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How can BPP's Careers Service help me?
BPP Law School trains the Barristers and Solicitors of tomorrow. We view a first rate and dedicated Careers Service as an integral part of the service we provide.
Our Careers Service is designed to help you define your career aspirations, keep you fully informed of the steps necessary to pursue these and to help you achieve your goals. Our careers consultants, advisors and tutors maintain close links with the legal profession so that they can pass the best advice and assistance on to you.
We recognise that each of our students has different strengths and experience and may be interested in different areas of practice or types of firm or Chambers. Our Careers Service is tailored to meet the needs of you as an individual whatever your interests are.
As soon as you have accepted our offer of a place at BPP you are entitled to use the Careers Service and even after you graduate, we can help you with your continuing professional development.
" I attended the careers lecture held in June before my course started and as a result I am looking forward to next year. The team made a first-rate impression: very friendly, very professional, very good .. I already feel like I am in competent hands."
As a student at BPP's Law School you will have access to:
- A programme of careers lectures and workshops delivered by the Law School's careers consultants, practitioners and former BPP students now in practice.
- Access to training contract, pupillage and paralegal vacancies from a range of firms and Chambers, including many who have expressed a particular interest in employing graduates from BPP.
- An extensive careers library. An extensive Careers Information Booklet with sample CVs, interview guidance and application advice.
- Access to a wide range of online careers information and guidance on the student intranet.
- Dedicated and specialist careers consultants for booked appointments, drop-in assistance and email guidance.
- A pre-interview preparation service which includes mock interviews by experienced members of staff and feedback from students who have previously attended interviews.
- A pre-course careers talk 'Your Career in Law Starts Now' to help you prepare for your future before your course starts.
I want to be a Barrister
Barristers research and give opinions on specific points of law and precedents, prosecute or defend cases in court and draft opinions and pleadings. They are at the heart of the conflict on paper and at trial. If you are interested in advocacy and public speaking this is the career for you. You also have to have a thick skin as there is glory when you win but nowhere to hide when you lose!
As a Barrister there are a number of areas in which you could work. You might choose to specialise in areas such as Admiralty, Landlord and Tenant or Revenue. Alternatively you may wish to pursue a career in: Industry (the Employed Bar), the Government Legal Service or the Crown Prosecution Service.
To qualify as a Barrister, you must join and attend one
of the Inns of
Court, complete the BVC and complete a pupillage.
If you are a law graduate, you will need to complete the Bar
Vocational Course (BVC) and 12 months' pupillage.
If you are a non-law graduate, you will have to first also complete the Graduate
Diploma in Law (GDL) before the BVC.
- How do I apply for pupillage?
- What should I be doing now to enhance my prospects?
- What are my chances of success?
- How can I fund my course?
- Where can I find further information?
How do I apply for pupillage?
The process of looking for a pupillage should begin as soon as you decide that the Bar is for you. Applications to some Chambers and authorised pupillage training organisations may have to be made up to two years in advance.
All pupillage providers advertise their schemes on the OLPAS (Online Pupillage Application System) website. OLPAS is a free online application system that allows you to search and apply for pupillage.
OLPAS operates two application deadlines (seasons) a year: April (Summer) and September (Autumn). Using this system, you are able to choose up to 12 sets of Chambers / pupillage providers per season. It is essential that you apply in the summer season, as many Chambers do not take part in the autumn season.
Whilst all pupillages must be advertised on OLPAS, not all Chambers require applications through this system and application deadlines are dependent on individual Chambers.
You will be asked to fill in either a paper application form, an online application form or submit a CV and covering letter. Immediate vacancies are also advertised on the newsflash section of the OLPAS website. You should apply to both OLPAS and non-OLPAS Chambers.
You will need to ensure that you research Chambers and pupillage training organisations thoroughly to target your applications. You can do your research at the essential annual national Pupillage Fair and by reading chamber's brochures and websites, as well as the many handbooks and online directories available.
The Training Contract and Pupillage Handbook is available at the National Pupillage Fair or from the Bar Council. As well as general information on becoming a barrister, the handbook also includes a list of Barristers' Chambers and details of pupillage vacancies.
See also - What should I being doing now to enhance my prospects? for tips on researching pupillage and obtaining work experience.
I want to be a Solicitor
Solicitors provide a wide range of legal services to companies, organisations and individuals.
As a Solicitor there a number of areas in which you could work in different types of practice: High Street firms; medium sized firms; large commercial firms; the City; niche firms; and in Industry, the Government Legal Service, or the Crown Prosecution Service.
To qualify as a Solicitor, you must join the Law Society, complete the LPC and complete a two year training contract.
If you are a law graduate, you will have to complete the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and a two-year training contract.
If you are a non-law graduate, you will first have to complete the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) before the LPC.
- How do I apply for pupillage?
- What should I be doing now to enhance my prospects?
- What are my chances of success?
- How can I fund my course?
- Where can I find further information?
How do I apply for training contracts?
Each training contract provider will have its own application procedure and you will be asked to fill in either a paper application form, an online application form or submit a CV and covering letter. You should be (as a guide) looking to make a minimum of 20 applications for training contracts. You must ensure that these are properly researched and that you have spent as much time as possible making them of an extremely high quality.
You will need to ensure that you research firms thoroughly to target your applications. You can do your research at careers fairs, by reading firms' brochures and websites, talking to your contacts, attending open days and reading the many handbooks and online directories available.
The Training Contract and Pupillage Handbook is available at the National Pupillage Fair, or from the Law Society. As well as general information on becoming a Solicitor, the handbook also includes a list of firms with details of training contracts and application procedures.
The process of looking for a training contract should begin as soon as you decide you want to practise as a Solicitor. Many of the larger firms of Solicitors recruit trainees at least two years in advance of their training contracts. Applicants for the GDL should therefore seriously consider applying for the such training contracts the Spring / Summer prior to starting their course. For smaller firms applications need to be made up to a year in advance. Immediate vacancies are advertised on Law Careers.Net and in legal publications.
See also - What should I being doing now to enhance my prospects? for tips on researching training contracts and obtaining work experience.
What should I being doing now to enhance my prospects?
Before researching firms or Chambers you should think about what you are looking for from your career, select your own criteria and then target those firms or Chambers that match.
It may be size of the firm or Chambers, specialisms or geographical location that is important to you. Once you have an idea of what is most important to you, use websites (such as www.lawcareers.net) that shortlist firms and Chambers for you according to size, location, numbers of partners, start dates, practice areas, etc.
If you are a non-law graduate (taking the Graduate Diploma in Law) you could consider applying to firms or Chambers that specialise in an area related to your degree.
Also use any relevant work experience and the experience you will gain on your course to decide which area you would like to practise in.
However, you do not necessarily have to decide at this early stage which area of law you would like to specialise in. You may decide to work in a firm or Chambers that has a range of specialisms (you may only decide which area of law is for you after you have completed your training).
There are many skills that recruiters look for. Some of these will depend on their area of work, but academic ability, good communication skills, teamwork and flexibility are the key skills needed in any area of law and you should use your applications and CV to highlight the fact that you have these. In a competitive market, you need to research what the employer wants and spend your time showing them you have it all and they need you!
Here is a brief outline of legal experience you should think about doing before and during your course, in order to gain a head start on the competition and add experience to your CV.
- Vacation Placements at law firms can last two or three weeks and are usually available during the Easter, Summer and Christmas vacations.
- Mini-pupillages can vary in length from a few days to a week during vacations. Some Chambers offer assessed mini-pupillages which are an excellent route to gaining a pupillage interview.
- Debating / mooting will help you to develop your public speaking style.
- Marshalling, where you sit on the bench with a judge and get the opportunity to discuss a case with them in Chambers, is a good way of making contacts.
- Paralegal work can be anything from administrative work to tasks similar to those of a trainee solicitor.
- Work Shadowing allows you to observe a Solicitor / Barrister for a few days.
- Work experience at County or Magistrates' Courts.
- Charity Work is good for your CV, as is involvement with Pro bono initiatives. You could get involved in voluntary work in a Law Centre, Citizen's Advice Bureau or Free Representation Unit providing free legal advice to individuals.
- Open days provide an insight to life in a firm / Chambers.
- Public galleries in Courts allow you to watch and learn about legal proceedings.
- Get published in your student magazine, charity or by entering legal writing competitions.
- Join legal organisations, such as Liberty, Amnesty International, Association of Muslim Lawyers, Association of Women Barristers, Society of Asian Lawyers, Trainee Solicitors' Group etc. as well as one of the Inns of Court or the Law Society.
What are my chances of success?
For a detailed breakdown of training contracts and pupillages, please visit the Law Careers Advisers Network.
For further information please click on one of the headings below:
I do not have a law degree
A law degree is not necessary for a career in law but you will need to complete a conversion course: (Graduate Diploma in Law). Preferably your degree should be a 2.1 (see next question if you got a 2.2). Firms and Chambers often look for commercial experience as well as academic achievement. As a non-law graduate you could consider applying to firms / Chambers that specialise in an area related to your degree (although, at this early stage you do not necessarily have to decide which area of law you would like to specialise in). Also use any relevant work experience and the experience you have gained on your course to decide which area you would like to practise in and to highlight your skills and unique selling points on your applications. A careers advisor is always on hand to offer you advice and information (and encouragement!).
I am a mature student
Making such a big career decision later in life is difficult and invariably leads to lots of questions and some self-doubt. As with any kind of training there is no guarantee of a job at the end of it (even for fresh faced twentysomethings!); many mature students do successfully secure training contracts and have successful careers as lawyers.
Competition is strong but the level of the competition does vary according to the type of firm and there is no need to feel that your application is going to be weaker than someone of 21. What mature candidates have to offer is a range of life and work experience that they need to draw on and highlight to a prospective employer.
Mature students often concentrate on what they perceive as negatives (age etc) rather than on all of the positive things about them. Many use their previous experience to help identify areas of the law that they would like to practise in eg. someone with a business /finance background may be drawn to commercial law, while others may have worked with a client group that relates directly to an area of law eg. family or criminal.
Something you could do before starting the GDL would be to contact some firms / Chambers to see how they view applications from people with your background and experience. Regional firms have a good reputation for their flexible approach to non-traditional candidates. You could then gauge what is expected before taking the plunge with applications.
I have a 2.2
It is true that many of the large commercial firms or Chambers will be looking for a 2.1 but medium sized and high street firms often value experience over academic achievement. Even if a law firm states they require a 2.1 it is always worth contacting them direct and asking whether they would accept your application - show your initiative and determination. You may also want to put a brief but positive explanation in your covering letter about your 2.2 to show that it does not reflect your academic ability for example. A careers advisor is always on hand to offer you advice and information.
I am an international student
Although a law degree from an English or Welsh university might facilitate your qualification as a lawyer in your home country, you will need to check that the LPC or BVC are recognised under your home country's regulations. You might experience difficulty gaining permission to work in this country so you are asked to consider how work permit regulations might affect you prior to application. For more information, visit UKCOSA.
How can I fund my course?
- Discretionary awards from your Local Education Authority
- Scholarships, awards and grants from the Inns of Court, Bar Council, Law Society and charitable organisations
- BPP scholarships
- Sponsorship from solicitors' firms
- Professional and Postgraduate Study Loans from your bank (Career Development Loans)
For more information, visit the Trainee Solicitors' Group website.
Further information & contacts
These websites will help you to make your decision about your career in law and also enable you to look for pupillage and training contract vacancies.
- Doctor Job
- The General Council of the Bar
- LawCareers.Net
- The Law Society
- Prospects Web
- Trainee Solicitors' Group
- Online Pupillage Application System
The following publications also useful.
| Title | Publisher |
|---|---|
| The Bar Directory | Sweet and Maxwell |
| Chambers Student Guide to the Legal Profession | Chambers and Partners Publishing |
| Hobsons Careers Guide: Law | Hobsons Plc |
| Legal 500 | Legalease |
| Pupillages and Awards Handbook | GTI Specialist Publishers |
| So You Want to be a Lawyer | Trotman Publishing |
| Target Courses: Conversion and Vocational Law | GTI Specialist Publishers |
| Target Law | GTI Specialist Publishers |
| Target Work Experience: Law | GTI Specialist Publishers |
| The Training Contract and Pupillage Handbook | Globe Business Publishing Ltd |
| Think Law | Yearbook Publications |
| What Can I do with a Law Degree? | Trotman Publishing |
