Law 1 st Year Students Kick Start Your Future Why Now ?

1. Law 1st Year StudentsKick Start Your FutureWhy Now ? Darren Johnson Careers Adviser

2. The Current Graduate Legal Job Market • Applications for Vacation Schemes – many international city law firms have • seen applications double this year • Similar competition reported for mini-pupillage. • Implications: Important to consider Open Days in your 1st year to make you • stand out when applying for vacation schemes in your penultimate year

3. 1st Year Exam Results Do Matter To Employers • In particular: • International commercial law firms – generally request these results by • module on CV or application • Will also pay close attention to tort and contract law modules when applying for vacation schemes in penultimate year. 2i is the ideal less than 50% could be an issue . • Same for commercial barristers chambers when applying for • mini-pupillage

4. Getting Work Experience • International commercial firms - Open Days • What do these involve ? • How do you apply ? • How should you approach the application and if offered a place the actual • Day ? • See my blog article on Open Days being posted at : • http://durhamlawcareers.wordpress.com/ for answers to these questions

5. 1st Year Vacation Schemes • Example : • Simmons and Simmons • 26-30th March • 16-20 April • www.simmons-simmons.com • Deadline 31st January 2012

6. 1st Year Spring Vacation Schemes • Hogan Lovells- February 15th deadline • 26-30th March • http://graduates.hoganlovells.com/your_career/open_events/

7. Blog -http://durhamlawcareers.wordpress.com/

8. www.dur.ac.uk/careers/s/careerplanning/rc/cs/

9. What Employers Want Evidence and ability to articulate: • Achievement – drive and determination • Soft Skills- persuasion/negotiation/customer focused/attention to detail/problem solving/teamwork/leadership • Commercial Awareness for many career areas • http://l2b.thelawyer.com/what-is-commercialawareness/133838.article

10. STAR Skills Sessions • Often employer led • A great way to develop some of these skills on campus • Need to sign up on-line for sessions you are interested in , keep an eye on • The Events section of the CEEC website • http://www.dur.ac.uk/careers/s/events/

11. http://www.dur.ac.uk/careers/s/events/

12. Events Also On Facebookhttp://www.facebook.com/careersatdurham

13. Career Focus Blog - http://durhamcasnews.wordpress.com/

14. Considering Barrister – Taking Action In Your 1st Year • Throughout the year • Research minipupillages/apply for non formal placement for vacations (www.lawcareers.net) • Construct a strong CV and cover letters for the above – get checked at Career Centre - Applications Advice/Quick Queries • Become an active member of the student Law Society • Work hard at degree, sets will look at your first year results • Research Inns of Court • www.online-law.co.uk/bar/inns_of_court.html

15. Exploration Tips • http://targetjobs.co.uk/law

16. Law Commission Research Assistant Constituency Assistant for MP Police Trainee Chartered Accountant Law Librarian Executive Officer , Home Office Teach First Marketing P.R Recruitment Consultant (Banking and Finance Commercial Lender – Alliance and Leicester Alternative Careers To Solicitor/Barrister – Durham Law Graduate Destinations Recent Examples

17. Property Consulting Legal Publishing Investment Banking Civil Service Fast Stream Human Resources Lecturing Company Secretary HM Customs and Excise Compliance Charities/NGOs European Commission Research more atwww.prospects.ac.uk Other Popular Career Areas For Law Graduates U.K wide

18. www.lawcareers.net

19. Careers Employability & Enterprise Centre • 49 New Elvet (next to D.S.U) • Term Time – 9am – 5pm • Vacation – 10am – 1pm 2.15pm – 5pm • Tel: 0191 334 1424/1437 • careers@durham.ac.uk • www.durham.ac.uk/careers-advice