer is for you, there are a few things you should be doing even before you start university. Here's a brief checklist to get you started: Your 'first steps' checklist:

Talk to your careers adviser at school to go through your options.

Research the different paths into law - university, chartered legal executive, paralegal, apprenticeship (read The Law Apprenticeships Guide ) - and decide which is right for you. Get some practical work experience at a law firm, barristers' chambers or legal advice centre; it will help you to decide what suits you best and will also improve any applications you make later.

Work hard at your academic studies. Good grades are important.

Think about the kinds of extracurricular activities you can do, or have done, to make yourself into a well-rounded candidate. Think sport, volunteering, drama, music... Sign up to LCN Weekly on LawCareers.Net. Our free weekly email newsletter delivers news and information about the profession, plus advice and calendar reminders, straight to your inbox.

Read the business pages of newspapers to improve your commercial awareness and get you starting to 'think business'.

Welcome

If you're interested in a potential future career as a lawyer, but don't know where to start, The Beginner's Guide to a Career in Law is for you. In this guide you'll find information about what a job in law involves, the differences between the three main types of lawyer (solicitors, barristers and chartered legal executives), and the courses and training you need to complete to qualify. There are also some key questions to consider and information about the next steps for those who want to find out more. The Beginner's Guide is brought to you by LawCareers.Net (LCN), the number one resource for those interested in joining the legal profession. On our website you'll find information on employers; interviews with law firm recruiters, trainees, associates and partners; blogs and videos from people at different stages of their legal careers; information on law courses (undergraduate and postgraduate); and a searchable database of training contract, vacation scheme and pupillage vacancies.

Welcome to the first stage of your legal career!

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What lawyers do Lawyers perform an important role, as law covers every aspect of society - from the age you can take your driving test to the speed you can drive when you qualify; from the minimum wage you can earn in a job to the cleanness of the water you drink.

central or local government, in companies' legal departments or in alternative business structures (ABS) - a type of business that provides the same services as a law firm, but is controlled by non- lawyers (eg, the Co-operative Group). Solicitors' jobs are very different depending on what area of law they work in (eg, crime or family) and whether their work is advisory (eg, helping one company buy another) or involves legal disputes (eg, one company suing another). All solicitors' jobs involve some or all of the following: * meeting clients, finding out their needs and establishing how to help; * researching relevant areas of law and advising clients of their options; * drafting letters, contracts and other legal documents; and * acting on behalf of clients in negotiations and representing them at tribunals or in court. Being a solicitor is a demanding but rewarding job. Many solicitors in law firms work their way up from trainee to associate to partner.

The first thing to know is that traditionally, the legal profession is divided into two main branches - solicitors and barristers. However, these are not the only types of lawyer. There are also chartered legal executives, paralegals, apprentices and more - find out more in 'Apprenticeships' on page 6 and 'Paralegals' on page 7 and in the companion to this booklet, The Law Apprenticeships Guide , which is available free at schools and online at www.lawcareers.net. For now, here's an introduction to what solicitors and barristers do. Solicitors Solicitors provide advice and guide clients through legal issues. They're the first point of contact for people and organisations seeking legal advice and representation. Most solicitors work together in law firms, while others work in

Practice area snapshot Below is just a small selection of the vast array of practice areas out there:

Corporate/ commercial Commercial and corporate solicitors advise on complex transactions and act for businesses of all sizes, from international corporations to small start- ups. General company law might involve advising on company directors' rights and responsibilities, board meetings and shareholders' rights. Corporate work often concerns mergers and acquisitions (M&A), demergers, joint ventures and share issues.

Crime

Employment

Family

Criminal lawyers advise and represent their clients in court on criminal charges that can range from minor motoring offences to more serious crimes, including murder. Barristers may be called on to act for either the defence or the prosecution.

As a solicitor, you'll work on disputes that end up in employment tribunals or in the High Court, helping to draft employment contracts or advising on working hours. Your client could be the employer or employee. As a barrister, you'll appear on behalf of your client in either a tribunal or court, often in different parts of the country.

Family lawyers deal with all legal matters relating to marriage, separation, divorce, cohabitation and legal issues relating to children. Family law also encompasses financial negotiations, inheritance issues and prenuptial contracts.

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Barristers Barristers represent clients in court and advise on specialist legal issues. They receive their cases through solicitors and are self-employed. When not in court, they work in chambers (offices shared by groups of barristers) where they prepare their arguments and advice. Again, barristers work in many different areas of law. Key elements of the job include: * advising clients on the law and the strength of their case; * writing advice letters and legal opinions for clients; * representing clients in court, including presenting the case and cross-examining witnesses; and * negotiating settlements (when a legal dispute is resolved privately outside of court). Once they qualify, a barrister is known formally as a 'junior'. They remain a junior until they're made a Queen's Counsel (QC) - this is also known as 'taking silk'. A QC is a senior barrister with extensive experience who is seen as having outstanding ability. Most barristers never become QCs.

Areas of law There are hundreds of different types of law. At the simplest level, you can divide lawyers between those doing commercial work (ie, work for companies) and those involved with individual people. You could be a banking lawyer checking over a major loan by a bank to a corporation, or a personal injury lawyer advising someone who was injured at work. Day-to-day working life varies hugely between practice areas - an immigration lawyer's job will differ greatly from an intellectual property (IP) solicitor's. See the 'Practice area snapshot' below for more detail.

Further reading Solicitors www.lawcareers.net/solicitors Barristers www.lawcareers.net/barristers

Chartered legal executives and paralegals are also lawyers who work in law firms, but the route to these jobs doesn't always require a university degree. Find out more about paralegals, legal executives and apprenticeships later in this guide.

Human rights

Intellectual property

Private client

Public law

This practice area is incredibly wide- ranging and includes immigration and asylum cases, privacy cases affecting celebrities and international law issues. Clients may range from low-income refugees and prisoners through to large news organisations and government departments.

This involves protecting intellectual ideas (eg, new inventions, brands and music) from exploitation, usually through copyright, trademarks and patents. The work of IP lawyers includes commercial exploitation cases, infringement disputes, and agreements covering IP rights, either exclusively or as part of larger commercial deals.

Private client lawyers advise on all aspects of an individual client's

Public law concerns relationships between people and government. This might mean challenging the level of care provided to a disabled person by a local authority, or on a larger scale, advising the government on national infrastructure

financial affairs, including capital

gains tax, inheritance tax planning, setting up lifetime trusts and preparing wills. Private client lawyers also handle a wide range of charity work.

development, such as a new energy or transport project.

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Branches of the profession

self-employed and a solicitor/legal executive may be in a law firm of thousands of people, the reality is more complicated. Barristers often work with each other and with solicitors, and some solicitors/legal executives spend many hours on their own drafting documents. Deciding which career path would suit you best could be a challenge - factors to bear in mind include school grades, your key interests and financial circumstances. Over the page is a brief guide with some key facts that may help you to decide.

One of the key questions to ask yourself is what type of lawyer you want to be. For many, that will mean deciding between becoming a solicitor or a barrister. For others, the option to 'earn while you learn' as a chartered legal executive will appeal. Simply put, a barrister appears in court, while a solicitor or chartered legal executive works in a law firm. All three are 'lawyers'. However, there are key differences. The stereotype is that barristers are individualists while solicitors and legal executives are team players. But while it's true that a barrister is almost always

Further reading Solicitors www.lawcareers.net/solicitors Barristers www.lawcareers.net/barristers

The 'CILEX' section on www.lawcareers.net

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Chartered legal executives As of March 2022, there were around 20,000 trainee and practising chartered legal executives.

Solicitors As of June 2022 , there were 156,518 practising solicitors.

Barristers

In 2021, there were 17,263 practising barristers. Of those, 13,622 were self-employed.

Women make up 52% of all solicitors and partners in law firms. But there are many more men than women at partner level, with women making up 35% of partners.

Women make up around 38% of all practising barristers (ie, 6,624 women compared to 10,437 men).

Women make up around 76% of all CILEX members.

People from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds make up 17% of all solicitors, as well as 16% at partner level.

People from ethnic minority backgrounds make up 14% of all practising barristers (ie, 2,506).

People from ethnic minority backgrounds make up around 16% of all CILEX members.

Mostly employed in private law firms, so receive regular monthly salary.

Mostly self-employed, so receive irregular (but often substantial) fees. The early years can be hard.

Mostly employed in private law firms or in-house, so receive regular monthly salary.

Work mainly with individuals, companies and barristers.

Work mainly with solicitors and other barristers.

Work mainly with solicitors and individuals.

Office-based, although have some rights of audience (ie, can appear in court like barristers). Engage more in ongoing advisory and one- to-one client work. Many firms have introduced 'hybrid' working policies. Aspire to become partner - that is, part-ownership of firm and entitlement to a percentage of its profits. Trainee salaries vary widely. A small firm could pay first-year trainees £22,000. Trainees at regional firms earn around £27,000 while City firms pay from £35,000 to much, much more.

Chambers and court-based. Engage more in one-off advocacy (ie, court cases).

Office-based, although they have some of the same rights of audience as solicitors. Engage more in ongoing advisory and one-to-one client work.

Aspire to become QC - a top barrister, normally instructed in very serious and complex cases. As of 1 January 2022, all pupil barristers must be paid a minimum of £17,152 (outside London) or £19,144 (in London). Many earn much more - upwards of £50,000 in some cases.

Should they choose to do so, legal executives can go on to become coroners, judges or partners. Starting salaries are usually between £15,000 and £28,000 per year while qualifying, while qualified chartered legal executives can expect to earn between £35,000 and £55,000, and can earn much higher.

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Apprenticeships

You don't have to go to university for a career in the legal profession - a legal apprenticeship enables you to gain qualifications while in paid work, through on-the-job training at a law firm or other employer. Legal apprentices can eventually become solicitors, chartered legal executives or paralegals without the tuition fees and accommodation costs involved with going to university. Some types of apprenticeship take 18 months to complete, but the more advanced levels provide training over five or six years - around the same amount of time as it would take to qualify through the university route. You don't have to start paying a student loan back until you're in a job paying at least £27,295 a year, so high fees shouldn't necessarily put you off higher education. But there are many reasons why you might decide that going to university isn't right for you and a legal apprenticeship is a genuine - and free - alternative. This section is a basic introduction to legal apprenticeships. To learn more, read the companion to this guide, The Law Apprenticeships Guide , for everything you need to know about the different types of apprenticeship. Pick up a free copy from your school or read it online at LawCareers.Net. Am I eligible? To become a legal apprentice, you must be 16 or over, not in full-time education and a UK citizen/someone who has right of residency in the UK. Most legal apprenticeships require five GCSEs (or equivalent) graded 9 to 4 (A* to C), including maths and English. The paralegal apprenticeship requires at least two A levels, while the solicitor apprenticeship requires three A levels, with grade requirements varying between employers from CCC to AAB. Earn and learn The minimum wage for an apprentice under the age of 19 is £4.81 an hour (as of 1 April 2022), as well as for people aged over 19 who are in the first year of their apprenticeship. All apprentices over the age of 19 are paid at least the National Minimum Wage for their age group. There are four levels of legal apprenticeship.

Intermediate, legal administration or business administration apprenticeship Intermediate apprenticeships are aimed at school leavers who don't have A levels. Apprentices develop the skills to manage legal cases on an administrative level. Paralegal apprenticeship The paralegal apprenticeship trains apprentices in the skills needed to work in a certain area of law (eg, personal injury). Paralegals support solicitors on legal matters and do many of the same tasks. Find out more about paralegals on the next page.

Chartered legal executive apprenticeship

This programme trains apprentices to qualify as chartered legal executives, a type of lawyer that's similar to a solicitor. Candidates don't usually start this apprenticeship straight after leaving school - it's recommended to complete another qualification first, such as a paralegal apprenticeship. Solicitor apprenticeship This apprenticeship is a six-year programme that integrates studying for a law degree with on-the-job training at a law firm or other organisation, ending in qualification as a solicitor via the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).

Other ways of qualifying as a lawyer via apprenticeships include the graduate solicitor apprenticeship and in-house apprenticeships. Those qualifying via these routes will also complete the SQE as part of their apprenticeship.

Further reading

The Law Apprenticeships Guide

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Paralegals

Paralegals work in law firms but aren't qualified as solicitors or chartered legal executives. Although paralegals used to be seen purely as support staff, the role of a paralegal has moved beyond just assisting solicitors. Paralegals are a distinct group of legal professionals in their own right, although this kind of role is often still used as a stepping stone to becoming a solicitor or chartered legal executive. Some paralegals' roles are very similar to those of solicitors. This means that you can apply to qualify as a solicitor while working as a paralegal, provided you can satisfy the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) that you've gained the same knowledge and skills in your role as you would have through a training contract. This was previously called the 'equivalent means' route to qualifying. The first paralegals qualified as solicitors this way in 2015, but this route could become much more common following the introduction of the SQE and its qualifying work experience (QWE) requirement. Candidates can now build up two years' QWE and qualify via the SQE whether they've taken the traditional route, an apprenticeship or the paralegal route. Find out more about the SQE and the different routes to becoming a lawyer on page 8.

Another common reason why many graduates work as paralegals is that this is a good way to gain the crucial legal work experience needed to get a training contract. Some paralegals gain experience and then apply for a training contract at the same firm, while others move on from firms where this isn't an option and go on to apply successfully elsewhere. However, a note of caution: paralegals perform many of the same tasks as solicitors, but are generally not paid as much and there isn't the same clear career progression that solicitors can pursue. Be careful and stay mindful of your prospects for career progression. Further reading The 'Paralegal' section on www.lawcareers.net - find it in the hover menu under the Solicitors tab.

What do I need to know about the SQE?

The SQE came into force in September 2021 and will eventually replace the Legal Practice Course (LPC) as the route to qualifying as a solicitor. To qualify via the SQE, you must: * have a university degree or equivalent in any subject (law or non-law) (eg, an apprenticeship);

* pass the SRA's character and suitability assessment; * pass SQE1 and SQE2; and * have two years' QWE. You can visit LawCareers.Net's SQE hub, sponsored by The University of Law, to find out more about the SQE and to stay up to date with how law firms are adopting this new route.

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Career paths

START HERE

GCSE

Intermediate apprenticeship

A level

Non-law degree

Law degree

Paralegal apprenticeship

Law conversion (optional for SQE cohort)

Solicitor apprenticeship

Various CILEX routes

Bar course

LPC or SQE

Pupillage

QWE

Chartered legal executive

Solicitor

Barrister

Paralegal

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The following describes the various stages along the path to formal legal qualifications:

you must take to qualify as a solicitor. To qualify through the SQE you must have a university degree (law or non-law), pass SQE1 and SQE2 exams, pass the SRA's character and suitability assessment and have two years' QWE. For more information, see LawCareers.Net's SQE hub. SQE preparation courses It isn't mandatory to complete an SQE preparation course before taking the SQE, but it is advised. There are a range of available SQE preparation courses for law and non-law graduates, differing in length, price and content. You can search SQE preparation courses via LCN's course search tool. Pupillage Pupillage is a compulsory, year-long period of on-the-job training before qualification as a barrister. QWE QWE (which may take place in the form of a two-year training contract) is a period of paid training before qualification as a solicitor. The work experience requirements of the SQE are more flexible and can be completed in up to four separate placements taking place before, during and after SQE study. However, many law firms will prefer to train their future lawyers themselves. Barrister Barristers offer advice on specific legal issues and represent clients in court. Solicitor Solicitors give advice and assistance on matters of law; they're the first point of contact for those seeking legal advice and representation.

CILEX chartered legal executive A chartered legal executive is a qualified lawyer (though not a solicitor) who is trained to specialise as an expert in a particular area of law. The CILEX Professional Qualification provides three outcomes: CILEX Paralegal, CILEX Advanced Paralegal and CILEX Lawyer. Intermediate legal and paralegal apprenticeships A legal apprentice starts their career straight from school. You receive paid, on-the-job training in legal skills, commercial skills and professional conduct. For more on the different types of apprenticeship, see page 6 and read The Law Apprenticeships Guide . Solicitor apprenticeship The solicitor apprenticeship is a six-year programme of paid training, integrating a law degree, which ends in qualification as a solicitor. The entry requirements are usually five GCSEs graded 9 to 4 and three A levels (grade requirements vary), or equivalent work experience. Solicitor apprentices will take the SQE in order to qualify. Paralegals Paralegals have traditionally worked as support staff, but in practice many experienced paralegals do the same work as solicitors. Paralegal roles provide a good route into the profession for students and graduates, either as valuable work experience before applying for a training contract or as a way to fulfil QWE before taking the SQE and qualifying as a solicitor.

GCSE The foundation of your career and the essential first step. A level Universities and employers will likely look at your A-level grades. Some universities favour traditional, academically rigorous subjects such as history but A-level law isn't a requirement to becoming a lawyer. Non-law degree Lawyers don't have to study law at university! A non-law degree can be followed by a law conversion course or non- law-specific SQE preparation. Law degree The qualifying law degree, or LLB, covers seven compulsory subjects: public, criminal, contract, tort, property, equity and trusts, and EU law. Law conversion A law conversion course packs the key learning of a law degree into one year (if studying full time). Following the introduction of the SQE, a law conversion isn't required to become a solicitor. Bar course The mandatory stage of training to become a barrister that follows your law degree or law conversion course. There are a range of options at different law schools, serving different learning styles and budgets. LPC The LPC is being replaced by the SQE. SQE The SQE was introduced in September 2021 as the exam

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Key questions

Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about a career in the law.

What is commercial awareness?

Why should I choose law over other professions? Don't pursue a legal career for the sake of it or because you've heard

Law firms want their lawyers to be 'commercially aware',

but what does this mean? In essence, lawyers deal with more than just the law. They must understand their clients' business/personal circumstances and the market/environment in which they operate. Commercially aware lawyers are proactive in spotting and suggesting solutions to potential problems for the client. As a student, you're not expected to be an expert - commercial awareness at this level isn't the same as for an experienced lawyer. What firms are looking for is a combination of basic knowledge, common sense, interest and enthusiasm for commercial matters, and, most importantly, the ability and willingness to 'think business'.

that it pays well; you must have a passion to be a lawyer in order to succeed. Do you find law interesting? Is there a particular area of law that has already caught your attention? Are you the kind of person who would thrive in a legal environment? The only way to really find out whether law is for you is by doing some work experience, both legal and non-legal.

What skills and strengths do you need to be a good lawyer? Several core skills are needed to

be a good lawyer - many of them you can hone through your academic studies and work experience. The strengths that legal recruiters look for include: * intellectual ability;

How important are grades at A level and university? Law is an intellectually rigorous career, which is why some firms

* motivation; * resilience; * accuracy/attention to detail;

and chambers require excellent academics. It's therefore important that you get the best grades you possibly can. That said, many firms are adopting contextual recruitment to look beyond grades to assess academic potential and identify candidates they may otherwise miss.

* teamwork; * leadership; * commercial awareness; and * communication skills. If you have the majority of these, law could be a good choice for you!

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Should I go to university or try one of the new routes, such as an apprenticeship? Some lawyers begin their

Why are vacation schemes so important? Getting work experience at law firms is often an essential aspect

careers immediately after leaving school by taking the apprenticeship route, which enables an aspiring lawyer to learn 'on the job' in a paid role, with some time each week allocated for study. Solicitor apprenticeships also allow those with A levels to qualify as a solicitor without going to university, while there are various other kinds of apprenticeship for candidates at different stages, including paralegal and chartered legal executive apprenticeships. See the 'Apprenticeships' section on page 6 for more detail and The Law Apprenticeships Guide .

of securing a training contract. Work placements/vacation schemes (usually run during university holidays) provide an opportunity for you to find out about not only the law, but also individual firms. Firms increasingly rely on vacation schemes to figure out which candidates they want to take on as trainees, so getting on a scheme is a great chance to impress and earn the offer of a training contract.

Do law firms prefer candidates to have a law degree? Most firms are looking to recruit a

balance of law and non-law graduates - in fact, roughly half of all solicitors are from non-law backgrounds. Studying another subject at university may also help to make you a more well-rounded individual. So if you have a burning desire to study English literature, but think you might want a career as a lawyer, it's fine to do English at university and complete a law conversion. The postgraduate course squeezes the essential elements of a qualifying law degree into one year. While a law conversion is no longer a requirement via the SQE, it is still recommended. There are several new non-law-specific courses for those taking the SQE. You can then complete SQE preparation before sitting SQE1 and SQE2. For aspiring barristers, after taking the law conversion, you'll join the law graduates on the Bar course, followed by a pupillage in a set of chambers. But note: traditional academic subjects (eg, history or sciences) are favoured over more modern options (eg, media studies or drama).

How do I go about getting legal work experience? As above, vacation schemes are a great way to learn more about

the profession, with many firms now also running schemes specifically for first years. You can see a comprehensive list of firm schemes on LawCareers.Net's vacation scheme deadlines page. But you're not restricted to these structured programmes - you could get a day or two shadowing a trainee or lawyer simply by writing speculatively to firms/chambers you're interested in or which are local to you. You should also get involved with university pro bono schemes or legal advice centres. All these experiences provide a valuable introduction to the types of work and client relationships that lawyers are involved with every day.

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What do I need to know about the postgraduate law courses? In brief, this is the compulsory vocational stage that must be completed before you do either the training contract/QWE (solicitor) or pupillage (barrister). The LPC and Bar course are usually one-year courses, but each can be done two years part time, or by distance learning. Many providers around the country offer the courses. Several providers have revealed details about their new non-law specific SQE preparation courses, designed to get candidates ready to take and pass the SQE1 and SQE2 assessments. These vary depending on the provider. Find out more about the SQE below. Alternatively, CILEX offers a Graduate Fast Track Diploma.

How much longer will it take to qualify if I choose a non- law undergraduate degree? It only takes one year longer to

qualify if you choose a degree other than law (if studying full time). After graduating, you'll need to complete a law conversion that covers the key parts of a law degree, before progressing onto the SQE or Bar course.

Are postgraduate law courses expensive? Do I have to pay for them myself?

The total cost of qualifying as a solicitor or barrister shouldn't be underestimated. Over and above the £9,250 per year that you're likely to pay for your undergraduate degree, you'll have to pay up to £17,950, £11,300 or £18,500 (plus living costs) for, respectively, the LPC, SQE and Bar course in 2022-23. And unlike undergraduate and master's degrees, postgraduate loans are unavailable for the LPC, SQE and Bar course (unless they include a master's on top of the core qualification). SQE prep courses with an LLM can cost around £16,950. If you're not doing an LLM, it's best to have a training contract or pupillage before embarking on any of the courses - many large firms/chambers offer sponsorship (usually covering course fees and maintenance grant) to their future trainees/pupils. Bank loans are usually the preferred option for those who self-fund. In addition, the cost of taking the SQE can be broken down into two parts, with SQE1 costing £1,558 and SQE2 costing £2,422. For more detailed funding advice, look at the 'Finances' section on LawCareers.Net.

What is the SQE? The SRA introduced the SQE in 2021 to replace the LPC as the assessments that all solicitors

must pass in order to qualify. The SQE is designed to ensure that all qualified solicitors are of the same high standard, regardless of the route (eg, university or apprenticeship) they take to get there. Unlike the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) and LPC, the SQE is not a course but a series of exams that are divided into two stages. As above, universities and law schools have released details about their new courses to prepare students for the SQE. Anyone who started a law degree, GDL or LPC before September 2021 can continue to qualify through the old system. Check LawCareers.Net's dedicated SQE hub, sponsored by The University of Law, for the latest information.

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Have all lawyers been to private school and Oxford or Cambridge? No. Most firms and chambers fully understand the benefits of a representative

Is the role of lawyers essentially the same in all law firms and chambers? No. Take solicitors' firms -

the work and lifestyle that you would experience in a large City firm and a small high-street practice are completely different. And it's the same with a London- based commercial barristers' chambers and a small regional crime chambers. It's therefore important that you find out which type and size of practice would suit you by doing work experience and speaking to people in the profession. Only by getting first-hand experience and speaking to those in the know can you really get a feel for the kind of work you think would appeal and you'd be good at.

workforce, which means recruiting the best candidates regardless of

background. These days, most go further by establishing their own diversity policies to ensure that they provide a welcoming and supportive environment for people whatever their gender, ethnicity, sexuality, age, disability, socioeconomic background and so on. That said, different firms and chambers do have different personalities and it's important to find one that suits you - a compelling reason to attend law fairs, open days and get work experience.

How can my careers service help me? Your school or university careers service is a key resource. Some

How can I find out more? Pick up a copy of this year's The LawCareers.Net Handbook or our companion publication, The Law

advisers specialise in the legal sector and can help you to check through work placement and training contract/pupillage applications (or speculative CVs and letters, if you're trying to secure informal work experience). Some also have contacts at local law firms and chambers, so might be able to help you set up some work shadowing.

Apprenticeships Guide, from your careers service or read it online via LawCareers.Net. Attend both virtual and in-person law fairs. These are a great place to speak to recruiters and current trainees/pupils. In addition, check out LawCareers.Net for news, advice, features and interviews.

Further reading See The Oracle on LawCareers.Net for answers to a huge range of questions from students about careers in law (www.lawcareers.net/explore/oracle).

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Reality check

There are a few things worth mentioning as a reminder that starting a legal career is competitive and expensive. So, without wanting to detract from the exciting and challenging career on offer, here follows some food for thought...

Finances With up to £9,250 per year undergrad fees, plus postgrad study in 2022-2023 costing up

Academics There's real competition for training contracts and pupillages. You must get strong grades

to £17,950 for the LPC, around £18,500 for the Bar course, and the new SQE assessments costing £3,980 (excluding the fees for preparation courses) the road to qualification isn't cheap. In addition, some firms at the smaller end of the market may pay trainees no more than the national minimum wage. Your ability to afford the courses and a potentially low starting wage must be a factor in deciding whether to pursue law as a career. That said, there are options to complete the new SQE for around £10,000 in total, depending on the SQE preparation course provider. However, prices for the SQE1 and SQE2 preparation courses vary, with the more extensive SQE preparation courses closer to the cost of the LPC.

from your first year of university onwards. Your A-level grades are also important, even though some firms have recently dropped A-level requirements for training contract applications. Many firms are adopting contextual recruitment to look beyond A-level grades to assess academic potential and identify candidates they may otherwise miss.

Online Make sure you set up a LinkedIn profile to connect with employers and other contacts, and start to build

up the 'professional' side of your social media presence. Legal Twitter is a great place to learn about the profession and begin building your knowledge and you can even gain legal careers information through Instagram and TikTok!

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Time You must spend time researching firms/chambers you like; planning how

Experience You need a combination of work experience (this can include legal and non- legal experiences) and

to get work experience; and filling out, refining, checking (and having someone else check) your application forms. In every case, start early, have a schedule and be strict with yourself. Last-minute, rushed efforts are almost worse than no effort at all.

extracurricular activities to become the all-rounder that firms/chambers want to hire. One without the other isn't enough; having both strings to your bow will help you to demonstrate that you have the skills the employer is looking for.

Diversity In recent years, great strides are being made by diversity and social mobility initiatives to

Competition The numbers are stacked against you - there are many fewer training contract and pupillage places than

level the playing field and improve equal representation at all levels of the legal profession. Organisations such as upReach and RARE work for free with students to provide advice on CVs, application forms and interview practice, while also working with employers to provide work experience opportunities and improve openness. Increasing diversity in the legal profession is also one of the main aims of the SQE (see page 12 for more). However, there's no getting away from the fact that the legal profession was historically overwhelmingly white, male and privately educated, and more needs to be done to address the imbalance. Head to LawCareers.Net's Diversity hub, sponsored by Gowling WLG (UK) LLP, for information and updates on what's going on in the industry.

there are people with the necessary qualifications. You must find a way to stand out among thousands angling for the same job, so make sure you shine through by being resourceful, authentic, determined and committed to the profession and a career in law.

Commerciality The legal world is part of the business world. If you have ambitions to work for a commercial

law firm, it's essential to develop a good understanding of the issues and events affecting businesses. Read the Financial Times and The Economist from time to time, and try to appreciate the appropriate legal issues thrown up by your studies from a commercial perspective.

15

LawCareers.Net

The law is an incredibly competitive profession and it's never too early to start trying to boost your chances of success. One of the best ways to do that is to visit LawCareers.Net (LCN) to begin your online research. It's your one-stop shop for all things law-related.

On LawCareers.Net you'll find:

A directory of over 1,000 law firms, barristers' chambers and legal educators

A range of videos and podcast episodes

Features providing information and advice about pursuing a legal career

Blog posts from law students

Personalised careers advice via The Oracle

Profiles of lawyers and recruiters

The latest legal news

Tips and articles to boost your commercial awareness

Make sure to sign up to MyLCN on LawCareers.Net to manage your legal career. You'll also receive the LCN Weekly email newsletter, which is packed full of useful information and insights.

Scan this QR code to register for a free LawCareers.Net account

Find us on:

Twitter

LinkedIn

The LawCareers.Net Podcast

Instagram

YouTube

If you would like more copies of The Beginner's Guide to a Career in Law 2023 or its companion publication, The Law Apprenticeships Guide 2023 , please contact info@lawcareers.net.

16

Keep up with the business sections on newspapers' websites to improve your commercial awareness, but also read the more specific legal press - a couple of the more reputable broadsheet newspapers also have great law sections. Work with your university careers adviser on your application and interview technique, and start to think about where you might like to apply for a vacation scheme/mini-pupillage next year. Sign up to LCN Weekly on LawCareers.Net. Our free weekly email newsletter delivers news and information about the profession, plus advice and reminders throughout the legal recruitment calendar, straight to your inbox. Get some practical work experience at a law firm, barristers' chambers or legal advice centre - this could count towards your QWE. Explore the range of diversity organisations that help future lawyers. Go to law fairs, firm presentations and open days to meet people face to face. Think about how to stand out by asking good questions (eg, about a recent deal, case or merger). Your first-year university checklist: You're at university (law or non-law) and want to know what you should be doing. Here's a brief checklist to get you started:

Continue to work hard at your academic studies. Recruiters want to see exemplary grades and yes, your first-year grades count!

Join your university's student law society. They will support you with events, presentations, information sessions and more. Plus, you can meet other students in the same position as you.

Engage with some of the extracurricular options at university (eg, sport, debating, mooting or music) to make yourself into a well-rounded candidate.

Sponsored by:

FUTURE LAWYER? BOOK AN OPEN DAY AT ONE OF OUR UK CAMPUSES

law.ac.uk/events FIND OUT WHAT IT'S LIKE TO STUDY LAW

www.lawcareers.net

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The Beginner's Guide to a Career in Law 2023

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BEFORE YOU READ THE GUIDE, SIGN UP TO THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO A CAREER IN 2023 If you decide that a career as a lawyer is for you, there are a few things you should be doing even before you start university.

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World of Work

https://resources.careersandenterprise.co.uk/resources/my-week-work-monday

This site explores a variety of types of work and also employability skills.

Forage

www.theforage.com

This site offers virtual work experience placements from a range of companies, from banking to careers in tech. Most options last up to six hours and involve tutorials, videos and activities.

Speakers4Schools

www.speakersforschool.org

Offers Virtual work placements. Register to see current opportunities. These are usually timebound rather than on demand. You will need a password from school if you haven’t already got one.

Barclays Life Skills

https://barclayslifeskills.com/i-want-virtual-work-experience/school/virtual-work-experience/

Employability skills and real life work scenarios and tasks.

I Could

www.icould.com/explore/

Gives an insight into various careers

LearnLive

https://learnliveuk.com/careers/

Connect with employers and watch videos on various careers

Journey to Work

https://www.youthemployment.org.uk/courses/your-education-and-training/

This is a free course from Youth Employment. It looks at your skills and aims to build upon your work readiness. You will need to register for a free account

Young Professional

https://www.youthemployment.org.uk/young-professional-training/

Sign up for free personal, skill and career development courses

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Finance Price Waterhouse Coopers:  The programme combines both live and pre-recorded sessions which will provide you with an insight into PwC and an opportunity to develop your employability skills. You’ll also have the chance to engage with a range of PwC ambassadors through the interactive live sessions, whilst having the flexibility to watch and listen to the recorded sessions at a time best suited to you each week. Also includes sessions on Finance and Audit

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Finance Price Waterhouse Coopers:  The programme combines both live and pre-recorded sessions which will provide you with an insight into PwC and an opportunity to develop your employability skills. You’ll also have the chance to engage with a range of PwC ambassadors through the interactive live sessions, whilst having the flexibility to watch and listen to the recorded sessions at a time best suited to you each week. Also includes sessions on Finance and Audit

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We're really excited to bring you the latest instalment of PwC's Virtual Classroom - a virtual programme open to students between Years 10 and 13*. The programme combines both live and pre-recorded content.

At PwC, we know that when people from diverse backgrounds and with different points of view work together, we create the most value - for our clients, our people and the communities we work within. To solve important problems we need to be inclusive of our diverse talent and encourage our people to use their creativity, authenticity and human differences to be the champions of change.

This month our Virtual Classroom sessions will focus on racial equality, social mobility and gender equality. You'll also have the chance to engage with a range of PwC ambassadors through the interactive live sessions, whilst having the flexibility to watch and listen to the recorded sessions at a time best suited to you each week. We recognise that you'll continue to have school or college commitments during the four-week period so we've made the virtual programme as flexible as possible.

You'll see below the times and dates for each of the live sessions - you'll need to register for each one that you're interested in attending in advance - the link for each session will be sent to you with the confirmation once you've registered for each event. All live sessions will start at 4.30pm and will last for approximately 50 minutes.

Each week we'll also add new content to this page that you can watch in your own time between sessions - you'll have access to these sessions until Monday 7 December.

We'll also be running a session specifically for parents, carers and teachers.
*(Years 11 to 14 in Northern Ireland and S3 to S6 in Scotland)

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PwC's Virtual Classroom - School and College

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At PwC, we know that when people from diverse backgrounds and with different points of view work together, we create the most value - for our clients, our people and the communities we work within.

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Eco Hair and Beauty Online ‘salon’.  Different areas of the salon you will learn about eco friendly/ sustainable techniques and products

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Eco Hair and Beauty Online ‘salon’.  Different areas of the salon you will learn about eco friendly/ sustainable techniques and products

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Published by Catherine Tarrant 15/09/2016
We have been working on a Virtual Salon at Eco Hair and Beauty AND IT IS READY!
The online 'salon' is for hairdressers and trainees to explore. By clicking on different areas of the salon you will learn about eco-friendly/sustainable techniques and products. You will learn how to save time, water, energy and your money! We estimate that a small 4 seater salon that adopted our suggestions would over a year save over £5000, save 24150 kWh energy and 143 thousand litres of water! The development of our sustainable stylist/salon certification has also helped to professionalise the industry. Over 500 trainee stylists have completed our virtual salon training programme and received sustainable stylist certificates since we launched it in Oct 2016. This certificate also enables salons to gain the associated sustainable salon certification.)

It will take you between 20 and 60 minutes to complete, and if you need to quit you can log back in later to resume from where you were.

This will form part of the new Sustainable Stylist and Sustainable Salon certification we are developing with our industry partners (Habia, VTCT) and the All Party Political Group on the hairdressing sector. The idea is that completion of the of virtual salon training platform (takes 20-60 mins) will qualify you for a sustainable stylist certificate.
Upon completing the training it will tell you how to get the certificate - please follow the simple instructions. Once completed the certificate will be with you within one week. During holiday periods up to 2 weeks. Click here for our VIRTUAL SALON and to get your sustainable stylist certificate!
Follow this link to go to the Sustainable Salon Certificate
The new Sustainable Stylist and Sustainable Salon certification have been developed with our industry partners (Habia, VTCT) and the All Party Political Group on the hairdressing sector.

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Published by Catherine Tarrant 15/09/2016 We have been working on a Virtual Salon at Eco Hair and Beauty AND IT IS READY! The online 'salon' is for hairdressers and trainees to explore. By clicking on different areas of the salon you will learn about eco-friendly/sustainable techniques and products.

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Policing: A great introduction to the Police Force using one of the most important skills, communication

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Policing: A great introduction to the Police Force using one of the most important skills, communication

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Introduction

Good communication skills are vital in both your work life and your social life. Because talking to other people is part of everyday life, you may feel that you naturally possess these skills. In this course you will discover that a little psychological knowledge about interactions will help you to be able to plan and prepare for conversations in a way that will enable you to become an even more skilled communicator. The model you will learn about in this course is based on evidence from extensive psychological research into rapport, much of which has been carried out in a policing context.

As soon as two people are in a room together, they are communicating in some way, albeit perhaps non-verbally. Imagine the following scenario: you and your colleague, Jim, are in a meeting room at work together, the first two people to arrive for a meeting. You are busy trying to answer emails on your laptop, so you don’t want to talk, and from the fact that you don’t look up when Jim enters the room, are interacting with your computer and don’t verbally acknowledge Jim, he is able to deduce that you aren’t interested in chatting. While you’ve said nothing, you have nonetheless communicated. So even without speaking, once two people are in a room together, they are communicating – even if the message they are communicating is that they don’t want to talk.

In this course you will be introduced to a simple model that encourages you to think about interactions between you and a conversational partner or a small group. This model is based on psychological research and is easy to understand and apply in your daily life, whether at work, at home or in a social environment.

In the following video, Dr Zoe Walkington introduces you to the content you will cover in this course.

Show transcript|Hide transcript

Transcript: Video 1 Talking to people – when rapport works … and when it fails

INSTRUCTOR

I've always been really interested in what goes on between people, what makes some people get on really well, and what makes some people immediately seem to get off on the wrong footing with each other. And as a psychologist, at first I thought maybe people had quite fixed personalities. And maybe some people just don't match each other, and they're not going to get on.

But the more I learned as a psychologist, I started to realise that actually a lot of these behaviours emerge between people. So it's not that I have a particular fixed personality and you have a particular fixed personality and if those two come together, we won't get on. It's more that the dynamics of the situation emerge between us.

And I've always found that a really interesting idea. And in this course, what we're going to do is we're going to have a look at an interpersonal model that will introduce you to how some of these behaviours actually work, because one of the things psychologists have noticed is that quite often, things go wrong in conversations. And I'm sure you'll have probably experienced this in your own life.

But they've noticed that these things that go wrong tend to happen in quite predictable ways. And what you'll learn about on this course is those psychological principles that underpin that model of when interactions work to create rapport and when they don't. And hopefully this will be useful to you in lots of different spheres of life, from your own personal relationships, your relationships at work, and also your relationships in community settings.

End transcript: Video 1 Talking to people – when rapport works … and when it fails

Video 1 Talking to people – when rapport works … and when it fails

Interactive feature not available in single page view (see it in standard view).

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

understand the principles of a psychological model about rapport

identify interpersonal behaviours using the model

avoid maladaptive responses using the model

plan an interpersonal response to a particular situation based on the model

reflect on a situation experienced recently.

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This free course is one in a series focusing on leadership, decision-making and communication in the context of policing within the community. This particular session focuses on communication ...

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Teaching:  Free online course for those considering a career as a Primary Teacher

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Teaching:  Free online course for those considering a career as a Primary Teacher

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Free course

Free statement of participation on completion

Primary education is a dynamic and exciting area to study and become involved in. This free course, The world of the primary school, introduces the various members of a primary school community, and considers the nature of their involvement and how this has evolved in the UK over recent years. It explores ideas about the primary school curriculum and the role of teachers and support staff in supporting children's learning.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

understand the primary school as a community

further consider the roles, responsibilities and experiences of the various participants in primary school life

discuss what the wide diversity of the roles and responsibilities of its workforce tells us about the nature of primary education today

reflect on personal experiences and ideas relating to primary education.

First Published: 30/11/2016

Updated: 26/01/2017

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Primary education is a dynamic and exciting area to study and become involved in. This free course, The world of the primary school, introduces the various members of a primary school community, ...

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This free, short online masonry course will teach you about essential masonry tasks, such as the spreading of mortar and bricklaying

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This free, short online masonry course will teach you about essential masonry tasks, such as the spreading of mortar and bricklaying

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This free online course explores masonry and its history, materials, tools and practices to train you in a new skill.

This course shows you how to perform the tasks essential to masonry, including the sp... This course shows you how to perform the tasks essential to masonry, including the spreading of mortar, furrowing, buttering and bricklaying. Masonry involves the building of structures from individual units and this course teaches you how to use basic masonry units like clay bricks, concrete blocks and stone to complete constructions. We study ancient and cutting-edge techniques to provide you with new skills that can boost your career.

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Train as a mason and gain a new trade with this free online course

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This free online course explores masonry and its history, materials, tools and practices to train you in a new skill. This course shows you how to perform the tasks essential to masonry, including the sp... This course shows you how to perform the tasks essential to masonry, including the spreading of mortar, furrowing, buttering and bricklaying.

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This short online course will give you a free introduction to the electrical trade, electrical safety, and electrical theory.

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This short online course will give you a free introduction to the electrical trade, electrical safety, and electrical theory.

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Introduction to the Electrical Trade - Revised

Learners already enrolled

This Free Online Course Includes:

Hours of Learning

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Final Assessment

Start Course Now
Learn the theories, safe practices and proven procedures of the electrical trade with this free online training course.

This course teaches you everything you need to know to do electrical work on resident... This course teaches you everything you need to know to do electrical work on residential, commercial and industrial projects. We all depend on an uninterrupted supply of electrical power in our daily lives so skilled electricians are highly valued professionals. This course lays out the theory behind electricity to explain the practices and procedures you will employ on the job so sign up to gain a valuable new skill and boost your career.

What You Will Learn In This Free Course

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Complete This CPD Accredited Course & Get Your Certificate!

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Introduction to the Electrical Trade | Free Online Course | Alison

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Learners already enrolled This Free Online Course Includes: Hours of Learning CPD Accreditation Final Assessment Start Course Now Learn the theories, safe practices and proven procedures of the electrical trade with this free online training course. This course teaches you everything you need to know to do electrical work on resident...

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Introduction to Carpentry:  If you are considering a career as a Carpenter, then this course will introduce to the basic principles of structures and what is involved in being a Carpenter. Short online course  

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Introduction to Carpentry:  If you are considering a career as a Carpenter, then this course will introduce to the basic principles of structures and what is involved in being a Carpenter. Short online course  

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Modules: Learn Woodworking and Carpentry in this free online training course

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Pick up a valued trade with this course that explains how to safely work with wood to create beautiful projects as a qualified professional carpenter.

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Plumbing: Great way of gaining some basic Plumbing knowledge if you are considering a career in this industry. Short online course

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Plumbing: Great way of gaining some basic Plumbing knowledge if you are considering a career in this industry. Short online course

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Description

First, you will receive an overview of the modern plumbing profession. You will also study the history of plumbing and go through the advancements it has made through recent times. Next, you will learn the various terms associated with plumbing, the most important plumbing tools, and the typical skill set of a plumber. The course will also teach you the three main phases of a plumbing project, namely the underground rough-in phase, the above ground rough-in phase, and the finish phase.

Next, you will learn how to keep yourself safe on the job by studying plumbing safety and the terms associated with it. The course will then teach you the main personal protective equipment used by plumbers on a job site as well as the safety signs in the workplace. You will also learn the basic tool safety practices that plumbers should adopt. Finally, you will study the dangers and safety measures associated with working in trenches, confined spaces, and the underground.

Plumbers will always be in great demand as plumbing repairs and maintenance needs are inevitable. This free online plumbing course will therefore give you valuable knowledge to last a lifetime, whether you want to fix something around your own house of become a construction professional. So check out the course today, and in a few short hours gain a great skill and possibly kick off a new and profitable career.

Start Course Now

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Learn about Plumbing as a Profession and Required Skills | Alison

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First, you will receive an overview of the modern plumbing profession. You will also study the history of plumbing and go through the advancements it has made through recent times. Next, you will learn the various terms associated with plumbing, the most important plumbing tools, and the typical skill set of a plumber.

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Clifford ChanceVirtual work experience in human rights. Available on demand

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Clifford ChanceVirtual work experience in human rights. Available on demand

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Your Privacy When you visit any website, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. This information might be about you, your preferences or your device and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to.

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Kennedys Law: Virtual work experience with a global law firm. 

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Kennedys Law: Virtual work experience with a global law firm. 

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Welcome to our Virtual Experience Programme.

In this programme, you will gain an insight into our legal teams and understand the type of work our trainee lawyers and apprentices do every day at Kennedys. You will also develop important skills that will help set you up for your future career in law and receive a personalised completion certificate to share with prospective employers and your professional network.

Our programme is available to all school and university students from a law or non-law background and no previous work experience is required to participate.

We are committed to developing the future generation of lawyers so if you want to make a difference and shape the future of law, join our programme today.

Welcome to our Virtual Experience Programme.

In this programme, you will gain an insight into our legal teams and understand the type of work our trainee lawyers and apprentices do every day at Kennedys. You will also develop important skills that will help set you up for your future career in law and receive a personalised completion certificate to share with prospective employers and your professional network.

Our programme is available to all school and university students from a law or non-law background and no previous work experience is required to participate.

We are committed to developing the future generation of lawyers so if you want to make a difference and shape the future of law, join our programme today.

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Welcome to our Virtual Experience Programme. In this programme, you will gain an insight into our legal teams and understand the type of work our trainee lawyers and apprentices do every day at Kennedys.

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Pinset Masons: Virtual work experience with a commercial law firm. Available on demand

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Pinset Masons: Virtual work experience with a commercial law firm. Available on demand

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Linklaters: Virtual work experience with an international commercial law firm. Available on demand.

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Linklaters: Virtual work experience with an international commercial law firm. Available on demand.

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Build experience and skills with our company backed virtual experience programs.

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The Lawyer Portal:  List of virtual experiences and also on the rest of the site, information on careers in law.

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The Lawyer Portal:  List of virtual experiences and also on the rest of the site, information on careers in law.

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Traditionally, work experience for law students has taken place within an actual law firm or barristers chambers. However, some law firms have paved the way for a new kind of virtual work experience for law students to allow them to see what life at a law firm might be like from the comfort of their own homes.

This type of work experience is likely to become more common in the coming years as technology becomes available for law firms to offer this kind of experience. Not only that but with the recent onslaught of the Coronavirus pandemic more and more law firms are speeding up their acquisition of such technology.

Firms That Offer Virtual Work Experience

Clifford Chance

Magic Circle law firm Clifford Chance has recently launched a trio of virtual internships: Cyber Security, Human Rights in a Business Transaction and Climate Change. You can enrol via the Inside Sherpa platform. The firm hopes that by undertaking these internships, prospective employees will get a feel for whether they are suited to commercial law.
Read more here
White & Case LLP

US-headquartered commercial law firm White & Case LLP was the first US law firm to allow students to take part in a substantial legal work experience programme online. The programme, ran by the open-access platform InsideSherpa, provides an insight into life as a trainee solicitor at White & Case. Introducing the programme, Partner and Training Principal Inigo Esteve highlights that students who enrol on the virtual internship will experience work in various departments such as project finance, banking & finance and disputes.
More information
Pinsent Masons LLP

International law firm Pinsent Masons champions its virtual work experience programme as a way to "try before you buy" a career in law. The programme allows students to help a hypothetical client of the firm throughout several different issues covering various practice areas. It is designed by Pinsent Masons' lawyers to reflect the kind of work a trainee would carry out.

For more information visit the Pinsent Masons Website

Linklaters LLP

Magic Circle multi-national law firm Linklaters became the first UK law firm to offer a virtual internship in June 2019. As with White & Case, its virtual experience programme is run by InsideSherpa. The platform allows students from any background or degree type to undertake a series of modules aimed at replicating the work a trainee at Linklaters would carry out. Linklaters say that features of the virtual experience include receiving instructions from partners, leaving a virtual voicemail for a client and accessing resources to help with the tasks.

For more information visit the Linklaters website

Potential Benefits of Virtual Work Experience:

No Need for an Application

With all three virtual work experience programmes mentioned above, there is no need for an application. All you have to do is enrol on the programme at a time where you have the requisite free time to carry the tasks out meaningfully. A lot of work experience in law firms begin with a rigorous recruitment process with application, interviews and assessment days. This can be incredibly stressful for students and whilst virtual work experience is not designed to replace vacation schemes, for now, it will give you a real-life insight into life at a law firm and help you decide whether you want to begin the recruitment process for that particular firm or whether your interests lie elsewhere.

Cost Effective

Whilst vacation schemes and work experience placements typically do not cost students any money to take part in, there may be other costs. For example, if the law firm you wish to gain experience from is headquartered in London, you may have to bear initial travel costs and even accommodation costs if you live very far away. It must be noted that these would only be "initial costs" as most law firms do reimburse expenses such as these for their vacation scheme students. Regardless, carrying out this form of work experience where there are no costs removes this extra burden at this early stage, particularly for students who are not sure what career path to take.

Less Stress, More Flexibility

Another major benefit of virtual work experience, and something each firm is very clear about is the flexibility that carrying out your work experience online brings. White & Case LLP deems its virtual internship as "self-paced" with "no deadlines" allowing you to carry out your tasks to the best of your ability at a pace that suits you. Pinsent Masons even recommends that the tasks be spread out over a couple of days, although each task does have a recommended time attached to it. The benefit of flexibility is certainly less stress, and whilst in-person vacation schemes also want to help you work at a comfortable pace the fact you are in a law firm surrounded by busy lawyers often adds extra pressure. Work experience from your home removes this from the equation.

In addition, often in-person placements run during certain weeks in the winter, spring or summer cycles, whereas virtual experience allows you to chose to enrol at a time that best suits you and your commitments.

Learning About the Firm and Developing Skills

A really important benefit of a virtual work experience at a specific firm is that it's a great way to show an initial interest or passion for the firm and the work that firm does. White & Case LLP, for example, highlights that it does recognise the virtual work experience programme on applications.

On the other hand, if the virtual experience helps you realise that law is not for you, that one particular practice area is not for you or that a certain firm is not for you then all is not lost. These schemes are designed by legal professionals to replicate real-life work that a trainee solicitor may carry out. Therefore, you will go away after completion having gained a multitude of transferable legal and interpersonal skills which will look good on any application or CV.

Social Mobility

Linklaters champions this aspect of virtual experience; however, this doesn't necessarily apply to all virtual work experience programmes. Currently, in the legal industry, there is a lot of discussion and work going into making the legal profession more accessible to all areas of the population. With no application process, no cost and no pre-requisites, online experience programmes allow anyone from any background, any university, any degree discipline and any walk of life to experience life at a law firm without barriers.
Words: Alicia Gibson Want regular information and advice on how to get into law?
Receive Free Information Tailored to You

Read More:

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Virtual Work Experience for Law Students - The Lawyer Portal

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Traditionally, work experience for law students has taken place within an actual law firm or barristers chambers. However, some law firms have paved the way for a new kind of virtual work experience for law students to allow them to see what life at a law firm might be like from the comfort of their own homes.

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Legal - White & Case LLP:  Our virtual programme allows students to gain first-hand insight into life as a White & Case lawyer and experience the realities of cross-border law. Available on demand

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Legal - White & Case LLP:  Our virtual programme allows students to gain first-hand insight into life as a White & Case lawyer and experience the realities of cross-border law. Available on demand

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Working at White & Case will launch, accelerate and build your career, opening doors and relationships around the world.

Our virtual programme allows students to gain first-hand insight into life as a White & Case lawyer and experience the realities of cross-border law.

Open access and free for school students, undergraduates/graduates from any degree discipline and career changers

No application required and can be accessed online from anywhere in the world

Self-paced with no deadlines - takes 5 to 6 hours to complete

No prior legal knowledge or work experience is required to participate in this course, and your work will not be used for assessment purposes.

Advance your skills and knowledge

As a White & Case lawyer, you'll work on fast-paced, cutting-edge matters from the start of your career for some of the largest global companies. This programme offers you the opportunity to gain valuable experience during your studies and a way to differentiate yourself during the application process.

If you're globally minded and ambitious, join our programme today.

Please let us know if you require any additional support when completing our Virtual Learning Programme. Please contact our Disability and Support Champions on 020 7532 2899 or at [email protected], if you would like to speak to someone in confidence.
Working at White & Case will launch, accelerate and build your career, opening doors and relationships around the world.

Our virtual programme allows students to gain first-hand insight into life as a White & Case lawyer and experience the realities of cross-border law.

Open access and free for school students, undergraduates/graduates from any degree discipline and career changers

No application required and can be accessed online from anywhere in the world

Self-paced with no deadlines - takes 5 to 6 hours to complete

No prior legal knowledge or work experience is required to participate in this course, and your work will not be used for assessment purposes.

Advance your skills and knowledge

As a White & Case lawyer, you'll work on fast-paced, cutting-edge matters from the start of your career for some of the largest global companies. This programme offers you the opportunity to gain valuable experience during your studies and a way to differentiate yourself during the application process.

If you're globally minded and ambitious, join our programme today.

Please let us know if you require any additional support when completing our Virtual Learning Programme. Please contact our Disability and Support Champions on 020 7532 2899 or at [email protected], if you would like to speak to someone in confidence.

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Working at White & Case will launch, accelerate and build your career, opening doors and relationships around the world. Our virtual programme allows students to gain first-hand insight into life as a White & Case lawyer and experience the realities of cross-border law.

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JP Morgan Chase:  Virtual internship in software engineering

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JP Morgan Chase:  Virtual internship in software engineering

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Virtual Internships | JPMorgan Chase & Co.

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Learn more about our our Software Engineering Virtual Experience opportunity at JPMorgan Chase & Co.

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National Cyber Security Centre:  A website dedicated to helping the UK's next generation of cyber professionals through a variety of free courses for 11-17 year olds and exciting competitions. Courses available over summer holiday.          

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National Cyber Security Centre:  A website dedicated to helping the UK's next generation of cyber professionals through a variety of free courses for 11-17 year olds and exciting competitions. Courses available over summer holiday.          

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IDEA:  You can work your way towards various ‘badges’ in IT safety, digital creativity and techniques to gain more knowledge and skills in coding and cyber security. If you complete enough points in the same section, you will obtain an online badge

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IDEA:  You can work your way towards various ‘badges’ in IT safety, digital creativity and techniques to gain more knowledge and skills in coding and cyber security. If you complete enough points in the same section, you will obtain an online badge

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Find the perfect simulation to showcase your knowledge & get noticed by recruiters from top companies.

Explore Simulations

Check out our Job Application Basics series

In just 30 minutes, this 5-part series will show you how to increase your chances of getting hired.

Or find the right job simulation for you

Experience work done on the job at top companies. Job simulations help you develop practical skills and gain a hiring advantage.

Can't find what you're looking for?

Find out which job simulation to start with on Forage.

Accessible experience from top companies

Job simulations replicate work at top companies, and connect students to the companies themselves. In only 5-6 hours, learn relevant tools and skills necessary to complete tasks that replicate an employee's work day.

No applications or experience required

Learn highly relevant skills in your own time, at your own pace

Your talent matters more than your connections

Showcase your skills to the right people

Job simulations contain real industry tasks, to develop transferable skills for workplace readiness. You don't just learn new skills, you're able to showcase your knowledge & get noticed by recruiters from top companies.

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Explore all Free Job Simulations - Forage.

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British Airways:  Every 90 seconds a British Airways aircraft takes off from somewhere around the world. Ever wondered what it’s like to be part of that excitement - the magic that connects Britain to the world and the world to Britain? Now you can.

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British Airways:  Every 90 seconds a British Airways aircraft takes off from somewhere around the world. Ever wondered what it’s like to be part of that excitement - the magic that connects Britain to the world and the world to Britain? Now you can.

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Veterinary Professions:  Learn what it takes to become a vet and explore the challenges of the vet profession to decide if it's the right career for you. Please only sign up for the free content

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Veterinary Professions:  Learn what it takes to become a vet and explore the challenges of the vet profession to decide if it's the right career for you. Please only sign up for the free content

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Get virtual vet work experience before embarking on a veterinary degree

The COVID-19 pandemic means that many potential vet students cannot undertake animal handling work experience.

On this course, you'll get insight into the reality of life as a vet so that you can make an informed decision before embarking on a veterinary degree course.

You'll learn about the structure of veterinary practice and the different governing bodies, as well as discover the day to day challenges a vet might face.

You'll also explore the different roles available outside of general practice and find out the great opportunities such a degree can bring.

What topics will you cover?

Introduction to the veterinary profession and how to begin a veterinary career

Where and how vets work

Roles of the wider veterinary team in and out of practice

Overview of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, the British Veterinary Association and professional conduct

The benefits and challenges of the vocation

Current and future issues for veterinary medicine and science

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for students considering a degree in veterinary medicine and science.

The course will also benefit anyone considering a role within the wider veterinary team.

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning

Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities

Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners

Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course

Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning

Whenever you're ready, mark each step as complete, you're in control

Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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Introduction to Studying Veterinary Medicine - Course - FutureLearn

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Get virtual vet work experience and explore whether a vet degree - and the vet profession - is right for you with this online course from the University of Nottingham.

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Forensic Science and Fingerprints :How do Forensic Scientists operate? What is involved in using fingerprints as evidence. This course will introduce to the basic principles of forensic science in the working world.   

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Forensic Science and Fingerprints :How do Forensic Scientists operate? What is involved in using fingerprints as evidence. This course will introduce to the basic principles of forensic science in the working world.   

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forensic science and fingerprints | openlearn

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This free course, Forensic science and fingerprints, covers how science can make fingerprints easier to study, how they are used in court and some of the questions about the extent to which ...

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Social Work: Free course introducing Social Work             

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Social Work: Free course introducing Social Work             

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Health, Sports & Psychology

Free course

Free statement of participation on completion

This free course, Introducing social work: a starter kit, provides a glimpse into some of the things that social workers do and looks at why and how social work is done. The course is designed for people who might be interested in and curious about social work practice. It will also be a useful initial resource for those who may be thinking about entering the social work profession at some point in the future.

The materials in this course reflect a small illustrative sample drawn from The Open University's much larger course, K832 Developing social work practice. K832 is the first of two courses leading to the Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work, a professional qualifying award.

In this free short course you will find four main sections:

1. What is social work?

2. What makes a good social worker?

3. The impact of social divisions and diversity

4. The influence of knowledge about human development

The course is very much introductory in nature and is designed for learners with a wide variety of previous experiences of study. However, on occasions, the study materials reflect closely the style and academic level of the original materials, which are postgraduate level.

At the end of the course, you will notice that there is a section called 'Where next?'. This is where you will find some information and online links to further study. It includes ideas about professional qualifying social work courses for those who may be considering taking their initial curiosity further, possibly into a social work career.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

appreciate in greater depth what professional social work is, and what it is not, and learn that on occasions you are able to 'think like a social worker'

identify some of the principal components of the communication skills applicable to social work and to understand that social work is based on a series of clear values and ethical principles to which professional social workers subscribe

understand why social workers hold as central, the direct involvement of service users in decision making regarding their lives

appreciate the impact of oppression and social exclusion in the lives of individuals and communities, and why it is important for social workers to take these factors into account in their work

understand some of the ways in which the patterns in human development offer important clues for understanding the nature of people's motivations, choices and behaviours.

First Published: 01/11/2019

Updated: 15/04/2020

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Have a question?

K832_1

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This free course, Introducing social work: a starter kit, provides a glimpse into some of the things that social workers do and looks at why and how social work is done. The course is designed for ...

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Psychological Research-  free course for those who are interested in pursuing a career in any of the Mental Health professions

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Psychological Research-  free course for those who are interested in pursuing a career in any of the Mental Health professions

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When you teach Introduction to Psychology, do you find it difficult - much harder than teaching classes in statistics or research methods? Do you easily give a lecture on the sympathetic nervous system, a lecture on Piaget, and a lecture on social cognition, but struggle with linking these topics together for the student? Do you feel like you are presenting a laundry list of research findings rather than an integrated set of principles and knowledge? Have you wondered how to ensure your course is relevant to your students? Introduction to Psychology utilizes the dual theme of behavior and empiricism to make psychology relevant to intro students. The author wrote this book to help students organize their thinking about psychology at a conceptual level. Five or ten years from now, he does not expect his students to remember the details of most of what he teaches them. However, he does hope that they will remember that psychology matters because it helps us understand behavior and that our knowledge of psychology is based on empirical study.

This book is designed to facilitate these learning outcomes, and he has used three techniques to help focus students on behavior:

Chapter Openers: Each chapter opens showcasing an interesting real world example of people who dealing with behavioral questions and who can use psychology to help them answer them. The opener is designed to draw the student into the chapter and create an interesting in learning about the topic.

Psychology in Everyday Life: Each chapter contains one or two features designed to link the principles from the chapter to real-world applications in business, environment, health, law, learning, and other relevant domains. For instance, the application in Chapter 7 on Development, "What makes good parents" applies the concepts of parenting styles in a mini-handbook about parenting, and the application in Chapter 3 is about the difficulties that left-handed people face performing everyday tasks in a right-handed world.

Research Foci: Introduction to Psychology emphasizes empiricism throughout, but without making it a distraction from the main story line. Each chapter presents two close-ups on research - well articulated and specific examples of research within the content area, each including a summary of the hypotheses, methods, results, and interpretations. This feature provides a continuous thread that reminds students of the importance of empirical research. The research foci also emphasize the fact that findings are not always predictable ahead of time (dispelling the myth of hindsight bias), and also help students understand how research really works. The author's focus on behavior and empiricism has produced, Introduction to Psychology, a text that is better organized, has fewer chapters, and is somewhat shorter than many of the leading books. Now, you don't have to believe us. Check the book out online or order your desk copy today.

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Introduction to Psychology - Open Textbook Library

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When you teach Introduction to Psychology, do you find it difficult - much harder than teaching classes in statistics or research methods? Do you easily give a lecture on the sympathetic nervous system, a lecture on Piaget, and a lecture on social cognition, but struggle with linking these topics together for the student?

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Nursing Free course from the open university

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Nursing Free course from the open university

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Get inspired and learn something new today

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Get inspired and learn something new today free course icon Level level 1: introductory icon Badge icon free course icon Level level 1: introductory icon Badge icon free course icon Level level 2: intermediate icon Badge icon You can use OpenLearn to From 1 to 100 hours of learning - discover hundreds of free courses to inspire and inform everyone.

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Observe GP: Virtual Medical Work Experience Observe GP is an initiative which was set up by the Royal College of General Practitioners which is a professional body within the UK for GPs. Observe GP is a free system that was created for the purpose of giving every medical applicant a fair chance at gaining work experience.  

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Observe GP: Virtual Medical Work Experience Observe GP is an initiative which was set up by the Royal College of General Practitioners which is a professional body within the UK for GPs. Observe GP is a free system that was created for the purpose of giving every medical applicant a fair chance at gaining work experience.  

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Observe GP is an alternative to work experience for aspiring medics aged 16 and over, who are living in the UK.

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Brighton and Sussex Medical School – Becoming a Doctor:    Have you thought about maybe becoming a Doctor or studying medicine? Work experience is an incredibly important part of this and it is essential that you start preparing yourself early. have put together an opportunity for all who are considering medicine to gain some valuable work experience with them.           

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Brighton and Sussex Medical School – Becoming a Doctor:    Have you thought about maybe becoming a Doctor or studying medicine? Work experience is an incredibly important part of this and it is essential that you start preparing yourself early. have put together an opportunity for all who are considering medicine to gain some valuable work experience with them.           

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Medic MentorVirtual work Experience in Medicine, Dentistry and VeterinaryThese run on Saturdays each month. You will need parental consent in order to apply.

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Medic MentorVirtual work Experience in Medicine, Dentistry and VeterinaryThese run on Saturdays each month. You will need parental consent in order to apply.

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APPLY ONLINE

The Only Free LIVE Virtual Work Experience in the UK Run by Doctors!

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital has partnered with Medic Mentor, the UK’s largest medical family, to provide free live virtual work experience to any student in the UK wanting to become a doctor, dentist of vet.

Virtual work experience in partnership with university hospitals Birmingham

Completely Unique Experience

This work experience programme is completely unique because unlike other virtual work experience programmes, it is LIVE, using high fidelity simulation in the best state-of-the-art-simulation centre in the country, at the QE Hospital in Birmingham. Follow 3 patients over a 6-month period as they go from diagnosis, to treatment and follow up, that is provided by real doctors and a multidisciplinary team.

As a student, you will be able to ask any of the doctors questions about the cases you see. It will be as if you are really there, but from the comfort of your own home and without putting you at risk during the COVID pandemic. UHB and Medic Mentor are committed to ensuring that students still have the opportunity to gain valuable insight into healthcare careers and high quality application support, even in these difficult times.

Frequently Asked Questions

The live virtual work experiences will take place every 3rd Saturday of the Month. With the first one going live on the 17th of October. So complete the application below as soon as you can! It will run for a 6 month period offering students 30 hours of valuable work experience.

Any student from any school across the UK, in years’ 10-12 or S3-S5, can apply. Places are limited and we will allocate them based on the quality of the student’s application below.

Please email myworkexperience@medicmentorfamily.org for any work experience related questions

The Application

This is a 2 part application process. Students and parents must complete all 2 sections as accurately as possible to have the best chance of being awarded a place on this programme. Please take the time to complete each of the 2 sections carefully. Complete the application once, but if you do make a mistake, you can complete it again. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Thank you.

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University Hospitals Birmingham Trust Virtual Work Experience - Vet Mentor

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The Queen Elizabeth Hospital has partnered with Medic Mentor, the UK’s largest medical family, to provide free live virtual work experience to any student in