Academic excellence for business and the professions
Law Careers Events Programme Guide 2017/18
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www.city.ac.uk
Welcome from
Sponsors of the Law Careers Events Programme Guide 2017/18 South Square is a highly-respected and successful commercial set involved in complex and high-profile international and domestic commercial litigation. Members are recognised as leaders in their fields in all the key legal directories and have acted in some of the most important commercial cases of the last decade – including Lehman Brothers, MF Global, Madoff, Northern Rock, Formula One and the LIBOR litigation. Chambers UK Bar Guide describes South Square as having “members with unrivalled talent” and “excellent in everything they do”. South Square’s work is mainly focused on financial and banking issues. We are the market leader for restructuring and insolvency and widely recognised for our work in banking and finance litigation. Members also specialise in commercial litigation, company law and civil fraud related disputes. South Square’s work has a significant international focus and members regularly appear in the courts and tribunals of international jurisdictions, notably the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Dubai, Hong Kong and Singapore. Chambers looks to recruit up to three high-calibre pupils with a strong academic record and the potential to become an outstanding commercial barrister. The minimum academic qualification is a 2:1 degree. Pupils are selected from a broad range of backgrounds and experience, whether recent university graduates or those seeking a second career at the Bar. A number of our members have degrees in law, some have taken non-law degrees and then sat the Common Professional Examination/Graduate Diploma in Law (CPE/GDL), and others have started their career in another sector before becoming a barrister. Pupils are welcomed into all areas of Chambers’ life and are provided with a structured programme designed to train and equip them for a successful practice in a dynamic and challenging environment. Pupils sit with a number of supervisors for periods of six to eight weeks to experience a range of practices and work. Pupillage is not run as a competition between pupils and Chambers’ approach is to recruit all pupils, who meet the required standard, as tenants. The deadline for pupillages commencing in October 2019 is 20th January 2018. Applications must be on the Chambers’ application form which will be available to download from the website. We also offer five-day funded mini-pupillages carrying an award of up to £750, and two-day unfunded mini-pupillages. To find out more, visit www.southsquare.com/pupillage. Pupils receive awards of £65,000 per annum, which is reviewable annually. £20,000 of the pupillage award may be paid in advance for living expenses during the Bar Professional Training Course. As a junior tenant you would receive a number of benefits including: subsidised travel and conference fees, no rent during your first 15 months of tenancy and no receipts charge for the first six months, subsidised membership of key professional associations for the first two years, and assistance and training in financial planning and business development. Head of Pupillage Committee, South Square Tom Smith QC
We are delighted to present the Law Careers Events programme 2017/18. It has been designed to give you an insight into a range of careers options and the skills you will need to successfully apply for work experience, training schemes and graduate jobs within the legal sector. You will have numerous opportunities to hear from and network with a range of professionals, legal practitioners, employers and alumni from The City Law School. This guide contains an overview of the central law careers events at City, University of London in the autumn term and a snapshot of what is coming up in the spring term. The programme has been designed in collaboration with The City Law School for both undergraduate and postgraduate Law students as well as students from other disciplines who are interested in pursuing a career in law. To view the full event details, including locations and speaker information, and to register your attendance, please log into City CareersHub, City’s central careers portal, using your City username and password. City CareersHub can be accessed at careershub.city.ac.uk/students.
Email enquiries careersevents@city.ac.uk
Telephone enquiries +44 (0)20 7040 8093
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Find out more at www.city.ac.uk/careers
Off Campus Careers Events Each term there are open days and presentations held at law firms and barristers’ chambers. Find out more on the off campus careers event listing on City CareersHub. Please note that course-specific events and employability sessions are not included in this guide.
careershub.city.ac.uk/students 2|3
Careers Consultant Services Meet your Careers Consultant All City students and recent graduates can book an appointment with one of our career consultants. They offer three main types of appointment to suit different requirements: overview appointments, career guidance appointments and mock interview appointments.
David Gilchrist, Careers Consultant +44 (0)20 7040 8093 careers@city.ac.uk David graduated with a BA (Hons) in American Studies and later an MSc in Information Systems. He has over seven years’ experience in
careers guidance in a higher education setting, both at Brunel University and City, University of London. Prior to that he spent seven years working in the commercial world, including over three years as a Graduate Recruiter for IT solutions company Logica (now CGI). He also has freelance experience as a Careers Coach and is a Certified Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming. David works closely with the postgraduate side of The School of Law delivering bespoke workshops on subjects such as handling the mental pressures of Pupillage interviews and on most Tuesdays during term time David offers one-to-one appointments at Gray’s Inn for all Law postgraduate students These events are bookable via City CareersHub on careershub.city.ac.uk/students.
Events Programme 2017/18 The Graduate Group Various dates A group of successful graduates and young professionals who have secured training contracts at a number of top city law firms will host four practical workshops. Students will also be assigned to a Graduate Group Member for more one-to-one support in the future. So if you need advice on how to beat the odds and get ahead, these workshops are for you! Please note that students who register to attend these workshops should commit to attending all four dates:
Workshop 1 – Planning for success, researching the right firm for you, impressing at legal events, and making successful applications Saturday 14th October 2017, 10:00 – 14:00
Workshop 2 – How to write a successful application Saturday 11th November 2017, 10:00 – 14:00 Workshop 3 – Commercial awareness and interview skills Saturday 13th January 2018, 10:00 – 14:00 Workshop 4 – Assessment centre boot camp Saturday 3rd February 2018, 10:00 – 14:00 These workshops are suitable for law and non-law students who are in their penultimate or final year of study as well as GDL and LPC students. Students should also have achieved a minimum of ABB at A-Level (or equivalent).
BPTC CV drop in clinic for full-time students Tuesday 3rd October 2017, 13:00 – 16:00 Take advantage of an early opportunity to polish your CV ahead of pupillage and other legal position applications.
South Square GDL Networking Evening Thursday 5th October 2017, 18:30 – 21:00 South Square Chambers, London Following the success of last year’s networking event, South Square are offering GDL students an opportunity to meet members of the commercial/ commercial chancery Bar at a relatively early stage on the GDL course. This event will be attended by South Square’s Head of Chambers, a number of silks and senior juniors, and all junior members under ten years’ call. Their Head of Pupillage will give a short presentation about pupillage at South Square, followed by an informal drinks reception which will provide you with an opportunity to socialise and ask any further questions you may have about Chambers, pupillage and life at the commercial chancery Bar.
Preparation sessions – Making the most of the Law Fair Monday 9th October 2017, 13:00 – 14:00, Northampton Square Monday 9th October 2017, 16:30 – 18:00, Gray’s Inn These sessions will cover: • Researching exhibiting organisation prior to the Fair • Successful networking and how to make a good impression on the day • The Fair from an employer perspective • How attending the Fair can help you make your application stand out if you apply to one of the exhibiting organisations • W hat you can expect from the Fair depending on your year and level of study. Students who register and attend one of these sessions will be given a fast-track pass which will allow priority entry to the Law Fair during the first hour (13:00 to 14:00). Register your attendance on careershub.city.ac.uk/students.
The City Law Fair Wednesday 11th October 2017, 13:00 – 16:30 (13:00 – 14:00: priority entry with a fast-track pass) Sponsored by Erskine Chambers, this Fair is a great opportunity for you to network with numerous representatives from law firms, barristers’ chambers and other organisations. Find out more about their employment opportunities, what they expect from you and how you can make the most of your application to them. This is a rare chance to meet with a large number of organisations within just a couple of hours and may well be your chance to make an impression on who could be your future employer. Attendees: Accutrainee, Army Legal Services, Aspiring Solicitors, BARBRI International, The Bar Council, Blackstone Chambers, Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP, Blake Morgan LLP, Chambers Student Guide, Charles Russell Speechlys, DWF LLP, Erskine Chambers, EY, Francis Taylor Building, Free Representation Unit, Government Legal Service (GLS), Herbert Smith Freehills, ICSA, LawCareers.Net, Law Mind Maps, Osborne Clarke, PwC, The City Law School, The Graduate Group, The Lex100 (Legalease Ltd), Winckworth Sherwood with more to be confirmed. Register your attendance on careershub.city.ac.uk/students.
Fair break-out sessions The following break-out sessions will be delivered in conjunction with the Law Fair. These sessions are run by some of our exhibitors at the Fair and will provide you with an opportunity to improve your employability skills.
Demystifying commercial awareness with the Legal Team at PwC 14:00 – 15:00 Mindmapping Law School with Law Mind Maps 14:00 – 15:00 What makes a winning application form with Accutrainee 15:00 – 16:00 Qualifying as a US attorney with BARBRI 15:00 – 16:00 Kick start your job search: How to get ahead of the game with Charles Russell Speechlys 15:00 – 16:00 4|5
How to make a good impression with your application with Trowers & Hamlins LLP
BPTC CV drop in clinic for part-time students
Thursday 12th October 2017, 18:00 – 19:30
Take advantage of an early opportunity to polish your CV ahead of pupillage and other legal position applications.
Anup Vithlani, Head of Graduate Recruitment & Development at Trowers & Hamlins LLP, will be calling upon his years of experience to deliver an interactive presentation about what he thinks is required to make a good application to a law firm. Although the focus will specifically be in the context of his firm, the generic principles you will learn and note will be adaptable to any submission that you may decide to make in your quest to secure a training contract. By the end of the workshop, it is hoped that you will realise that a high level of commercial and lateral thinking is involved in answering the questions posed on an application form, and that you have to approach them with a combination of a personal and professional mind-set. There will be a chance to quiz Anup at the end of the presentation and you will also get to hear from one of his trainees about their own personal and professional experiences with Trowers & Hamlins. It promises to be an insightful event! The session is mainly geared towards GDL and LPC students, however LLB students are welcome to attend as well.
Monday 16th October 2017, 17:00 – 19:00
Careers with a Law degree panel event Thursday 19th October 2017, 18:00 – 20:00 Studying law, you develop a range of transferable skills highly valued by employers. It is an excellent degree to give you a choice of career options. This event aims to help you explore your career options inside and outside the legal sector and make informed career choices. You will have the opportunity to listen to high-profile speakers, who studied law but have pursued very different careers, and find out how transferable skills, developed throughout a Law degree or law conversion course, can be utilised in various jobs. The speakers will cover the following: • How they got to where they are today • A typical day in their role • Entry routes and requirements • Soft skills, academic qualifications and work experience that students need in order to secure a placement or graduate position • Top tips for applications, interviews and assessment centres.
Do’s and don’ts when applying to law firms – application hints and tips with Aspiring Solicitors Thursday 9th November 2017, 12:00 – 14:00
Things to look out for Each term there are open days and presentations held at law firms and barristers’ chambers. Find out more on the off-campus careers event listing on City CareersHub at
careershub.city.ac.uk/students
Alison Peyton from Aspiring Solicitors will be discussing the do’s and don’ts of completing law firm application forms and offering hints and tips on submitting successful applications.
Societies
Representation
Advocacy
If you want to develop, we’re the right people to help. Join over 70 societies at City, we’ll even support you set up your own. With workshops, training and funding, we’ll make your CV and skills top-notch.
We’ve got over a dozen elected students, and they represent any issues that you may have. We hold elections every year, and you’ll get the chance to represent your school, groups, or causes that you care about.
Your course is represented by Programme Reps! You could become a representative and help your fellow students enhance their course whilst you learn new skills.
RAG
Media
Want to have fun whilst learning skills and raising money for charity? Organise a fundraising project or get involved with our events during Raising And Giving Week.
Contribute to our media outlets to help inform and educate your fellow students, whilst boosting your skills! If you do any of the above you’ll be eligible for our Leadership Award. It’s a great way to get accreditation and recognise your achievements.
Find out more and get in touch:
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CV and interview skills workshop by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
Legal case study interview skills session by Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF)
Thursday 16th November 2017, 15:00 – 17:00
Thursday 23nd November 2017, 18:00 – 20:00
This workshop will help students develop their CV and interview skills. It is aimed at law students and those applying for vacation scheme placements.
The session will focus on a commercial case study which closely resembles one of the key exercises interview candidates for Herbert Smith Freehills vacation schemes and training contracts are required to undertake on our assessment days. This will be an opportunity for you to meet the HSF team and get some helpful guidance on the most effective way to approach this type of assessment.
Industry Insights
More events will be confirmed throughout the year. For more information and updates, check City CareersHub regularly on:
careershub.city.ac.uk/students
The Industry Insight Programme, sponsored by FDM Group, allows you to explore a range of industries and sectors, either related to your degree or in another area of interest to you. A series of full-day or half-day events will take place on company premises, giving you a deep insight into a specific company and an understanding of your chosen sector. For more information, visit City CareersHub at
careershub.city.ac.uk/students
Upcoming events during the spring term The following events are planned for the spring term 2018. For some however, the date and time has not yet been confirmed. To find out more, visit City CareersHub on careershub.city.ac.uk/students. Pupillage applications 1:1 review clinics
• The importance of adaptability and team skills • Practical takeaways.
Tuesday 30th January and Wednesday 31st January 2018, 18:00 – 20:00
Commercial Awareness Law Panel
This event is focused on pupillage applications and gives you the opportunity to have your pupillage application form reviewed by a barrister in a one-to-one appointment, providing you with individual feedback and advice.
Darlingtons – 30 years working in law firms: My most valuable insights for law students in one hour Tuesday 6th February 2018, 18:00 – 20:00 This session is aimed at law students at all stages and aims to offer experience, insights and hopefully a little humour from a varied career in law spanning almost 30 years. The session will be delivered by Craig Sharpe who now works with law firms including Darlingtons Solicitors as Specialist in Legal Marketing. Prior to this, he spent over 20 years as a lawyer working in various types and sizes of law firms. This session will better prepare you for a legal career, and may help you decide whether you want to become a lawyer and what type of firm or area of law you may want to work in. The main points of this session will include: • W hat’s changed in law? Almost everything • Profession or service? Both but where is the balance? • Clients have changed – a lot • Technology and law • Seventy per cent of you won’t end up working at magic circle law firms • Marketing is now essential for all lawyers and law firms • The funnel • Egos, actors and legal personas
Wednesday 7th February 2018, 18:00 – 20:00 The aim of this panel is to support LLM, GELLB and GDL students to develop their understanding of and ability to articulate key aspects of commercial awareness relevant to a range of sectors, both to support applications as well as future practice.
Performing confidently in pupillage interviews Friday 16th February 2018, 13:00 – 14:00 Learn how to impress in pupillage interviews, maximising your impact and minimising your nerves.
International Week: Worldwide Career Opportunities panel Thursday 22nd February 2018, 13:00 – 15:00 The aim of this panel is to highlight the importance of gaining international experience and also highlight the number of opportunities internationally. It will also give international students a chance to meet employers and ask questions about staying in the UK and working back in home countries but also allow home students to become more globally-savvy.
LGBT workplace equality: increasing inclusion Monday 26th February 2018, 18:00 – 20:00 Discover different models of LGBT inclusion in diverse sectors with this event hosted by City’s Careers Service in collaboration with the Students’ Union. There is an opportunity for you to participate in a Q&A forum and listen to a range of professionals, followed by a networking reception. 8|9
LLB Advisory clinics Tuesday 27 February 2018, Wednesday 28th February 2018, Thursday 1st March 2018, 10:00 – 12:00 th
The LLB advisory clinics are an opportunity for you to get advice from an LLB alumni on improving your understanding of your career options, how to progress after your studies and build your network with inspirational people who were once in your position.
Eversheds Sutherland: learn to successfully negotiate with international law firm Wednesday 7th March 2018, 18:00 – 20:30 Negotiating the resolution of a dispute or documentation relating to the sale or purchase of a business asset for clients is a daily activity for commercial lawyers. It used to be thought that negotiation was just an innate skill which some lawyers instinctively possessed which others struggled with. A more modern view is that the ability to negotiate effectively can be developed through careful planning, using a structured approach and by learning from experience. As part of a popular workshop, international law firm Eversheds Sutherland will be running a negotiating competition in which City students will practise by negotiating against each other. Numbers are restricted in this session, so please register early to learn about, and to begin to acquire, a skill which will be invaluable to you in your legal career.
International Women’s Day: Successful women in the workplace Thursday 8th March 2018, 13:00 – 15:00 To mark International Women’s Day, the Careers Service are hosting a panel event which has an exciting line up of highly successful women in a variety of sectors. There is an opportunity for you to participate in a Q&A forum and listen to a range of professionals, followed by networking.
Career alternatives to becoming a barrister Thursday 10th May 2018, 10:30 – 12:00 Securing pupillage and becoming a fully qualified barrister is probably your number one objective. But what would a back-up career plan look like and what could career activities could you do to strengthen your profile for pupillage?
Law alumni networking event Tuesday 13th March 2018, 18:00 – 20:00 Don’t miss this unique opportunity to network with The City Law School alumni who have embarked on successful careers in law or outside the legal sector. This event includes industry insights and an excellent opportunity to develop your networking skills. This event aims to help you: • Make more informed career choices • Get top tips from your predecessors • Build career and skills development plans • Develop your networking skills.
Other upcoming events include: Career alternatives to becoming solicitor, Spring 2018 Securing a training contract and becoming a fully-qualified solicitor is probably your number one objective. But what would a backup career plan look like and what could career activities could you do to strengthen your profile for training contracts?
Performing confidently in training contract interviews, Spring 2018 Learn how to impress in training contract job interviews, maximising your impact and minimising your nerves.
Employability Skills Programme These sessions aim to prepare students on how to make the transition from education to work, covering all aspects of the selection and recruitment process. The workshops will cover the skills that are most valued by employers, how students can reflect on those and how to articulate their experiences clearly when talking to employers. The following sessions will be taking place throughout the year.
Preparation Session by The Institute of Student Employers (formally AGR) Tuesday 3rd October, 13:00 – 14:00
Networking techniques to last a lifetime by Unite the Union Wednesday 8th November, 13:00 – 14:00
Succeeding in your online application by KPMG Tuesday 10th October, 13:00 – 14:00
Impressive group work behaviours in assessment centres Part A by IBM Tuesday 6th February, 13:00 – 14:00
Personal career branding - what makes you unique by BESTSELLER Tuesday 10th October, 18:00 – 19:00 Knowing how your skills are applicable to the working world by FDM Tuesday 17th October, 13:00 – 14:00 What makes a successful telephone interview by Santander Tuesday 17th October, 18:00 – 19:00 What makes a great video interview by Grant Thornton Tuesday 24th October, 13:00 – 14:00 Demonstrating your competency in interviews by Capco Tuesday 24th October, 18:00 – 19:00 Knowing where your strengths lie by EY Tuesday 31st October, 13:00 – 14:00 Improving your psychometric test scores by BDO Tuesday 31st October, 18:00 – 19:00 Developing your commercial awareness by PwC Tuesday 7th November, 18:00 – 19:00
Impressive group work behaviours in assessment centres Part B by Bond Dickinson Tuesday 6th February, 18:00 – 19:00 Presenting to impress in group assessment centres Part A by CIMA Tuesday 13th February, 13:00 – 14:00 Presenting to impress in group assessment centres Part B by Heathrow Airport Tuesday 13th February, 18:00 – 19:00 How to develop and demonstrate leadership skills Part A by Amazon Tuesday 20th February, 13:00 – 14:00 How to develop and demonstrate leadership skills Part B by Teach First Tuesday 20th February, 18:00 – 19:00 How to succeed in the job market Part A by Bloomberg Tuesday 27th February, 13:00 – 14:00 How to succeed in the job market by Blackwell Global Investments Tuesday 27th February, 18:00 – 19:00 10|11
“An unrivalled collection of the best talents currently at the Bar� Legal 500
Pupils are drawn to South Square for our reputation as a top commercial set and the opportunity to learn from leading lights at the Bar. Our barristers advise on a wide range of commercial disputes and have acted in many of the most high-profile insolvency, restructuring, banking, company and fraud-related cases of recent times. We are looking to meet exceptionally talented and ambitious candidates for our various pupillage programmes. Visit us at the City Law Fair to find out more.
pupillage@southsquare.com
www.southsquare.com