If you have recently qualified as a lawyer, or are about to, you are currently in the process of searching for the perfect law firm to apply to.
For a first timer, the legal job market can be difficult to navigate, especially if you have not fully decided upon the area of law that you wish to pursue.
From major international firms to local lawyer offices with a single figure workforce, there are almost unlimited options when it comes to entering the legal profession.
That said, after a few applications being knocked back, it can often feel as though the opportunities are not that extensive after all.
Competition is fierce, but with a bit of research and a clear plan, you will be able to stand out from the competition and take your first steps in what is a very rewarding industry.
Here are our top tips for choosing the right law firm for you:
Narrow the market
Finding a law firm best suited to your talents isn’t easy, and with so many different firms in the UK it can be difficult to know where to start.
Before you start firing off applications to every law firm under the sun in the hope of getting lucky, narrow down your options to those in the area of law you are truly interested in.
Look for firms with experience of success in these areas and you will have a much more manageable selection to aim for.
Most law firms in the UK have a section on their website detailing their specialisms as well as testimonies from previous clients that will give you an idea of the sort of work that they do.
If you yourself are unsure about the field you want to go into, do some more research online or talk to a senior lawyer before proceeding. The more focussed your search is, the more you can tailor your applications to the firm in question and the better chance you have of being successful.
If you are simply applying for a summer internship whilst studying for a law degree, the area of law you are working in is less important, all experience is great experience at this stage!
Attend law fairs
Law fairs, or other networking sessions attended by those from major law firms, are a great opportunity to leave a good impression and get one step ahead when it comes to applying for entry- level positions.
Whilst you are unlikely to secure a role directly through these events, they will give you a great opportunity to ask some questions and get a better idea of what law firms are looking for from their applicants.
You will also be able to pick up a brochure or two that will give you some more information on the firms in question and help you remember some of the advice that you were given.
Often, firms will send alumni from your school who now work for them to networking events so consider asking about their own journey after graduation for some inspiration.
Examine the firm’s website
Law fairs are a great networking opportunity, but you do have to take some of the information that you are given at such events with a pinch of salt.
At the end of the day, these firms are there to try and attract the best recruits and will, therefore, bombard you with marketing slogans and freebies designed to help them stand out from the crowd.
For a more balanced view, study a few of the firms you are interested in online. See what sort of cases they take on, the area of law that they specialise in, and the training programme that they offer.
If all of this information is closely aligned with your own future ambitions, and you feel as though you would be a good addition, it is time to get down to the business of applying.
Ruling out potential options with an afternoon’s worth of online research can save you a huge amount of time further down the line.
Go the extra mile
With so much competition for positions, being qualified as a lawyer is not enough to help you stand out from the competition.
Recruiters see hundreds of CVs and applications and yours needs to catch their attention in an instant.
One way to do this is to make it clear that you have done your research and you are knowledgeable about the type of work that the Glasgow legal firm do.
You could also do some research on their competition. As a lawyer you will need to be bold and innovative to be successful, and these are qualities that law firms are always on the look out for from the next generation.
