Key skills
Good research
Academic qualifications
Work experience
Work permit status
Key skills
Skills are an essential element of any work or study experience you have completed, but it is not enough simply to know about the law. You must also be able to apply that knowledge, for instance by constructing a convincing argument and by analysing the legal issues raised by a problem scenario.
Solicitors take trainees' legal knowledge and intelligence for granted. Firms will expect you to have the necessary additional skills to meet the demands of a solicitor. Each firm will detail what skills they particularly require in their recruitment literature (including brochures and websites).
Before applying for training contracts you should spend as much time as possible
researching firms to maximize your chances of a successful application and also to find the best firm for you. Each firm may be looking for different qualities in their trainees but all firms will be looking for applicants who are highly motivated with thorough reasons for pursuing a career in law and more particularly with their firm.
From LawBritannia's research and experience in legal recruitment here are the most common skills required by law firms.
Good oral and written communication skills
Analytical and Reasoning Skills
Initiative
Personal Impact
Resilience
Teamwork
Commercial Awareness - extract from CVs for International Law Students
Planning and Organising
You will find all the information you need to highlight these skills in our publications:
CVs for international law students and
Training Contract Applications. LawBritannia provides and in depth analysis of each of these skills giving you detailed information about what precisely they mean and the types of ways in which you can demonstrate you have these skills on
your training contract application forms. We also include the questions on application forms that look for particular skills as well as words and phrases to help you write effective answers.
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Good research
When applying to a UK based law firm it is essential that you have well thought out reasons for wanting to train and practice in the UK. The chance for international travel may be paramount but you need to convince a firm that it is in the UK you wish to make your career. Firms do not want to spend considerable time and money training you in English law only for you to leave once qualified.
You will need to demonstrate commitment to the UK, both personally and professionally, and that any associated travel opportunities are a bonus; that your language skills and international experience will first and foremost benefit the UK office of the firm and its clients.
Of course, there are many things (some interlinked) that may determine your choice of firm but click
here to view some things to think about.
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Academic qualifications
You can still qualify as a solicitor even if you have not studied a degree in the UK or even a law degree. In the first instance you should apply to the Solicitors Regulation Authority for a
Certificate of Academic Standing. This is the process by which the Law Society confirms your eligibility to attend a law course in England and Wales and is evidence that your qualifications meet the minimum requirements for admission - usually equivalent to a lower second class honours or above and competency in the English language.
It does not matter what subjects you do for GCSE but academic ability is vitally important for top firms or chambers and so whatever subjects you choose make sure you do well!!. Your choices around A levels are more important. Each firm will have their own requirements but usually, if you are intending to apply to a top city law firm and law school, then we would say that you need a minimum of AAB at A level and a 2.1 at degree (or equivalent).
Academic ability is vitally important for top law firms and with poor academics it will be very difficult for you to secure a training contract. Whilst there are exceptions to every rule should you wish to train at a city law firm this would be extremely difficult with a 2.2 and you should look in to other areas of law to practice in.
For an individual assessment of your qualifications and what these equate to in the UK you can visit
NARIC, an organisation that provides a service for individuals seeking information on comparability between international and UK qualifications.
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Work experience
When targeting firms you need to assess the experience that you have gained in the past through legal or non legal experience. In other words you need to assess what you can bring to a firm. When detailing your work experience and achievements on your application forms you need to think about demonstrating and highlighting
key skills to the firm.
Whilst there is no bench mark as to how much legal experience you must gain before securing a training contract or paid work you must see your application from the perspective of a firm. Questions about your decision to become a solicitor are guaranteed to come up in an interview and you will need to demonstrate that you have made an informed choice about your career choice.
As a qualified overseas lawyer this article from
Legal Week may help you. For law students UK firms offer vacation placements for two or three week's duration giving you the opportunity to find out more about life as a solicitor and also the firm.
Legal Week research for the Law Student Report 2010 states that nearly three-quarters (74%) of the students surveyed rated placements as ‘very' or ‘fairly' important, and law firms enthused about placements "Placements are pretty much the only way that students can differentiate us," says one law firm partner. In fact Legal Week found that people with placement experience are nearly three times as likely to have a training contract as other students.
Schemes can run during the
Summer, Easter and Christmas vacations and although we are sure you'd rather have a holiday these opportunities are useful not only to gain legal experience but also some firms guarantee an interview for a training contract if you have taken part in a vacation scheme. You will need to work hard to make personal contacts and meet decision makers at firms.
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