Helpline FAQ
These are just examples of the typical questions asked and the type of advice the helpline can provide. However, this section is in no way intended to be comprehensive and if you need help we strongly advise you to pick up the phone and call us.
I have graduated and currently working. I am considering studying the LPC with a view to becoming a Solicitor. Can you give me some advice on how to go about finding a training contract?
Finding a training contract can be a frustrating process but it is not all doom and gloom. Although the profession is highly competitive and your rivals for training contracts are amongst the best graduates in the country, the number of training contracts registered has remained static and there are many cases where a training contract is secured after months of searching. The following steps may help:
- Be persistent
- Be realistic
- Be prepared to put a lot of thought and effort into it.
- Do your research and target those firms that you would wish to work for. Decide what type of work you want to do i.e. criminal, legal aid or commercial litigation. Is size of firm or geography important? Read the firms’ brochures.
- Concentrate on a few applications at a time and address them personally. Always do an individual covering letter – this is your chance to impress and market yourself. Show them you know something about the firm.
- Get your CV and covering letter checked – recruitment agencies and career services are usually more than willing to oblige.
- Apply in good time. The Guide to Good Practice in the Recruitment of Trainee Solicitors can be obtained from the Law Society’s website (www.laysociety.org.uk). This allows firms to interview from September in your final year if undergraduate study. It also asks employees and employers to follow a general code of conduct to ensure a consistent approach to recruitment.
- Don’t forget that in-house legal departments, local government departments, the Magistrates’ Court Service, the CPS and the Government Legal Service are also all training contract providers.
- Get involved with your local Trainee Solicitors’ Group (TSG) by contacting the TSG liaison officer, based at the Law Society, on 020 7320 5794 or email liason@tsg.org. Alternatively visit the TSG website – www.tsg.org
- Vacation work is always looked upon favourably. The more experience you can gain to build up your CV the more impressive you become as a candidate.
- Working as a paralegal can provide the way in, with time to count being possible. Increasingly firms are taking on Legal Practice Course (LPC) graduates as paralegals before offering training contracts., by way of a probationary, but be warned this can be open to abuse.
- Be as flexible as you can in terms of where you can work i.e. in geographically.
- See university careers services for interview practice and links to local firms. Talk to people who have already had interviews. Anticipate the questions and prepare yourself for answers.
