Disclaimer: this is not a sponsored blog post. I wrote this because of how informative I found the handbook with the hopes of encouraging someone who may have a copy on a shelf at home to pick it up or to signpost you to the LawCareers.Net website for more information.
I’m going to try to make this as short as I can, because I know there have been reviews of this handbook before. I’ll be sharing with you, what really stood out to me! My first tip is to try to make the time before ‘Summer’ properly kicks in. We don’t know how Summer 2020 will be, but since the lockdown restrictions are being eased slowly, I doubt many of us would want to be stuck home for one minute longer when the pubs finally open and we can meet up with friends again.
Okay let’s get into the LCN Handbook 2020:
We’re almost halfway through 2020 so it didn’t surprise me that some of the deadlines have already passed. However, since firms usually have the same recruitment cycle, their applications and deadlines don’t change. Further, if you like a firm, but missed their deadline, don’t lose heart. Use this to your advantage because you can now go deeper into your firm research to find out if it’s the right place for you while you get ready for their next recruitment cycle.
Guys, LCN goes beyond just tips for Vac Schemes, TCs and Pupillages. The handbook is well defined, and the eight sections are absolutely phenomenal.
Becoming a Lawyer
If you’re reading this and you’re getting ready for university or just rounding up your first year, you may be in limbo as to whether you want to become a Solicitor or Barrister. Alternatively, you may know exactly what you want to do, but not sure how to get there. This section of the handbook goes into the nitty-gritty like the career timetable and various routes into the legal profession. It also covers important matters such as diversity in the legal profession and pinpoints some firms that are catalysts in this area and also Aspiring Solicitors which is a phenomenal organisation really pushing forth the narrative for the need for a more diverse legal space.
Choosing the firm that suits you is also a very big deal and the handbook breaks it down into:
- What type of law? Key piece of advice: “Generally it is important to keep an open mind about the exact area to which you will ultimately qualify” – LCN Handbook
- Where do I want to work?
- What sort of working environment?
- What other factors are important? (salary, future at the firm, training programme etc.)
This section also covers application and interview techniques, alternative careers, and the elephant in the room, COMMERCIAL AWARENESS!
Work experience
This is an important aspect for any future lawyer and more and more, students are encouraged to embrace ANY form of work experience they have had, not just legal work experience. “All experience is relevant and shapes you into the person you are. Firms are looking for well-rounded candidates and experience in a variety of areas will help with this…” – Lucie Rees, Graduate Recruitment Manager at Watson Farley & Williams.
This section includes ways students can gain legal work experience through vacation schemes, working for Citizens Advice and even pro bono work with your university’s legal advice clinic/centre. You can also find a list of all the firms that offer work placement schemes in this section.
Postgraduate training
This section looks at the vocational stage before becoming a Solicitor or Barrister which is arguably more hands-on than our degrees. It covers the Graduate Diploma in Law for non-law students, Masters courses, the Legal Practice Course and Bar Professional Training Course. There are changes being made to both the LPC and BPTC as well as ways to fund your postgraduate course, which the handbook also explains!
Solicitors and the Training Contract Directory
These two sections are the holy grail for any aspiring Solicitors.
The ‘Solicitors’ section contains general information on governing bodies including The Law Society, The Solicitors Regulation Authority and The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives. It goes into more detail about the law and non-law routes to becoming a Solicitor and explains the various types of law firms there are in the UK. One thing many students confuse at first (including me) is trying to decipher what practice areas that are available in different firms. I found the section on practice areas particularly eye-opening because at the end of the day, the type of firm you may like may have practice areas that don’t interest you at all.
And now, the Training Contract Directory. If you stuck with me throughout this post, this is the apex! The section begins with a ‘how to use this section’ guide, so I’d 100% recommend checking it out. The regional index lists all firms based on their region (London, East Midland, Yorkshire, International etc.) and gives a snapshot of the firms by looking at their vacancies, number of partners, work placement offerings and practice areas.
Following the index, you will find the TC directory. This gives a more in-depth look into many firms, as they explain what the firm does, who their ideal candidate is, how their training contract works, and so forth. More importantly, it provides you with contact information for Graduate Recruitment. It removes the anxiety or stress related to trying to find out about a firm by getting to know their basic information and things like how their training is conducted. I think the LCN Handbook and other sites like Chamber Student can be used in the first instant, and if a firm stands out to you there, then it may be worth going deep into their website.
Remember: The LCN Handbook is not only for law firms and aspiring Solicitors.
The Handbook has a section on chambers offering and pupillages. So, if you’re an aspiring Barrister, I would suggest you have a look at the handbook as well.
If you don’t have the LCN Handbook, here are some virtual steps you can take:
1. Visit the LCN website and create a ‘My LCN’ profile. There, you can have all the firms that you like, alongside their deadlines in one place.
2. Make time to go through the LCN website. LawCareers.Net is not ONLY about providing information on firms and chambers. The website has a plethora of resources on postgraduate courses, alternative jobs in the legal sector (like paralegal), commercial awareness, and loads of blog posts written by students and legal professionals alike. Last year I wrote a blog post for LCN: “The pressures of being an international student interested in a Legal career in the UK”
3. Sign up to LCN’s newsletter. There is weekly content via LCN Weekly which provides basically a roundup of the week and also has features from recruiters and bloggers. The great thing with LCN is that they don’t stop there, there are emails specifically for deadlines, advice on things we all need like how to shine on Linkedin and so much more!
4. Follow LawCareers.Net on Instagram @lawcareersnet!
To my aspiring Solicitors: if you’re in the process of starting firm research, or have already started, check our Farah Ali’s FREE downloadable and editable Firm Research Grids! They are very simple to follow and has all of the key things you would need to find out when researching firms. They also come in different colours, which is a bonus in itself! I downloaded the pink version, because, well… PINK! You can also follow Farah on Instagram @lawwithfarah.
I hope you find the LCN Handbook as useful as I've found it and also, don't forget to make use of other websites that will help give you the tools for your dream!
--Your favourite Unicorn
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