Guide to Gaining Legal Work Experience
For Students Without Legal Connections
Whether you’re aspiring to be a solicitor or barrister, gaining legal work experience is essential. This guide offers practical tips on how to find events, use university resources, locate vacation schemes and mini-pupillages, and connect with firms and chambers that prioritise applicants from underrepresented backgrounds.
1. Finding In-Person Legal Networking Events
In-person events allow you to build real connections with professionals.
Where to Look: – University Law Societies: Join your law or bar society and attend speaker events, socials, and networking evenings. – Law Careers Fairs: Attend national and regional fairs like: – LawCareersNetLIVE – TargetJobs Law Fair – Legal Cheek Events – Open Days at Law Firms: Many firms offer student open days. Watch for these on firm websites and platforms like LawCareers.Net. – Inns of Court Events: For aspiring barristers, attend events and dinners offered by the Inns (Gray’s Inn, Lincoln’s Inn, Inner Temple, Middle Temple).
Tips: – Use Eventbrite to find legal events in your area. – Follow firms on LinkedIn and sign up for email alerts. – Attend even if you don’t know anyone – you’ll meet people there.
2. Making the Most of University Resources
Steps to Take: – Careers Service: Book an appointment for help with CVs and applications. – Law School Newsletters: Subscribe for updates on internships, schemes, and events. – Pro Bono & Mooting: Join law clinics, mooting competitions, and pro bono initiatives to gain practical experience. – Speak to Tutors: Ask academics for suggestions – they often know about niche or local opportunities.
3. Finding Vacation Schemes & Mini-Pupillages
Vacation Schemes (Solicitors): – Typically take place in spring/summer; many are paid. – Applications open as early as October for summer placements.
Mini-Pupillages (Barristers): – Short placements at chambers to shadow barristers. – Many are unpaid, but Inns of Court offer funding.
Where to Look: – LawCareers.Net – Chambers Student Guide – Pupillage Gateway – Inns of Court Websites
4. Inclusive Schemes and Contextual Recruitment
These firms and chambers actively support students from less-advantaged backgrounds:
Solicitors’ Firms: – Clifford Chance – ACCESS scheme – Making Links Scholarship – Linklaters– Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship – Allen & Overy Smart Start programme – Slaughter and May Social Mobility – First Year Insight Scheme · Baker McKenzie – Herbert Smith Freehills Networked-Scholarship-Scheme
Chambers & Barrister Access Schemes: – Bridging the Bar – Social mobility, race equality & inclusion – 7KBW – Pegasus Scholarship Trust | The Inner Temple – Funding – Lincoln’s Inn –Bar Placement Scheme
5. Final Tips for Success
- Track Everything: Use a spreadsheet to record deadlines and outcomes.
- Follow Up: Connect on LinkedIn and send thank-you messages after events.
- Be Honest: Schemes using Rare’s Contextual Recruitment System allow you to highlight your background.
- Apply Locally: Regional firms often offer better access and hands-on work.
- Stay Positive: Everyone starts somewhere. Consistency matters more than connections.
Useful Links Summary
- LawCareers.Net
- Chambers Student
- Legal Cheek Events
- Pupillage Gateway
- Eventbrite Legal Events
- Rare Recruitment – CRS
This guide is designed to support students from all backgrounds in finding their path into the legal profession. Keep learning, keep applying, and keep showing up.