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5 Great tips to kickstart your law career after university

For graduates there is a better chance of getting a career in law after school than ever before. Students still need to start preparing when they are still at school. As business models are changing and the demand for law services at an affordable price grows, so too do law firms have to adapt. In what they can deliver and in what they are looking for when they hire. If you are entering this ever-evolving environment you need to put as much effort into learning about the job hunting process, as you are into doing well in your studies. Whether you want to go in family law, become a Public Notary in London, or enter corporate law, consider your strategies carefully.

1) Squeeze everything out of law school!

Every edge you can earn yourself while at law school is essential to stand out from other job-hunting candidates. As well as getting the best grades you can that also means considering your extracurricular activities. Find a way to do some pro bono work, publish articles, lead a law association. Everything you do could have an impact.

Just imagine you apply for the position of law clerk with a judge. Where once that might have attracted a dozen or so applications, now they receive another 74 applications along with yours. They will then look at ways to cut out some of the applicants. That is likely to include discarding applicants who did not keep their grades above a certain level, or ones who did not write for a Law Review or did not do extracurricular work linked to the profession.

2) Watch the trends in law for new opportunities

In general, this profession has become more diverse and more fields are evolving for you to specialise in. New opportunities are emerging all the time on this job market so you need to watch the trends and keep up with them. Check hiring projections and other resources that monitor in-demand areas. You may see a need somewhere that interests you. Or you may want to direct your studies to better be able to hit a target practice area. Some solicitors already in their choice of fields might note a need for a Public Notary London and opt to include that as a service too.

3) Take advantage of the career services office

The career centre staff is more likely to have their finger on the pulse of the current job market, than anyone. Make use of their experience and knowledge. Use them to find internships, help with interviews and stay up to date with the latest information. They could very well help you consider nontraditional positions as well as learning about what kind of starting salaries you can expect and so on.

4) Have more than one strategy

It is important not to have only one strategy when it comes to looking for a job in the legal field. Take opportunities to network, traditional forms as well as online. Professional groups offer a lot of opportunities and connect with professors and colleagues in case they know of something you do not. Get proactive with learning about firms around you. Respond to job postings in a variety of areas. Do not expect to get recruited and then be left stumbling when it does not happen. While being recruited is ideal, it does not happen for everyone. For many finding a job after school involves a lot of work, some luck, and some networking.

5) Be ready

It is crucial to have your CV ready and to be interview ready. Before they ask anyone for an interview they will look at that CV and whittle the applicants down. You need to make sure yours is up to date, attracts attention in a good way, is relevant and gets your foot in the door. When that interview comes you need to be prepared to attend at short notice, have the write clothes to make a good impression, prepare by practising and be confident about what you have to offer.

law and legal career advice

Becoming a Notary Public 

On top of your legal training should you also wish to become a Notary Public in London you need to qualify. That means studying the right areas of the law in your degree, or making up those areas later otherwise. You also need to carry out two years of distance learning as well as meet requirements that include being over 21, taking an oath, and being admitted by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

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