County CourtAdvocacyFor Legal Postgraduates

About UsLPC Law is committed to offering a high quality specialist advocacy and clerking service to the retail banking and financial services industry.We work with some of the UK’s leading law firms and represent FTSE100 companies in courts throughout England and Wales.LPC Law would like to invite you to undertake your first hearing.

LPC Law seeks individuals with the ability to understand the business needs and commercial realities of both LPC Law and the client. You will need to understand what is important and relevant to the client, as well as knowing the law.

You will need to be switched on and able to think on your feet during pressured situations, whilst always putting your client’s case forward.

LPC Law needs individuals who are committed to providing a high quality, professional service that both LPC Law and its clients can rely on. You will need to demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively.

You must demonstrate independence, self-motivation and excellent time management skills.

Being able to research the law and apply it to practical situations is essential, as are good attention to detail and the ability to write accurately and professionally.

All advocates are required to have access to a mobile phone, a printer, a computer and, because LPC Law require reports to be submitted online, they must be able to access the internet remotely (e.g. via a 3G/4G connection). Those based outside London would benefit from their own transport.

Advocates are required to have successfully completed a postgraduate Bar course, the Legal Practice Course or be GCILEx or FCILEx qualified.

The Brightest& the Best

I approached LPC Law because I wanted to put my BPTC training to immediate use and to cut my teeth on real-life courtroom advocacy and it seemed to me that this was the closest I could get to the work of a barrister without actually practising as one. I was right. The experience of dealing with Judges of all different persuasions, from the benign to the irascible, of extracting from the evidence provided key facts to help win the case and of being pitted against both litigants-in-person and professional counsel has sharpened up my advocacy skills immeasurably and continues to do so.

I had previously worked freelance so being self-employed suits me extremely well. On receipt of my papers there is often a certain amount of legal research to do. Preparation is the key! I then get myself to court, which is not usually the same court as the day before, and make contact with the client and with my opponent. In the hearing, nothing is predictable and I really need to think on my feet, dealing with unexpected legal and factual points raised by the Judge or by my opponent. Litigants-in-person in particular tend not to conduct their cases according to the rules and it is quite common to be ambushed, which is a test of mettle and ideal preparation for a career at the Bar.

Getting to court can be costly, whether by car or on the train. Fortunately, however, LPC Law pays travel disbursements, which is something I understand other firms do not offer. This makes a huge difference and means that making a living is a realistic prospect.

In a post-BPTC choice between paralegal work, which I have also done, and this, I would not hesitate to choose to work as an LPC Law Advocate.

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RESPONSIBILITY

IMMEDIATE

Immediate ResponsibilityUndertaking advocacy work for LPC Law means you could be in court managing your own caseload, formulating your own submissions and appearing before Judges on a daily basis. LPC Law is able to instruct individuals who have successfully completed a postgraduate Bar course, the Legal Practice Course or are GCILEx or FCILEx qualified to undertake hearings because they all take place in chambers. You will get to grips with the CPR and learn to deal with Judges, ushers, solicitors, defendants and your own witnesses.

I was in the fortunate position of having obtained pupillage, and working as an advocate for LPC Law was the ideal opportunity to develop the skills gained on my BPTC in preparation for the step up from education into practice. Every day I am in the County Court in front of District Judges, presenting arguments that I have formulated myself on behalf of industry-leading clients, both lay and professional.

Every case starts with thorough preparation, requiring both attention to detail and an understanding of the commercial requirements and preferences of the client. It is more usual to oppose litigants in person rather than instructed professionals, meaning advocacy must both be sensitive and adhere to professional standards as well as succinct and persuasive. Interpersonal skills are similarly vital as there is often scope for negotiation.

I am responsible for managing my own caseload and researching legal points where necessary. Although I am self-employed, LPC Law set themselves apart from the competition in the initial and continued support offered. The resources provided are extensive, and the team of Advocacy Managers are highly knowledgeable, friendly and willing to help no matter what the complexity of the issue. The administration systems are excellent – your diary, papers and attendance notes are all accessed online.

The work can sometimes be tough - particularly if you have a large list of cases and unexpected issues arise at Court – but using my skills to handle such situations is incredibly rewarding and excellent preparation for life in professional practice.

Having undertaken work for LPC Law, I am in the invaluable position of entering pupillage with experience of real cases with real clients in front of real Judges.

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IndependenceBecause LPC Law covers every County Court in England and Wales, you can work from home, attending the courts in your region.

Following completion of the Bar Course, applying for a position with LPC Law seemed the natural next step. I was conscious that my pupillage applications lacked ‘real life’ experience and evidence of an ability to cope under pressure; life as an advocate filled this gap immediately.

Since successful completion of LPC Law’s application process, which it must be said requires thorough preparation, I have found LPC Law’s support network to be outstanding. Advocacy managers are always able and willing to assist with questions arising from cases, no matter how small those questions may be. This is a crucial tool, particularly in the early days when every situation is a new one and a two minute discussion over the phone prior to the hearing can seem invaluable.

A typical day cannot be summarised easily since no two days are the same, for example Monday may consist of a list of Mortgage Possessions, Charging Orders and Applications to Suspend Warrants, whilst Tuesday will be taken up with a Small Claims Trial and Wednesday an Application for Summary Judgment. The variety means that the learning curve is a steep one and a willingness to work hard and late is essential.

I have now secured pupillage and I am confident in saying that my role as an advocate has contributed towards this success. On pupillage application forms and during interviews I was able to give concrete examples of difficult cases, clients and opponents that I have encountered, to explain how I dealt with these situations and where relevant what I would do differently in future. As a result, I was able to demonstrate that I have an understanding of the Bar that is built upon academics, work-experience and most importantly, managing a caseload of my own.

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Achieve SuccessLPC Law will give you a unique exposure to the law. You will put all your vocational skills into practice: preparing your cases, liaising with instructing solicitors, negotiating with defendants and arguing your case in court. You may also undertake outdoor clerking, including sitting behind counsel, conferences with counsel, gathering witness statements, and issuing and lodging documents.Each year, many advocates who have been instructed by LPC Law secure pupillage or training contracts. In the past, advocates have used their experience to obtain a three-month reduction in pupillage or up to six months Time to Count against their training contract.

I qualified as a criminal defence solicitor in June 2010 and soon obtained my higher rights in criminal proceedings.

I later embraced the opportunity to accept instructions as a consultant and enjoyed great exposure to an array of criminal matters.

Always seeking new challenges and having a particular passion for advocacy, I wished to broaden my ‘legal’ exposure and subsequently joined LPC Law in July 2013 in the hope of receiving civil instructions to add to my already grown base of criminal work. Instantly I was responsible for a variety of interlocutory applications and final hearings; enjoying attendance at numerous courts, being before countless Judges and building exceptional relationships with a variety of law firms. Furthermore, LPC Law have always arranged, when available, the receipt of post qualification instructions.

LPC Law allows an advocate to dramatically develop from being ‘thrown in the deep end’ but always having the reassurance of a great and supportive advocacy management team at the end of the phone. No two days are the same and at the end of a week in the life of an LPC Law advocate you will most certainly have learned a thing or two!

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Broaden Your HorizonsWe have a system of monitoring and assessing you as you undertake advocacy work for LPC Law. You must prove yourself in order to take on more complex hearings such as Small Claims trials.Types of Hearings we attend:Mortgage PossessionsCharging OrdersThird Party Debt OrdersConsumer Credit CasesReturn of GoodsBankruptciesInfant SettlementsOrders for SaleDispute Resolution HearingsTrustees’ ApplicationsApplications to Set-asideApplications to Suspend WarrantsCase Management Conferences & DirectionsSummary JudgementsLandlord & TenantSmall Claims Trials

Advocates that hold a current practising certificate as solicitors or barristers may also be instucted to attend hearings in Open Court such as Fast Track Trials, Appeals and Winding Up Petitions.

1ST HEARINGOngoing Support & Online Updates on Law & Procedure

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SERVICE COMMENCEMENT Preparation Pack, Online Seminars, Shadowing an Advocate at Court, One-to-One with your Advocacy Manager & Practical Workshops

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How toApply

ASSESSMENT CENTREMock Hearing

02APPLYSubmit Application Via www.lpc-law.co.uk

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· Our requirements The better your knowledge of the role the better you will be able to demonstrate your suitability to it.

· Your evidence Prepare some examples from your own experience that demonstrate how you meet our requirements.

· Commercial awareness Understand what we do and who we work for.

· Professionalism Ensure that the information that you provide about yourself is accurate and relevant.

· Focus on Us We want to know what interests you in the role and our firm.

Tips for yourApplication

If you meet our requirements the next step is to apply online at www.lpc-law.co.uk

Just go to the ‘Careers Page’ and complete our online application form. You will receive an email confirming that we have received your application, which will then be assessed by one of our team.

We welcome applications for advocacy work all year round. Legal Postgraduates may apply from January onwards in the year that they graduate.

www.lpc-law.co.uk

@LPC_Law

/lpc-law

Recruitment DepartmentT 020 7090 1595E recruitment@lpc-law.co.uk

LPC Law is a trading name of LPC Law Ltd, a limited company registered in England & Wales under number 2955453. LPC Law Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under SRA No. 541619. Our professional rules can be found at www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/handbook/code/content.page. We use the word ‘partner’ to refer to someone who is not a director, but who is an employee or consultant qualified to practice law in England and Wales, and who is a shareholder or someone of equivalent standing. A list of the Directors and those designated as partners is available for inspection at the registered office. For details of how we process personal data, please see our Privacy Notice at www.lpc-law.co.uk/legal-information.