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Work experience - vacation schemes and mini-pupillages

If you're seriously considering a career in law, you could be applying for vacation placements with solicitors' firms, or mini-pupillages at barristers' chambers. This article will give you a brief run-down of how to write the best applications in order to get that all-important work experience.

Which should I apply for?

Vacation schemes at solicitors' firms and mini-pupillages are both important, regardless of which branch of the profession you want to go into. If you want to be a solicitor, concentrate your applications on vacation schemes, but try to do a couple of mini-pupillages as well. If you want to be a barrister, do the reverse. Showing that you've tried both sides of the profession and still want to join one of them is a really good way to demonstrate awareness of the differences between the professions, and commitment to your chosen profession.

Where should I apply?

Doing research into firms and chambers now will really speed up your application process when you come to apply for the real thing! Try to find the firms which are specialising in areas of law that you are interested in, based in the local area, and apply to these first. Failing this, apply to local firms and chambers specialising in areas of law that you maybe haven't considered practising in before. After these, try looking at firms which are a bit further afield, but which practise your chosen area of law.

Most solicitors' firms and barristers' chambers will have websites. It's a good idea to look through these to find out what areas of law they do, any big cases that they've been involved in recently, and how big (how many people) their teams are. For example, you might be really interested in employment law. One firm might have an employment team with 30 people, while the other only has 2. It would be a good idea to think about whether you would want to join a small team or a large one. At this stage though, it's probably a good idea to apply for vacation schemes / mini-pupillages with both so that you can find out a little about the different environments.

If you're not sure which firms/chambers are in your local area, try searching on:

http://www.lawcareers.net

http://www.pupillages.com

How to apply for a vacation / work placement scheme / mini-pupillage

Most firms and chambers have a vacation or work placement scheme or mini-pupillage section on their website. Clicking on this will tell you whether you need to apply by CV and covering letter, or by filling out a firm-specific application form.

CV

When you're writing your CV make sure to structure it in an ordered way. For example, when dealing with previous work experience, it is usual to begin with the most recent, and then work backwards to the first experience you had. It's also really important to set the format of the document in a way which is easy to read. You might want to justify the text, or use boxes for each section. You should try to use font size 11 if possible, and no less than size 9 font. Use Arial or Times New Roman and try to keep your CV to two sides of A4.

Start by putting your personal details at the top of the page, then follow this with your most recent educational establishment and what you are studying and/or what grade you have achieved. If you are at University studying law, you might say Somewhere University, LLB (Hons), 2:1 predicted (2^nd year), or something similar. You would then go on to provide details of where you did your A-Levels, what subjects you studied and what grades you got. Then do the same with GCSE's. If you're applying for a work placement scheme in a particular area of law, and you have already studied that area and achieved a good mark, you might want to list that as a particular achievement.

Work experience should come next. You might want to break this down into ‘legal work experience' and ‘other work experience', depending on what you have already done. However, don't worry if you don't have much to go on, that's why you're applying for a work experience placement! Don't forget that even voluntary work, such as pro-bono activities, will count. You could also put in any work you've done for the University, such as helping with open days etc. Try to write a sentence about each one describing any particular position of responsibility you held, or how the experience contributed to your skills or legal education. For example, working as a waiter/waitress might enhance your people skills, as well as organisational skills. If you have previously done some legal work experience, you may have seen a particularly interesting case, or been shown how to write certain documents.

Lastly, you should include a short ‘hobbies and interests' section. You should be honest about this section (as all others), as it is likely that you will be asked about it if you are successful in applying for work experience. However, don't put general statements like ‘reading' and ‘music' or ‘socialising'! These don't really say too much about you as a person. Instead, try to think of hobbies in which you have achieved something. You might participate in a local amateur dramatics group, and you could mention recent acting or supporting roles you have held. If you are sporty, you may have won events. If you can't think of any prizes, just mention that you regularly participate. If you are really struggling to think of hobbies that you'd be proud to put on your CV, make a resolution to take one up as soon as possible!

Covering Letter

In your covering letter, after correctly formatting the address of the place you are applying to, and your own contact details, make sure you have the correct name of the person who deals with applications. This will normally be listed on the website, but if not, phone and ask. Begin the letter proper by stating the purpose of the letter, ie an application for a vacation / work placement scheme / mini-pupillage.

Next, and very importantly, explain why you are applying to the particular firm / chambers. They may have a good reputation in a particular field of law, or you may have seen a solicitor or barrister who works there ‘in action' and been impressed. If you are stuck for ideas, take a look at their website.

Finally, explain why you are a good applicant. This will be a very personal section, but you may want to highlight ways in which you have demonstrated commitment to the profession, and to a particular area of law which they deal with. Or, you may be a particularly successful law student.

However, try to avoid ‘waffling'. The covering letter does not need to be long, and will normally fit comfortably on one side of A4.

Application forms

Sometimes, firms and chambers use their own application forms. These generally involve filling in the above information in certain ways. However, they may also have more ‘interesting' questions, such as ‘describe how you have overcome a challenge' or ‘why do you want to be a solicitor/barrister'. The most important thing to remember is to be honest at all times, but do try to have a really good think about the question and what it is really trying to ask. Then, think about the things you have done that paint you in the best light.

Finally, get a friend or family member to read over your application and give feedback on how what you have written reflects on you. Make sure you spell check your application and send it off in plenty of time!

Good luck!

 

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