Leaving University and striving for a career in Law is an exciting prospect for many graduates. It can also be very daunting trying to get your foot on the ladder. Making the step from student to legal professional can involve many stages and it is important to note that this does not happen overnight. For this article I will outline some helpful tips for graduates looking for legal opportunities.
Experience
Many employers are looking for individuals that have specific experience in a specific practice area that they are hiring for. Sometimes they will not accept people for entry-level roles unless they have at least 6 months of experience. The question then arises; how are you going to get your first bit of experience if every role requires previous experience?
Gaining that first ‘foot in the door’ can be the hardest part of getting invaluable Paralegal experience. My first point on this topic is to try to get Paralegal or Legal Assistant/Administration experience as soon as you can. If you are studying for a law degree or considering transferring into law, aim to get work experience within a law firm or in-house legal team as soon as you can. Whether this is as a shadowing stint or a volunteering position, this will be something that makes you stand out in the pool of applications that employers see.
You can do this by carrying out part-time work during your studies or holidays. This adds multiple facets to your profile. Firstly, you are gaining experience within a law firm which as previously mentioned is crucial to obtaining the role you want later on in your career. This also adds to your character profile showing your commitment to the legal profession as well as your key organisational skills in managing both university studies and professional work.
This may sound easier said than done but remember your University has careers teams and most commonly will have connections with local law firms. If you don’t ask you don’t get, so be confident in the skills you already have and try and push that door open.
CV Writing
A well-written, informative and easy to follow resume is vital to securing any Paralegal position. Taking the time to prepare and keep your CV updated will prove extremely beneficial when applying for any role. This is a chance to show not only your experience but drafting skills, attention to detail and personal attributes. In terms of how best to write your CV aim for a succinct, punchy style but don’t try to squeeze your CV into one page. A general rule of thumb at the Paralegal level is to try to keep your CV to two pages.
The two key elements to your CV will be your Education section and your Employment section. To start with highlight your academic achievements including GCSE, A-Level, Undergraduate, Postgraduate (if applicable), GDL (if applicable), and LPC, as well as any awards or prizes you may have achieved. Next, you will want to highlight any legal experience you have already obtained showing with clear bullet points your main roles and responsibilities within each position (try and avoid writing paragraphs of information). Once these parts are spot on it will be a pleasure for an employer to read and understand.
To make your CV your own it is understandable you will want to include sections centred on extra-curricular activities you have undertaken at school or University, volunteering projects you may have done or key passions you have and this is very beneficial to include. When adding sections to your CV like volunteering be sure to keep this direct and highlight how it would benefit the role you may be applying for and how it adds to your employability.
A penultimate when writing your CV is re-read it before submitting it. I would even suggest asking a family member or friend to re-read it as well. You do not want to submit a CV that includes spelling errors or sentences that are grammatically incorrect. If you are applying for a position where you will be tasked with drafting legal documents, it will not look good if you have spelling errors in your CV. As a final note on CV writing, do not lie when talking about experience as it will come out eventually.
Research
Research is something that we are all taught from a young age. You do it at school when working on projects and homework, you do it at University when writing essays and carrying out experimental work. This is no different when applying for Paralegal roles.
Ensure to research the roles you are applying for. When applying for Paralegal roles there is no doubt you will be applying for multiple positions at the same time. This may be for different firms or within different practice areas and this is not a bad thing. When applying for these various positions it is important to research both elements; the firm you are applying for and the practice area/department the role is within. This will not only help you tailor your CV to a specific role but will also help you engage with the position and ultimately perform better in interviews.
It is helpful to explore the market and see which practice areas appeal to you the most and where could be busy or interesting areas to get stuck into. What you must ensure you do is keep track of where your CV has been sent and for what roles. This is so that if you get asked about why you chose to apply for a certain role you are not stumped at the first hurdle, and you can answer the question without hesitation.
Feedback
It may not be that you get the first few roles that you apply for but try and take it as an opportunity to learn something and improve your chances next time. So a final point on moving from student life to a paralegal role is to engage with the feedback you get from your applications and if you don’t receive any ask for it. Ultimately many people experience setbacks which can be difficult to deal with so try and take the opportunity to turn them into a positive.
If we can assist you and you might appreciate a no obligations discussion, please get in touch with one of your dedicated consultants,
https://www.chadwicknott.co.uk/contact/our-offices
