Of course, there are few merits that are reliably exclusive to firms of any size, so the scale of any specific firm should be considered only insofar as it might impact on your career satisfaction and advancement. So if you find taxation law too dry, consider family law; if you find family law too draining, consider criminal law; if you find criminal law too confronting, consider something else, and so on and so forth, until a practice area comes along that excites you.
Look for a firm where you can focus on that. Bear in mind, it can be difficult to switch practice areas once you commit to one. The importance of culture in a law firm cannot be overstated. What sort of people work there? What is expected of graduate employees?
What are the people like? How many hours a week will I work? Law firms and even individual teams within firms also vary widely in their value systems. Where possible, try to secure a position in a firm whose values are consistent with yours. On average, people change jobs 11—12 times during their careers. So it pays to consider where you want to be, not just for the next few years but in a decade or so. Some firms have established professional development initiatives, especially those with structured graduate programs.
Just be certain that your career will grow at the target firm and not, instead, be restricted. For law graduates excited by the prospect of working abroad or focusing on international cases, it could be worth prioritising firms that have a global presence. Practice Areas. Explore Symplicity. Networking and Relationship Building. For LL.
Starting Your Job Search. Explore Your Career Options. Practice Settings. Law Firms Private practice involves legal work in a for-profit setting or on behalf of for-profit organizations or causes. Large Law Firms What constitutes a large law firm may vary somewhat geographically — but if a firm has more than one office location, or over attorneys, it is a fair assumption they could be considered a large law firm no matter where they are located.
Search submit. Some can have pretty grueling working hours attached to them; others allow you to get home for your daily Netflix fix. Of equal importance is pinpointing the areas of law you're interested in and coupling that with the firms specialised in those areas. If you have an interest in a certain industry sector — healthcare, technology, retail — it's worth taking that into account and looking at firms with the appropriate focus.
As for useful resources, here are a few for you to cherish:. Application forms take far, far longer to complete than you'd expect. Any mistakes on your applications, no matter how minuscule, will almost certainly cost you. Recruiters want people who are likely to be a roaring success and not make mistakes. Making successful applications. Chambers Student Law firms Getting a training contract Making successful applications. We can't emphasise this more strongly: bulk applications rarely end well.
Here are some tips on how to proceed. Do your research If you do manage to secure a training contract at a firm, bear in mind that you're likely to be there for a minimum of two years. As for useful resources, here are a few for you to cherish: Chambers Student. We provide a ' Get Hired ' article for each firm in the True Picture detailing its application and selection process.
Our parent publication Chambers UK identifies and ranks all the best firms in over 75 areas of practice. It can be read online for free at chambers. The legal press. Things to look out for include information on firms' business strategies as well as case and deals highlights. Law firms' websites. Study them vigorously! On top of laying out the key facts, they'll give a valuable insight into what that firm essentially stands for and how it sees itself.
A firm's recruitment pages will also list its minimum requirements. Check your qualifications and abilities match up. Our table of Application and selection criteria should help with this, as should the law firm profiles appended to each True Picture. Industry journals and the local press.
Find out more about the sectors a firm works in or its involvement in the local community. Read the national and international business press too, to build up your commercial awareness. Social media.
0コメント