Smaller and medium sized law firms Anna Preston Senior Careers Consultant

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Smaller and medium sized law firms

Anna Preston Senior Careers Consultant

What happens at Warwick?

Sucked into Corporate practice

Strong academics

High profile on campus

Can you move down?

Money

Being true to yourself

Goldmund100

Practice areas

Work Life

balance

Values

Helping people

5%

16%

12%

11%

20%

35%

Training contracts 08/09

sole practitioner 2-4 partners 5-10 partners 11-25 partners 26-80 partners 81+ partners

VariablesClientsLocation

SizeWork life balance

Practice areas

What do they want?

Genuine interest

Well rounded individuals

People skills

Working without supervision

Early responsibility

Robustness e.g. family

What can you do to stand out?

Volunteering

Societies

Teamwork

Paid employment

Research!

Choice of LPC provider

Vacancy databases

Careers service

Stage 2 options

Pathways

Local connections

Recruitment patterns

Some 2 years ahead with vac schemes and sponsorship

Others 2 weeks ahead!

Work experience

Some online

Some c.v. and cover letter

Many don’t advertise

Identifying firms

www.lawcareers.net

Speculative approaches

CV

Traditional layout but no personal profile

Very traditional

Handout

Cover letter

Your interest in the firm demonstrating research – especially practice areas and location

Why you are marvellous highlighting relevant skills for practice areas

Might start with asking for a day’s shadowing

The approach

In person

In the post

Email?

Follow up phone call?

Additional resources

www.solicitors-online.com

www.lapg.co.uk

Key job sector page

Human rights

Any questions?

A.preston@warwick.ac.uk

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