Into The Law Magazine Issue 3 by Into The Law Magazine

NOVEMBER 2013

Are You REALLY Being Pro-Active? Grad Recruiter Tips For Success

Developing Young Legal Minds

Exploring The Paralegal Route

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Editor’s Welcome W

elcome to the latest issue of Into The Law, a digital magazine for those interested in pursuing a career in law.

Into the Law Magazine Editor - Matt Oliver This Issue’s Contributors

This issue comes at a time when law firms and students are meeting each other at a variety of events up and down the country. So what better thing to focus on with this issue than the different events on offer and what you will get out of them if you attend. I am also thrilled that this issue brings you more golden nuggets of advice from grad recuiters at leading firms around the country. And for those of you taking the paralegal route into the profession, we have sourced some priceless advice for you guys too. And of course, there’s the usual sprinkling of fun and light relief included too. We are already working on the next issue but would love to know what you want us to cover. Please send your suggestions to: info@legalcareersgroup.co.uk And if you want to write for the magazine and bolster your CV just email in your ideas. As always, we're here to support you on your journey Into The Law!

Samantha Hope Samuel Clague Simon Price Roshana Gammampila Jacqueline Panter @LawVicissitudes Matt Oliver Paula McMullan Ben Morris Sam Lee Get in touch: info@legalcareersgroup.co.uk Cover image: dierk schaefer

Matt Oliver

NOVEMBER 2013

Contents 5

How Pro-active Are You REALLY Being? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are You A Modern Lawyer? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interview: Getting Ahead Of The Game: An Interview with Samantha Hope -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Art Of Negotiation For The Young Legal Mind -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Career Help For The Aspiring Junior Lawyer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interview: The Paralegal Route: An Interview With Samuel Clague -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q&A: The Graduate Recruiter’s Perspective -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More Law Student Problems from @LawVicissitudes ------------------------------------------------------------------------------Book: From Student to Solicitor – The Complete Guide to Securing a Training Contract -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Into The Law Magazine

NOVEMBER 2013

Career Career

How Pro-Active Are You REALLY Being? by Matt Oliver

Into The Law Magazine

NOVEMBER 2013

How Pro-active Are You REALLY Being?

Since the last issue of Into The Law was published I have been invited to attend some incredibly inspiring and informative events for students and graduates pursuing a career in law. This got me thinking about the different law career related events on offer and how well they are utilised by aspiring lawyers.

A Lack of Pro-activity There are some incredibly useful career and networking events put on by universities, law schools, junior lawyer divisions and law firms. One of the things that never ceases to amaze, however, is how often the attendance at these events is very low. We so often hear about the difficulties faced by students in getting a training contract or paralegal position, so why are many not seizing these opportunities to get some help. I fully acknowledge the challenge involved in getting a training contract. However, what I find when I scratch beneath the surface is often a lack of pro-proactivity and motivation in many candidates.

A Hunger To Learn It is those that seek to learn more about how to make progress in a very competitive market place that usually fare the best. Attending careers events is one of the best ways to do this. Whether you are attending a law fair, a law firm open day, a junior lawyers event or any other type of educational or networking event there is always the opportunity to get plenty out of them. The majority of these events are free and their importance should not be underestimated.

Into The Law Magazine

NOVEMBER 2013

How Pro-active Are You REALLY Being?

The Benefits Of Attending Events Time and time again I have seen law hopefuls who have attended events give themselves an advantage over other candidates due to one or more of the following benefits:

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

✓ ✓

Invaluable and honest advice is imparted by career experts, lawyers, trainees, etc They are a great way to conduct live research and to find out more about the profession and/or firms A great opportunity to develop necessary skills in networking and communication You may get to talk to firms’ representatives in the flesh, whether trainees, associates, partners or recruitment personnel. These are the people who have already been successful in getting the training contract you want or the people who stand in your way of getting that training contract. You will be able to ask them questions that can help you when you put together your applications. You can find out information that is not otherwise available about the firm and their recruitment processes which candidates who do not attend these events will not have access to. You can find out what firms REALLY want from their applicants, giving you a blueprint to work towards that most others won’t have. You can get a better sense as to what the firm is like in reality. This will not only mean you have a better chance of making the right career choices but it will also mean you will find it easier to convince the firms you do apply to why you are applying to them. Do not underestimate the importance of this! When the application and interview stages come around you will be surprised how many of the recruiters will remember a name or a face so its not going to harm your chances to have already put in this groundwork.

Into The Law Magazine

NOVEMBER 2013

How Pro-active Are You REALLY Being?

Knowledge of the profession is often a stumbling block for many

Knowledge is Power Knowledge of the profession is often a stumbling block for many as its hard to get much of a picture of it from a just few bits of work experience and some online research. Having a discussion with someone already within the profession, and being able to ask questions, is much more valuable than browsing another website. Getting face to face time with those who could help you gain this knowledge can be hard if you are going out cold into the world. However, the people who put on or attend law careers events are there because they want to help you. Therefore they are already warm to you asking them questions and to giving you knowledge and advice.

Finding Events There are lots of events hosted all around the country. Ask your university and law school how you can find out about the ones they organise. Contact your local Junior Lawyers Division. Keep checking the main law careers websites, sign up to their email newsletters and follow them on Twitter and Facebook. There is lots going on but you need to be pro-active to find out about it. You then need to motivate yourself and prioritise your time to ensure you attend and make the most out of them when you are there.

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How Pro-active Are You REALLY Being?

So the question should never be “why should I attend that law careers event?” it should be “why on earth wouldnt I attend it?” So, What Will You Choose? Being pro-active requires you to be organised and to choose to allocate some time to the important activities. Your time is an investable commodity. You can either invest some of it wisely in learning how to shape your future and succeed in the application process, or you can squander it on less meaningful (but perhaps more enjoyable) activities. Every now and then, of course its still fine to choose the union bar over another night of research or applications. However, sometimes you will reap much more by choosing to invest your time in an event that will help you learn, connect and make progress instead. The choice is therefore yours… You can choose to sit and be reactive to things and rue the tough job market and the plight of law hopefuls today. Or you can join the much smaller group of people who are being pro-active with their careers by attending events, learning to network, developing core skills, working on their mindset and learning how to succeed in the recruitment process.

About Matt Oliver Matt is a former FTSE 100 in-house lawyer, editor of Into The Law magazine and MD of the law careers website, Trainee Solicitor Surgery. He provides entry level law careers advice to students and graduates through his writing and mentoring. Get your FREE copies of Matt’s essential guides to succeeding with applications, interviews and assessment centres >>> Into The Law Magazine

NOVEMBER 2013

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Your essential guide to securing a training contract, vacation scheme or paralegal role

trainee solicitor surgery www.traineesolicitorsurgery.co.uk

Career

Are You A Modern Lawyer? by Matt Oliver

I have always been a big advocate of helping students with their personal development and motivation. I see it as an often overlooked part of the careers advice mix. I was therefore extremely pleased to be invited to attend the motivational Modern Lawyer Workshop at Manchester Metropolitan University last month.

Into The Law Magazine

NOVEMBER 2013

Are You A Modern Lawyer?

What is The Modern Lawyer Workshop? This employability workshop is devised and delivered by Simon Price, a solicitor at DWF. It is designed to be motivational, yet practical, and to challenge aspiring lawyers to think a bit differently about themselves and their careers. The Modern Lawyer website describes the workshop as: “Action orientated advice and inspiration to help aspiring lawyers reach their potential.” A lofty ambition, and one most students would welcome I’m sure.

The academic qualification is only part of an overall package to enable a student to move onto a successful career. I spoke to Jacqueline Panter, LPC Director at MMU, about why the law school had decided to get Simon in to give his workshop and what she felt the students got out of it: ”The academic qualification is only part of an overall package to enable a student to move onto a successful career. Students need to understand the job application process; what skills and characteristics employers are seeking; the strengths and weaknesses in their own profile; what they can do to turnaround those weaknesses; and their own personality is an essential element in that overall package. Simon is a fantastic advocate to help students identify the potential in their nonacademic profile, to understand what they can offer employers & what they should be seeking in their future employers.” Become A Modern Lawyer Simon proved to be a fun and energetic speaker with some extremely valuable advice that isn’t widely focused on at present.

Into The Law Magazine

NOVEMBER 2013

Are You A Modern Lawyer?

My personal favourites were: 1. Maximise Your Potential A core message of the workshop is about maximising your potential and standing out. As Simon said, it’s not about bragging, it’s about understanding what makes you stand out and distinguishes you from others. He asks students to consider what their passions are and, more broadly, what their personal narrative is. He encourages students to take a risk and be themselves. He acknowledges the risk is then that firms might not want you but advises that being authentically yourself will give you the best chance of success in today’s job market. 2. Develop A Strong & Resilient Mindset Simon stresses the need to be strong and resilient and to learn to live with the challenges of trying to get a training contract. After all, the need to be able to deal with adversity and to keep getting back up when knocked down are valuable skills for a lawyer. Simon urges students to reframe the difficulties of securing a training contract - it’s what you do with this information that will determine your future outcomes. He referred to a quote from Maya Angelou: “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” In other words, the only person who can hold you back is you. 3. Create A Roadmap Simon recommends that, as a student, you should spend time considering and creating your own roadmap of where you want to go with your career and your life. Once you have that in place this will then determine the skills you are going to need. Once you identify these you can then set about seeking to acquire or develop them further and take confidence from the fact that you are being pro-active and have an element of control.

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Are You A Modern Lawyer?

...a community of aspiring lawyers who share ideas and experiences with other people in a similar position. The Modern Lawyer Network The Modern Lawyer Network is more than just the workshops. There is also a website and social media accounts where students can blog and interact with each other as part of the same community. I caught up with Simon to find out what he had to say about the Modern Lawyer Network:

About Matt Oliver

“The idea behind developing a website and social media feeds was to create a community of aspiring lawyers who share ideas and experiences with other people in a similar position. The website is in its early stages and over the next few months will be developed to act like a hub where people can get tips, advice and knowledge from experienced lawyers, guest contributors and of course student authors with the express intention of helping people reach their potential. If people want to contribute their experiences to the site then they should get in touch with me at modernlawyer@dwf.co.uk.” I’m a big fan of this type of professional social network as I think aspiring lawyers can learn as much from each other as they can from law career experts and practising lawyers. They are also perfectly placed to inspire and motivate each other. If you are pursuing a career in law, I would therefore thoroughly recommend you attend the Modern Lawyer workshop and get involved in the Modern Lawyer Network. To find out more visit the Modern Lawyer website at www.themodernlawyer.co.uk or follow on Twitter and Facebook

Into The Law Magazine

NOVEMBER 2013

Matt is a former FTSE 100 in-house lawyer, editor of Into The Law magazine and MD of the law careers website, Trainee Solicitor Surgery. He provides entry level law careers advice to students and graduates through his writing and mentoring. Get your FREE copies of Matt’s essential guides to succeeding with applications, interviews and assessment centres >>>

Spotlight

Getting Ahead Of The Game: An Interview with Samantha Hope Samantha Hope is the Graduate Recruitment Manager at leading national law firm, Shoosmiths.

Into The Law editor Matt Oliver caught up with Samantha recently and asked her some of the questions sent in by you, the readers

Matt: What would you recommend candidates do over the coming months to ensure their vacation scheme applications are as strong as they can be? Samantha: The first step to being successful in your application is always research. The autumn and winter months are crammed full with careers fairs, presentations and other events, which you can attend to research a firm, get to know the people, culture and values, and find out if that is the type of firm you could actually work in. If you can, have a look at the application questions before you attend the event. If a firm is ticking all of your boxes after the first and subsequent meetings, then filling in the application should come naturally to you, as your genuine enthusiasm and knowledge will shine through.

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Getting Ahead Of The Game: An Interview with Samantha Hope

Extra-curricular activities are often looked at in terms of ticking a box, but it is more about the skills you gain whilst you are taking part in that activity. Matt: What sort of extra-curricular activities really stand out on an application? Samantha: Extra-curricular activities are often looked at in terms of ticking a box, but it is more about the skills you gain whilst you are taking part in that activity. Whatever the activity; being part of the cheerleading squad, running the law society, or fundraising for a charity, you will gain essential transferable skills in communication, team work, positivity, motivation, the list goes onâ&#x20AC;Ś. Demonstrate all of these skills on your application form whilst discussing the activities you are involved in to show off your personality and skills together. Matt: Would you be able to have a go at defining what "commercial awareness" means to Shoosmiths? Samantha: To Shoosmiths, commercial awareness means being alive to opportunities for us and our clients to develop in business. You should be aware of the competitive context in which Shoosmiths operates and the importance we place on ensuring our actions allow us to provide the best for our clients. Recognise the potential of expanding your own relationships with existing contacts, and identifying more opportunities to network. Matt: Many people struggle with the "why law" type of question. What tips could you give them on what to focus on in order to convince you with their answer? Samantha: I am looking for you to talk knowledgeably about the role of a solicitor within a national law firm and evidence relevant skills that show how you will contribute to Shoosmiths development. Your answer should demonstrate that you understand the commercial aspects of the role of a trainee solicitor and beyond, and draw upon your recent work experience.

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Getting Ahead Of The Game: An Interview with Samantha Hope

Matt: What sort of paralegal work would you recommend candidates get if they are unsuccessful in getting a training contract before they complete the LPC? Samantha: Paralegal work or legal work experience is not essential for your application for a training contract or summer vacation placement. But it can help in providing you with skills in a professional environment, which will assist you to answer the competency based questions on the application form. Legal work experience will also increase your understanding of how a law firm operates as a business. If you are looking for legal work, try to secure it in an area which currently interests you, but that you can see yourself working in long-term. Matt: What would you say the most important competencies are for a potential future trainee? Samantha: All of our recruitment and development processes are based around the firm’s 4 core values. The competencies we look for throughout your application and on assessment day fall within these key areas; 1. Talking Business Sense - Knowing your own business and that of the client. 2. Taking Initiative - Having the confidence to challenge conventional ways of thinking, proactively seeking to improve and grow the business. 3. Being within Reach & Responsive - Coping with change, responding effectively to clients and to colleagues and to challenges raised by them. 4. Pulling Together - Working together as a team, being aware of each others’ circumstances and promoting an open and honest working environment. Matt: What do you most like to see included in a good answer to a competency question? Samantha: Answer these key points in your competency based question and you’ll be scoring high: • • • •

Provide good knowledge of the area Provide evidence of your involvement Demonstrate a link to your personal experience Discuss the benefits to the future of the firm

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Getting Ahead Of The Game: An Interview with Samantha Hope

Matt: After spelling and grammar mistakes, what are the 3 most common application mistakes you see that lead to candidates not being invited for interview? Samantha: 1. Not paragraphing the text. In the same way that a solicitor tailors his communication for the audience and ensures that the client can understand the advice at a glance, candidates should be sure to make their applications easy to read for the recruiter. 2. Describing a skill you have, but not evidencing it with an example, or explanation of how it will make you into a successful solicitor in the future. Back up all of your answers with evidence, justification and reasons why. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leave the recruiter guessing. 3. Not tailoring the application for the firm. You need to tailor every application to the firm that you are applying to. Every firm is different and unique in some way, find that and use it to your advantage.

About Shoosmiths Shoosmiths is a full service national Law firm with 10 offices across the UK offering you experience in a variety of areas, including commercial, corporate, employment, real estate, intellectual property, banking, planning, and dispute resolution. Through our Access Legal consumer brand, we also offer private client, personal injury, medical negligence, and conveyancing. To apply for a summer vacation placement or training contract at Shoosmiths, go to www.shoosmiths.co.uk/graduates. The application opens on 6th December 2013. Find out more at Shoosmiths Website >>>

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Employability

The Art Of Negotiation For The Young Legal Mind by Matt Oliver

by Matt Oliver

Into The Law Magazine

NOVEMBER 2013

The Art Of Negotiation For The Young Legal Mind

Lawyers, more than ever before, now need to be business people too To be a successful modern lawyer you will be expected to develop more than just your technical legal skills. Recent research conducted by Freshminds Legal found that over 80% of inhouse General Counsels deem the “soft skills” of communication and commercial acumen to be a crucial part of a lawyer’s skill set too. Lawyers As Business People The need for such skills isn’t just for lawyers seeking to follow a commercial law path either. They are equally important for lawyers seeking to pursue other routes into the profession, whether it’s working on the high street, for a new ABS or elsewhere. The economic downturn and recent changes to the profession have changed the traditional role of a lawyer as legal practitioner forever. Lawyers, more than ever before, now need to be business people too. Competition Time The Freshminds research was the catalyst for the creation of Young Legal Minds, a commercial negotiation competition designed to give LPC students an opportunity to test their business skills. I was invited to the inaugural event last month and caught up with Head of FreshMinds Legal, Roshana Gammampila, to ask why they had created the competition: “As more General Counsel take on executive board positions, the role of the in-house lawyer has moved from being that of legal advisor to business advisor. The impact for firms is that their lawyers are being challenged to provide advice that takes into account their clients’ strategic imperatives, and that is ultimately “business savvy”. As a result, commercial acumen and excellent communication have become integral, both in-house and in private practice. Our Young Legal Minds initiative is about engaging with LPC students to support them in developing these skills at the start of their career as lawyers.”

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The Art Of Negotiation For The Young Legal Mind

The Competition Structure The competition took place between 3 teams from BPP Law School, the University of Law and City Law School. Each team was given the role of one of 3 parties in a business scenario and had to establish their negotiation position. The aim was then to try to negotiate a win-win agreement with one or both of the other parties whilst looking after their own party’s interests as best they could. The teams were trained, mentored and judged during the day by some heavy hitters in the world of law and business - Huma Blunt (Legal Director at Reckitt Benckiser), Paul Van Reesch (Vice President of Legal for Coca Cola), Jeremy Henderson-Ross (Legal Director at Aimia), Jo Rogers (founder of NaviStar Legal), Toby Hornett (Legal Director at Canon Europe), Phil Walker (founder of Summerswood and former COO of Capgemini) and Mark Keenan (Partner at Mishcon de Reya). After a day of training and preparation, the face to face negotiation was conducted in the boardroom at Mishcon de Reya so as to recreate the setting of a high level commercial negotiation. A Crash Course in Commercial Negotiation The day served as a great opportunity for the students to learn from some highly experienced lawyers and commercial negotiators. Training contract applicants will do well to take note of the assessment centre criteria the teams were given as they serve as a powerful checklist of what is important for a young lawyer today. The teams were told that the judges would assess how well they:

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Grasped the key business issues Identified the synergies between the parties Articulated their argument Engaged others and built rapport Responded to “curve balls” and changes in the direction of the negotiation Worked in a team

Whilst the commercial negotiation tested the two key competences of commercial acumen and communication, the mentors were also keen to stress the need to utilise other important employability skills. For example, skills such as listening skills, tact and empathy, and persuasion were continually highlighted.

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The Art Of Negotiation For The Young Legal Mind

Golden Nuggets Throughout the day, the students were also given lots of other golden nuggets about the art of negotiation. Some of the big takeaways were:

๏ ๏ ๏ ๏ ๏

Listening is key - remember you have one mouth and two ears and use them in that proportion Know who you are dealing with Asking questions gives you power in a negotiation Always be looking for a ‘win-win’ Talking more and trying to convince the other party to agree to your position doesn’t necessarily give you power

The Result After an impressive negotiation, the three teams decided not to go ahead with the proposed deal. This was understandable, however, as negotiations such as these could easily have continued over several weeks whilst each party sought to come up with creative win-win solutions. Whilst the judges were divided on who the best negotiators were, there could only be one winner and that accolade was awarded to City Law School. After a long and gruelling day, the winning team had this to say: “Being taught the art of negotiation by the experienced mentors we were assigned - Jo Rogers and Huma Blunt - was a great opportunity for us to gain invaluable insight into how such high stakes commercial negotiations should be conducted by lawyers. This mentoring played an important part in our performance later that night. But perhaps just as importantly, no amount of negotiating skill would have led us to victory if we hadn’t functioned as a well-coordinated team. In setting egos aside and working towards the same goal, we knew when we walked into the boardroom at Mishcon de Reya to negotiate before the judges that, as long as we stuck to our plan and communicated well with one another, we would put up a solid performance. To win the competition was a wonderful reward, after what had already been a great day and a tremendous opportunity to meet both inspiring professionals from the legal industry and also aspiring lawyers from other law schools.”

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The Art Of Negotiation For The Young Legal Mind

The Importance Of Negotiation The inaugral trophy was presented by Mishcon de Reya partner Mark Keenan. In his closing comments he noted that, as lawyers, negotiation forms part of most working days and is a trade that has to be hard learnt and not inherited. Any aspiring lawyers out there would do well to take heed of these words and endeavour to seek out their own opportunities for developing these key â&#x20AC;&#x153;soft skillsâ&#x20AC;? of the modern lawyer. Young Legal Minds - The Movie Grab yourself a coffee and watch this 5 minute round up video of the day: Young Legal Minds 2013 >>> Freshminds Legal Find out more about Freshminds Legal here >>>

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Career

Career Help For The Aspiring Junior Lawyer by Matt Oliver

ctober seemed to be turning into a back to back career event as I received an invite to the Junior Lawyers Division LPC Student Forum at the Law Society in London.

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Career Help For The Aspiring Junior Lawyer

Help With The Training Contract Hunt The forum is a free event put on by the JLD for LPC students and paralegals, with the aim of boosting their chances of securing a training contract. Those who gave up their Saturday to attend the forum were rewarded with lots of invaluable advice and knowledge about working as a lawyer and how to succeed in the application process. The Success Stories The day started with some inspiring stories from three trainee/recently newly qualified solicitors - Catherine Melis (Morgan Cole), Martin Boyle (Eversheds) and Mark Pentecost (Sanderson McCreath & Edney). They told how they had sat in the audience at the equivalent event in a previous year and then went on to secure a training contract. Their stories were refreshing as they were different to many of the published trainee profiles I read. These usually feature perennial high achievers who glide effortlessly through their academics into a training contract at the first time of asking. However, for many this is not representative so it was good to hear the speakers set out exactly what they did and how they turned the tide of rejections. They were candid and honest with their advice, noting that you need to be mentally tough to be a solicitor, therefore having to be strong throughout the training contract recruitment process was good preparation for this. Keynote Speakers There then followed an impressive roster of speakers providing fantastic advice on a diverse range of topics:

• Effective use of social media to advance your legal career - Peter Wright, • • • • •

DigitalLawUK LLP An introduction to networking and making it work for you - Luke Murphy, a newly qualified solicitor at a national firm Commercial awareness success - Craig Robinson, the Ultimate Law Guide Surviving the recruitment process - Ben Morris, Morgan Cole What firms are looking for in a paralegal/trainee - Francesca Clixby, Lawcareers.net & Adam Johnson, Kaplan Altior Working in-house - Catherine Lamb, Novartis Pharmaceuticals

Into The Law Magazine

JULY 2013 2013 NOVEMBER

Career For The Aspiring Junior Lawyer The FutilityHelp of Comparing Yourself To Others

CV Surgeries Throughout the day, there were also CV surgeries being held where some of the speakers and other legal professionals were on hand to do a one to one CV review with attendees. Networking & Motivation The whole day was a great opportunity to network with legal professionals from different walks of the profession. It was also a great place to swap stories with, and seek support and motivation, from fellow training contract hopefuls. The attendees I spoke to at the drinks reception afterwards all seemed pleased to have attended. They said they would be leaving with a more positive mindset and renewed motivation to keep striving for that training contract. In my opinion, that alone is well worth giving up a Saturday for.

....you need to be mentally tough to be a solicitor therefore having to be strong throughout the training contract recruitment process was good preparation for this. What If You Missed It? If you missed it there are a few things you could do. Firstly, keep your eyes peeled for the next national JLD Student Forum which is usually held around March each year. Hopefully you can see the benefit of attending! Secondly, look up your local JLD to find out about events that might be happening locally where you can network and find motivation and advice. The more you can get involved in the JLD the better it seems. The success story speakers had all been involved with the JLD in some capacity at a national or local level and they recommended it highly. It gave them the opportunity to network with other students, trainees and lawyers as well as getting involved in valuable extracurricular activities to add to their applications. Find out more about the Junior Lawyers Division and its upcoming events via its website at www.juniorlawyersdivision.co.uk

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International law firm, aspiring lawyers, rewarding career Apply now for training contracts starting in 2014 & 2015 For more information, email us at tcapplications@gide.com

Gide London Trainee Recruitment @Gidetrainees

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The Paralegal Route: An Interview With Samuel Clague

Samuel is the founder of paralegal recruitment company, the Stephen James Partnership. Into The Law editor Matt Oliver caught up with him recently and asked him some of your pressing questions about this increasingly common route into the profession

Matt: Which practice areas generally have the most paralegal roles coming up? Samuel: Litigation/Dispute Resolution generally has the most Paralegal roles, as with particularly large cases additional Paralegal resources are often utilised. Some of the largest law firms can have hundreds of Paralegals a year working on such cases. EU and Competition teams can also require large numbers of Paralegals to assist, with the work often being document review based [i.e. reviewing different documents for relevance]. Where the work involved is multi-jurisdictional, Paralegals with language skills are often required. Matt: What sort of paralegal roles are open to graduates without any previous paralegal experience? Samuel: With the way that the graduate legal market is employers are often able to stipulate that prospective applicants have experience for entry level roles. The larger law firms will often take on able law graduates without experience for typically short-term work. Smaller firms will also take on graduates without experience, however you need to be prepared to do your homework on the firm and ensure you have a strong case as to why the firm should take you on, and moreover take you on as opposed to someone with experience for example.

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The Paralegal Route - An Interview With Samuel Clague

Working as a Paralegal is a good way to gain experience in law, and some Paralegal roles can lead to training contracts.

Matt: What are the opportunities for short term and part-time paralegals (as opposed to full-time permanent paralegals)? Samuel: There are many opportunities for short-term work for Paralegals, as for many firms they prefer to take Paralegals on for specific projects, and so the roles are usually on a temporary or short-term contract basis. There are very limited opportunities for part-time work as a Paralegal, we’ve have only recruited a small number of part-time paralegals, and even then the roles were 3-4 days per week. Matt: What are the most common mistakes you see candidates making that prevent them from getting a paralegal role? Samuel: The format of one’s CV is also a way to be noticed for the wrong reasons. If in doubt, keep it simple. Ensure that your academics, work experiences etc are laid out in a neat way and use a consistent font and font size throughout. If you don’t take the time to ensure that your CV is presentable you will risk making a bad initial impression to the recruitment manager. Matt: What are the career risks associated with taking on a paralegal role? Samuel: Working as a Paralegal is a good way to gain experience in law, and some Paralegal roles can lead to training contracts. One risk [if you do wish to become a trainee] is that there is no guarantee that working as a Paralegal will lead to a training contract. Another risk is being pigeon-holed in one particular area of law, and not being able to move easily to another area. Matt: Is being a paralegal now a viable career path alternative for those who are struggling to secure a TC? Samuel: Being a Paralegal is a viable career, however it must be noted that the opportunity to progress will be limited compared to that of a solicitor. In London the majority of Paralegals will earn £20,000-£40,000 per year depending on the organisation and the Paralegal’s experience, with a small number earning above £40,000 per year.

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To Stand Out -From The Crowd And Land Clague Your TheTips Paralegal Route An Interview With Samuel Ideal Paralegal Role

Such salaries are not to be sniffed at, but pale in comparison to the £150,000+ that some qualified solicitors of the same age can command at the most elite law firms. There are a small number of examples of Paralegals that have risen to senior positions within firms and companies, however the majority of Paralegals will not be able to progress in such a way. With the amount of Paralegals in the market this has led to a downward pressure in relation to wages, as many candidates are desperate to get a foot in the door and prepared to work for below market rate. Matt: What type of paralegal work is the best stepping stone to a training contract in your experience? Samuel: There is unfortunately no best type of Paralegal work to undertake to enhance one’s chances of securing a training contract. Essentially it comes down to the firm and Paralegal in question. If you work at a small firm then you probably have a better chance of getting noticed by the senior decision makers than if you are working at an international law firm with 100 other Paralegals [and potentially in a different office from such decision makers]. Matt: What other advice would you give to a candidate who has not yet secured a training contract and is available to work? Samuel: Do as much research into firms that you are interested in as possible. Speak to friends, peers, family, friends of friends and any contacts you may have in the legal world, as the more informed you are as a law graduate the better. Try to get some legal experience, as this will demonstrate your passion for law. If you obtain paralegal work that is advertised as a “view to a training contract”, ask for firm timeframes and performance reviews to be given, so you can have a good idea when you should be able to progress, as unfortunately some unscrupulous law firms will use a candidates enthusiasm and dangle a training contract carrot that will never actually materialise. Go to law fairs, open days, networking events, meet lawyers and those who work in law firms and try to build relationships with new contacts. Being proactive is a great way to impress law firms, as longer term most solicitors and partners need to be able to bring in new instructions, which means being proactive and networking.

About Samuel Clague Samuel completed the LPC at The University of Law and worked as a Paralegal at a range of City law firms before starting The Stephen James Partnership Legal [SJP Legal], the only specialist Paralegal recruitment company in the UK run by Paralegals, for Paralegals. SJP Legal assists law students, graduates and Paralegals find work within law firms, companies and government organisations. Find out more at the SJP Website and on Twitter @SJPLegal Future Magazine NOVEMBER MARCH 2013 Into TheSolicitor Law Magazine 2013

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The only specialist Paralegal recruitment company in the UK run by Paralegals, for Paralegals Candidates: we offer the best Paralegal roles on the market Clients: we provide exceptional service and candidates

www.thestephenjamespartnership.co.uk

Q&A

The Graduate Recruiterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Perspective We asked some experienced graduate recruiters a question we often hear....

Q Into The Law Magazine

In your experience, which factors differentiate an excellent application from a good application?

NOVEMBER 2013

Paula McMullan, Graduate Recruitment Manager at Gide Loyrette Nouel LLP (London), had to say:

A great application is one where I can tell that the person: (a) has taken the trouble to understand what we do, (b) is interested in what we do, and (c) knows what it takes to sell themselves. Recruiters want to see a spark in an application that tells us this person has something special. Too often I read sections from our website or brochure, or candidates simply talk about our practice areas or deals that have been publicised.

Remember, you need to be able to talk about your application so if you've written about the LIBOR scandal, make sure you can discuss it with your interviewers. A great application will talk about why they are interested in finance (our specialist area) and where they want their career to go, how they know what we have to offer and why that appeals. They should highlight what they can bring to the firm beyond the generic "I have excellent communication skills/team-building/leadership skills”. I’m also looking for someone with a lively interest in the City and business, but who doesn't try to be clever. Remember, you need to be able to talk about your application so if you've written about the LIBOR scandal, make sure you can discuss it with your interviewers. Most of all, I’m looking for someone with the confidence to let their personality out in their application rather than only telling me what they think I want to hear.

For graduate opportunities visit www.gide.com Into The Law Magazine

NOVEMBER 2013

Ben Morris, HR Manager at Morgan Cole, had this to say:

Over the years I have seen a lot of applications, both good and bad, and narrowing what makes a difference in such a short format is not easy! However, for me, on balance, the two things that stand out are composure and forethought. The vast majority of applicants spend a lot of time thinking about their applications but the really good ones give the impression of having pursued the thought process. There are several indications of having thought not only about portraying and displaying their knowledge, skills and attributes but also about how they might fit in their target firm.

...the two things that stand out are composure and forethought. They have then communicated that with the outcome in mind. That is to say, not just saying “Here I am, I’m great, draw your own conclusions” but taking the next step to present their application in a way which demonstrates “and this means x to you”. This may sound like game playing or “patter” but is an advanced form of communication – delivering with your audience in mind. I think that supporting this is composure. Whether in written applications or at the assessment centre stages, knowing the difficulties of securing a training contract, keeping a rein on their desire in order to use that energy to help survive the application process and present themselves in the most complete way, rather than it overwhelming them is a difficult skill but one that will serve them well.”

For graduate opportunities visit www.morgan-cole.com Into The Law Magazine

NOVEMBER 2013

Sam Lee, Recruitment Manager at Bond Dickinson LLP, had this to say:

We receive hundreds, if not thousands, of training contract applications every year and so many of them are very good, but given the ratios of applications to training contracts available these days it really is only the excellent that are getting through the process. The very good applications are doing everything right; they all demonstrate really good quality legal and/or commercial work experience; evidence of extra-curricular activities and competency answers that are recent and relevant.

The very strong candidates will be able to put themselves in the shoes of their target audience... The one thing that really differentiates the excellent from the good, however, is the research that a candidate has undertaken and the way in which it is then reflected in each and every application. The very strong candidates will be able to put themselves in the shoes of their target audience and think about what it is they really want to hear from their applicants, i.e. an understanding of what is to be a commercial lawyer, particularly a commercial lawyer at that firm and how their skills and experience may benefit that firm. It's the tailored applications that really stand out to us and demonstrate that a candidate has really given a lot of thought to why they want to be a part of our business.

For graduate opportunities visit www.bonddickinson.com Into The Law Magazine

NOVEMBER 2013

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Study

More Law Student Problems.... by @LawVicissitudes

Bringing you more classic tweets from the anonymous (and infamous) King of the Law Student Twittersphere, Mr “Law Student Problems” .....now with over 17,000 followers!!!

Future Magazine NOVEMBER MARCH 2013 Into TheSolicitor Law Magazine 2013

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