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NON-LAW STUDENTS

Career Advice from the Non-Law Officer 

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ASPIRING SOLICITORS:

Entering a commercial law firm as a non-law student can be unfamiliar and quite frankly daunting but please don’t panic!

Take comfort in knowing that 53% of lawyers in England and Wales studied undergraduate degrees in disciplines outside of law. But how do you as a non-law student break into law?

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Participation

As a non-law student you need to do your best to demonstrate an interest in law.

 

Participation in law society events and dinners are a great way to demonstrate an interest in law and are perfect ways to learn more about a career in law and finding a firm that best suits you.

 

Virtual internships through Forage are another great way to show an active interest in law. 

Research

The best way to break into law and get an internship is through good research. Having an understanding of commercial topics and finding a sector that you find appealing shines through when you apply.

 

Our events are a fantastic chance to learn more about a topic or a firm. Use online resources as well!

 

I’d recommend looking at Ziplaw, Chambers students and Legal 500. More importantly use the firm’s own resources like a website or a podcast to learn more.

Time

As a non-law student, you have the advantage of time, first-year open days and schemes are open to you in your second and third years as well.

 

This gives you plenty of time to apply to different schemes and a chance to explore your interests in law deeply.

 

I suggest looking into it at the start of the second year, for insight schemes to prepare you well for some vacation scheme applications further along the line.

Skills

Highlighting your skills as a non-law student is your biggest advantage.

 

You are not disadvantaged as a non-law student. Your multidisciplinary understanding of subjects different from Law plays in your favour.

 

Be sure to mention the skills specific to your degree. This could be skills in research, analysis, and communication. Be sure to find a way to relate any of your coursework to the legal world.

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ASPIRING BARRISTERS:

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A career at the Bar, representing individuals or organisations within a court, is an incredibly exciting and fulfilling career. This said it requires more than just your undergraduate degree.

The following will explain the different stages to becoming a barrister through the academic, vocational, and work-based/pupillage stages involved.

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01.

Academic Stage

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Although having an undergraduate law degree is helpful for a career at the Bar, it is not a requirement. Individuals who have completed non-law undergraduate degrees can still pursue a career at the Bar after completing a Law Conversion Course. This is called a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) which you can read more about here:

 

Every GDL or law undergraduate degree must include the seven foundations of legal knowledge and skills associated with graduate legal work. These are:

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  1. Contract 

  2. Tort 

  3. European Union Law

  4. Land

  5. Criminal

  6. Public 

  7. Equity and Trusts

 

Regardless of undergraduate degree, you must achieve a 2:2 classification (at minimum) in all of these modules before progressing to the vocational stage.

02.

Vocational 

Stage



Before you begin your vocational training, you must have joined an Inn of Court. There are four different Inns, listed below, and your membership to your chosen Inn is for life.
Gray’s Inn, Lincoln’s Inn, Middle Temple, Inner Temple.

After joining an Inn, one must pass the Bar Course Aptitude Test (BCAT) before beginning their vocational Bar training course.

This vocational course teaches you the specialist skills and knowledge of procedure and evidence needed to become a Barrister. It is also supplemented by twelve qualifying sessions put on by the Inns of Court that students must complete.

You can read more about these here: https://www.lawcareers.net/Explore/LCNSays/Twelve-dinners-no-more-what-to-expect-from-your-Inns-qualifying-sessionshttps://www.barstandardsboard.org.uk/training-qualification/bar-qualification-manual-new.html?part=5FA410D0-C627-4441-9DC9288B3AA3EE00&q=

The vocational stage does not look the same for everyone, as there are numerous ways to complete it.

These include;A one-part course. This can be either full-time over a year, or part-time over a longer period of time. An integrated course as part of an academic qualification, e.g. LLM.A two-part course. This could have a hybrid nature of both face-to-face teaching and self-study. A longer course that combines the vocational aspect with an undergraduate law degree (these are provided by limited universities).

Regardless of how the vocational stage is completed, it must be passed. After passing you will be ‘Called to the Bar’ by your Inn of Court which enables you to begin the work-based stage of qualifying.

03.

Pupillage​

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To be able to practice as a Barrister one must complete a pupillage. This is work-based training under the supervision of a barrister and is very competitive. Most pupillage placements are advertised on the Pupillage Gateway: https://www.pupillagegateway.com/

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When applying for Pupillage most Chambers look for similar characteristics. These include:

  • Passion for a career at the Bar

  • Oral and written advocacy experience. You can read more about this here: (insert link to the other article I’m going to do)

  • Time-management 

  • Work experience – especially mini-pupillages 

  • Analytical ability 

  • Commitment to hard work

 

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The academic, vocational, and work-based stages of becoming a Barrister are notoriously tough. This said, with enough drive and passion, a career at the Bar is an incredibly respected and successful career and one worth committing to.

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