Special features
Your free guide to legal careers
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What is a high street firm? And what kind of work do high street solicitors really do? We asked one to explain.
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National firms have offices around the country, often including one in London. They're different from regional and City firms in a number of ways, as one national partner explains.
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Regional firms are different from national firms and high street firms - they have some distinctive characteristics and practice areas. We asked a regional partner to outline these.
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Many law firms will ask about your commercial awareness and experience during the application process. But what is commercial awareness, why is it important and how can you get it if you're applying for your first job? We asked trainees at a selection of firms what commercial awareness means to them - and why it matters.
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Postgraduate study isn't just an optional extra for wannabe lawyers, it's essential. There are set pathways for both students with law degrees and without, plus different training depending on whether you want to be a barrister or a solicitor.
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US or UK? When it comes to solicitors' firms, one letter can make a world of difference. We asked associates at two US firms to share their experiences to help you decide if a US firm could be the right place to do your training contract.
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The Channel Islands are well known as an offshore financial centre and lawyers are needed to structure and handle those transactions. But some aspects of the law are different in Jersey and Guernsey so if you want to practise as a lawyer there you’ll need specialist qualifications.
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Complex deals call for good communication with colleagues, clients and others involved. We asked three solicitors to explain how they worked together on a private equity deal to acquire a restaurant group.
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Building schools isn't just about bricks and mortar: lawyers are needed to help finance the projects and make sure everything runs smoothly. Here, three solicitors explain their roles in a school rebuilding programme.
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High value property transactions can attract media attention but there's also plenty of work going on behind the scenes - particularly for the solicitors involved. We asked three solicitors to outline their roles in a prominent property deal.
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If you want to make sure law is for you, take some time out or need to pay off your student debts, paralegal work could be for you. Here’s the low-down on what paralegals do and how paralegal work can boost your chances of gaining a training contract.
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Looking for even more info on legal careers? Or some specialist contacts? There are loads of places to explore, whether you're looking into different areas of work or just for general information about law.
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Life and law exist beyond London, particularly for those keen on client contact and early responsibility. There's a huge range of employers to choose from, including high street firms, national ones with branch offices in major cities and regional firms focusing on one city or area.
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Solicitors at different stages in their careers describe how they worked on a mergers and acquisitions transaction involving household names. They talk through their responsibilities and key aspects of the deal, including managing information via the web and dealing with board members around the world.
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Equal opportunities are high on the legal recruitment agenda. But don't just take TARGETjobs' word for it: read what one legal recruiter has to say on the subject, and find out what you can do to maximise your chances.
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Have you ever wondered where a career in law could take you? Follow the career of one solicitor from vacation placement student to partner and gather some words of wisdom on applications and moving up the career ladder at the same time.
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Three heads are always better than one - especially in a major international refinancing deal involving a portfolio of wind farms. We asked solicitors at different stages in their careers to describe how they worked together on this key transaction.
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If you want to become a solicitor you'll need to plan ahead and make sure you know all the deadlines along the way. Missing one of those deadlines could mean taking a year off or rethinking your career options, so make sure you know exactly what you need to do and when.
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Don't feel you have to head for London for your training contract. There's plenty of challenging and exciting work outside the Big Smoke in regional firms, and you're likely to experience greater responsibility and more client contact thanks to the local significance of these organisations.
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Teamwork is a major part of all solicitors' work, and as a trainee you're likely to find yourself working with colleagues at all levels. We asked one legal team consisting of solicitors at different stages in their careers to outline their roles in a media deal.
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Applying for training contracts is a complex process and competition is stiff, so make sure you're applying to the firms that will be right for you. That means more than just choosing the salary that's right for you: think about location, size and work culture. Legal recruiters from a selection of firms explain more.
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Choosing your training contract is a decision that will affect at least two years of your life and quite possibly a lot longer. So before you start the application process, think about what YOU want. That way you'll be able to find a firm that's right for you.
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Working life as a trainee solicitor can be a shock to the system after all that study, so it's good to know that help is available. There are plenty of networks to help trainees adjust, progress and overcome work-related difficulties.
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There’s no doubt that some of the big name firms pay hefty salaries on qualification. There’s also no doubt that what you earn when you start working can vary hugely depending on the type of firm and its location. Make sure you’re thinking of the whole package and your longer terms plans and not just the money when considering training contracts.
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You'll experience various areas of work during your training contract, and recruiters will expect you to have done some research about different practice areas before you apply. This will also help you make sure you experience areas that genuinely interest you.
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Swotting up on the law is just one part of becoming a solicitor. You'll also need to learn a whole new set of buzzwords and acronyms. Start here by making sure you know your associates from your assistants and your LLPs from your LPCs.
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