Law & Criminal Justice Career Insight by LJMUCareers

Law & Criminal Justice CAREER INSIGHT

LJMU CAREERS TEAM 0151 231 2048/3719 ❚ careers@ljmu.ac.uk

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Career Insight: Law and Criminal Justice

Introduction This course is one of only a handful in England and Wales that blends LLB law and criminal justice studies. Please find below career insights into both law and criminal justice which should help you to fully appreciate the different career options available to you with this degree.

Law The Law and Criminal Justice degree programme at LJMU provides the essential academic training required to become a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales, allowing you to progress directly onto the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). In addition to preparing future lawyers, the LLB will also enable you to follow a number of other career paths in areas like: retail, consultancy, HR, finance, general management and social work. In recent years, securing a graduate role has become increasingly competitive, so gaining relevant work or voluntary experience and engaging in extracurricular activities alongside your studies is crucial to demonstrate to prospective employers that you have the motivation to succeed in your chosen area and have developed the required skills. Researching different career pathways and entry requirements is essential preparation for your graduate career, so ensure you make the most of available resources, attend career events or employer talks, and take every opportunity to network with professionals to find out as much as possible about the career areas that interest you. You could also consider setting up a LinkedIn profile and following relevant organisations and vacancy sites on Twitter.

Typical job options Jobs directly related to your degree include: 

Solicitor - http://www.prospects.ac.uk/solicitor_job_description.htm

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Barrister - http://www.prospects.ac.uk/barrister_job_description.htm

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Chartered Legal Executive http://www.prospects.ac.uk/chartered_legal_executive_job_description.htm

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Licensed Conveyancer http://www.prospects.ac.uk/licensed_conveyancer_job_description.htm

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Paralegal - www.theiop.org

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Barrister’s Clerk - http://www.prospects.ac.uk/barristers_clerk_job_description.htm

Solicitor or barrister? If you’re considering a career in law the two main career options available are that of solicitor and barrister.

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Career Insight: Law and Criminal Justice

What is a solicitor? Solicitors provide legal advice; they find solutions to problems and represent clients in negotiations. They spend a lot of time meeting with clients, researching cases, writing legal documents, liaising with other professionals and representing clients in court. Most solicitors work in firms, which can vary in size from huge City firms to those found on the high street of any town. Commercial clients call in solicitors for advice on matters including: litigation, property, tax and finance. Solicitors also provide advice on a range of personal issues e.g. wills and probate, buying and selling residential property, divorce and personal injury claims. Solicitors need a wide range of skills. As well as being able to communicate with clients and develop good working relationships with them, they need to be able to work closely with colleagues, pay close attention to detail and be willing to work long hours. They also need initiative and good judgment to work with complex information. You will need to decide which area of law you are most interested in; this will normally be a decision between working in the more commercial/corporate sector, the public sector or a high street practice – there are also niche firms offering specialist practice areas. Selecting the right firm/organisation for you is a crucial decision because the client base, work and reputation of the firm/organisation you train at will determine the experience you gain and your future marketability as a lawyer. Thinking about all this and doing your research is very time consuming so you will need to start early and set time aside to do this. It is worth drawing up a timetable and a plan of action. If you are unsure you can get advice and guidance from; the School of Law Careers Advisor, an Employability Advisor or your tutors.

What is the route to becoming a solicitor? There's a set process to follow if you want to become a solicitor. It includes academic and vocational stages and a period of on the job training known as a training contract which is now officially designated/known as a ‘period of recognised training’, however, it is highly likely that most legal employers will continue to use the term training contract as this has been a recognised term for so long now – this is the term that will be used in this guide. If you’ve studied an accredited law degree at university you have already made significant progress towards becoming a solicitor in that you can start an LPC course straight after graduation, however, graduates from any academic background can also become solicitors. If you have a non-law degree, you must take a conversion course known as the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL). Some institutions refer to it as the Common Professional Exam, but this is the old name and the terms are now used interchangeably. The next step for all aspiring solicitors is the LPC; the course is usually one year full-time and 2 years part-time. After completing your LPC you will then need to start a training contract, training is usually undertaken full-time over two years (or part-time over a longer period) typically with a firm of solicitors. This is basically a period of practice/work based training where you’ll receive formal training and experience in a range of practice areas. Once you’ve successfully finished your training contract you will then become a qualified solicitor. It is also possible to undertake a training contract with a range of other approved organisations/companies, for example within: local government, Crown Prosecution Service, commerce and industry, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service and the Government Legal Service. Some firms/organisations advertise training contract opportunities 2 years in advance so you will need to start applying in your penultimate year if you are studying an accredited law degree. In general the

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Career Insight: Law and Criminal Justice

larger firms (commercial and company) usually recruit 2 years in advance and the smaller high street firms as and when they need someone (they tend to recruit students whilst they are on the LPC or they may advertise/offer a paralegal position with the possibility of a training contract later on). This is a general guide only and you will have to do your research well in advance to ensure you do not miss any application deadlines. In July 2014 the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) introduced a new route to qualification called ‘equivalent means’. This allows LPC graduates to qualify as a solicitor without completing a formal training contract. Equivalent means requires the LPC graduate to prove to the SRA that their legal work experience (usually as a paralegal) has given them the necessary skills, training and experience equivalent to that gained by a trainee over the course of a training contract.

What is a barrister? A barrister is a specialist in advocacy who presents a case in court – but it’s not just a matter of standing up during a trial. Generally speaking, a case might progress in this manner: 

A solicitor is usually the first port of call when an issue arises, and they deal with the day-today administration of the case before it comes to a barrister.

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The solicitor contacts the clerk at a barristers’ chambers (asking either for a specific person or a specialist in a certain field) and the clerk passes the case on.

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The barrister considers the relevant points of law and researches previous similar cases. He or she then supplies specialist advice and does the advocacy if the case goes to court.

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In court the barrister presents the case, cross-examines witnesses and debates the issues. Many cases involve an initial hearing, followed by an interim hearing, and finally a full trial. There is no ‘typical’ length for a case. For small matters, a barrister may receive instructions the night before a case and the hearing may be completed within a day. Others last much longer – some cases take years. In very complicated matters, a barrister will work closely with solicitors and junior colleagues for a considerable time before the case comes to court.

There are currently over 15,000 barristers practising in England and Wales, while there are over 133,000 practising solicitors. Most barristers (around 12,000) are in private practice – also known as ‘the private Bar’; technically they are self-employed and may work as a sole practitioner, however, most barristers in private practice work in groups of offices known as chambers (also known as a set). Around 3,000 barristers are employed barristers in the public or private sectors (known as ‘the employed Bar’) – please see below for further details regarding the different employment options available. Broadly speaking, barristers’ sets can be divided into four types, although many practise more than one type of law:

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Commercial law - covers such areas as: banking, insurance, insolvency, shipping and international trade, company and media law.

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Criminal law - involves the prosecution and defence of people accused of crimes, and appeals on behalf of those convicted.

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Common law - is the broadest area of practice, encompassing a range of specialisms, often involving contract and negligence. These include sale of goods, personal injury, landlord and tenant and clinical negligence.

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Public law - covers the full range of administrative, public and constitutional law. Specific areas include: commercial judicial review, community and healthcare law, civil liberties and

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Career Insight: Law and Criminal Justice

human rights, housing law, education law, planning law and disciplinary proceedings and the internal administration of public bodies.

How do I become a barrister? Qualifications If you’ve studied an accredited law degree at university you have already made significant progress towards becoming a barrister in that you can start a BPTC course straight after graduation; but nonlaw graduates can also join the Bar. If you have a degree in a different subject, you must take a conversion course known as the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) – sometimes referred to as the Common Professional Exam (CPE). You really do need excellent academic qualifications; the Bar is so competitive that you will struggle to find a pupillage without a good degree. Almost all chambers require a 2.1 and some will only consider candidates with a first class degree. A consistent academic record is important – many sets will want to know your A level results. The BPTC can either be taken over one year full-time or over two years part-time. In order to be called to the Bar by your Inn of Court you must have obtained your BPTC and also have completed 12 qualifying sessions (previously known as ‘dining’) via your Inn. But before you are able to practise as a barrister you must successfully complete a pupillage at a barristers’ set or chambers (or another approved legal environment); pupillage is split into two six-month periods, commonly known as the ‘sixes’ (the first six and the second six). Once you have completed pupillage you have fully qualified as a barrister and are able to practise as such, however, in order to practise as a barrister you will need to secure a tenancy within a set of chambers.

Essential skills 

Sound judgement and quick thinking as you will need to make decisions during a trial and provide good advice.

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The confidence to stand by your decisions and persuade others of their validity.

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Clarity of thought to understand the facts and their interactions, and eloquence so you can expound the matter persuasively and fluently.

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The versatility to work on a wide range of cases, each with individual demands and requiring different knowledge.

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Common sense to find the obvious answers and question abnormal claims.

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Attention to detail – you need to make sure you’ve covered all aspects of a case, or you might have a nasty surprise in court.

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Motivation and the ability to work alone or as part of a team.

In addition to these skills it’s important to have some work experience, preferably legal. This demonstrates commitment to a career as a barrister and shows recruiters that you’re making an informed choice. Most applicants for pupillage will have done two or three mini-pupillages in different areas to help with this. Alternative legal experience, such as shadowing a barrister or doing a vacation placement with a solicitors’ firm, is also valuable. Experience of public speaking is vital, whether from mooting, debates or drama. You will also need a way to stand out from the crowd – perhaps expertise

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Career Insight: Law and Criminal Justice

gained from further study, abilities developed when working abroad, a position of responsibility at a university society, or charitable fundraising. Studying law doesn't mean you have to become a solicitor or barrister; many other career options will be open to you...

Examples of jobs where your degree would be useful: 

Advice worker http://www.prospects.ac.uk/advice_worker_job_description.htm

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Chartered accountant http://www.prospects.ac.uk/chartered_accountant_job_description.htm

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Civil Service Administrator http://www.prospects.ac.uk/civil_service_administrator_job_description.htm

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Human resources officer http://www.prospects.ac.uk/human_resources_officer_job_description.htm

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Police Officer http://www.prospects.ac.uk/police_officer_job_description.htm

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Probation Officer http://www.prospects.ac.uk/probation_officer_job_description.htm

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Trade Mark Attorney http://www.prospects.ac.uk/trade_mark_attorney_job_description.htm

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Trading Standards Officer http://www.prospects.ac.uk/trading_standards_officer_job_description.htm

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. To explore job ideas further use Prospects Career Planner http://www.prospects.ac.uk/myprospects_planner_login.htm.

Work Experience Employers value work experience as it can help to demonstrate that you have the skills they are looking for. One way of acquiring legal work experience is via pro bono work through organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau www.citizensadvice.org.uk and Law Centres www.lawcentres.org.uk. If you want to become a barrister working for the Free Representation Unit will provide you with really useful and relevant work experience www.thefru.org.uk; the Bar Pro Bono Unit www.barprobono.org.uk advertises a wide range of pro bono opportunities that will enhance your chances of obtaining a pupillage. If you are interested in becoming a solicitor you might want to consider sending your CV to local law firms using the find a solicitor search facility on the Law Society website www.lawsociety.org.uk, alternatively you can always approach employers via LinkedIn. Many of the larger firms offer structured vacation placements and often, if you do well, you may be invited back for a training contract interview. The same is true of doing work experience with a local firm. It means they get to know you and what you are capable of and many training contracts have been offered in this way.

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Career Insight: Law and Criminal Justice

Prospects website www.prospects.ac.uk >Job Sectors>Law>Getting a Graduate Job in Law>Vacation Placements and LawCareers.Net www.lawcareers.net are an excellent source of information regarding vacation schemes NB you need to start applying for these opportunities early in Semester 1 in the penultimate year of your law degree. If you are keen on a career at the Bar start applying for mini-pupillages, go to www.pupillagegateway.com>Search and Apply (you will be able to identify chambers who offer minipupillages via the advanced search facility); also see www.lawcareers.net> Barristers>Pupillage Search. A mini-pupillage is basically a short work placement that usually lasts up to 2 weeks within a set of chambers, you will be assigned to an experienced barrister who you will shadow for the duration of the mini-pupillage. You could also consider gaining work experience in a solicitor’s firm as well in order to give you a broader ‘legal experience’ so that you can fully understand the different roles. You may also want to think about contacting your local court centre to see if it is possible to do some judge marshalling, or to observe some cases. In April 2014 the School of Law set up a pro bono Legal Advice Centre (LAC), which now runs throughout the academic year. The Centre is open to students, staff, and members of the public, and offers clinics in family, employment and wills and administration advice. In addition, the LAC run a commercial drop in clinic, allowing students to shadow local solicitors giving verbal advice to small businesses on issues such as commercial contracts and intellectual property matters. Students can volunteer in different clinics within the LAC from Level 4 upwards and are fully trained in issues of procedure, confidentiality, data protection and IT. In the coming academic year (2015/16) the LAC plan to launch a drop in housing clinic, and an Innocence Project investigating potential miscarriages of justice in criminal cases; furthermore they are also hoping to be able to train students to act as lay court assistants for litigants who are unrepresented in the family court. Any queries about the LAC should be directed to Rachel Stalker, Senior Lecturer and LAC Coordinator (r.stalker@ljmu.ac.uk). You might want to consider something outside of the legal profession e.g. work experience with property developers, a bank, HR departments or in administration can fit well with your degree. Taking on positions of responsibility through student groups also provides good experience.

Typical employers Solicitors can work in a wide range of different legal practices from the large corporate/commercial law firms to small high street practices. Opportunities are also available through local and national government and large organisations/employers often have in-house legal teams. For a better idea of the different employment opportunities available please email Steve Burbage (Steve is the Law School’s dedicated Careers Advisor) s.burbage@ljmu.ac.uk. If you become a barrister it is likely you will be self-employed and will be a tenant in a set of chambers. Alternatively, you could look for employment with organisations such as: the Government Legal Service, British Armed Forces, the Crown Prosecution Service and local authorities – employment opportunities are also available with solicitors’ firms and within commerce, finance and industry. Outside of the legal profession employers can include banks and building societies, insurance companies and HR departments of large firms.

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Career Insight: Law and Criminal Justice

Further study If you intend to practice law after graduation you must go on to further study (and eventually vocational training). To become a solicitor in England and Wales you have to complete the LPC, for full-time LPC courses you must apply online via the Central Applications Board www.lawcabs.ac.uk – for part-time courses you apply direct to the institution. If your aim is to work as a barrister in England and Wales, you need to undertake the BPTC, you must apply for BPTC courses via www.barsas.com. Variations in training routes exist in Scotland and Northern Ireland for both roles. Many professional qualifications are available in other areas such as accountancy, HR, marketing and business. For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, download our mini-guide on “Thinking about Postgraduate Study” from https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm for an overview of the different options available.

Useful websites

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LawCareers.Net http://www.lawcareers.net

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Prospects (legal job sector information) http://www.prospects.ac.uk/law_sector.htm

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Target jobs (advice on training as a solicitor and vacation schemes) https://targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors/law-solicitors

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Target jobs (advice on pupillages and mini pupillages) https://targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors/law-barristers

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All about law http://allaboutlaw.co.uk/

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Lawyer to be (your guide to a career in law) http://l2b.thelawyer.com

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Pupillage vacancies (online application system for pupillage) www.pupillagegateway.com

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Skills for Justice (career pathways in the legal and criminal justice sector) http://www.skillsforjustice-cp.com/

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LJMU vacancy system http://ljmu.prospects.ac.uk/

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Prospects (careers information and graduate jobs) www.prospects.ac.uk

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TargetJobs (careers information and graduate jobs) https://targetjobs.co.uk/

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Career Insight: Law and Criminal Justice

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Milkround (graduate jobs, placements & internships) http://www.milkround.com/

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Graduate to Merseyside (Graduate placements in small/medium-sized businesses in Merseyside) http://www.graduatetomerseyside.co.uk

Follow relevant companies/websites through Twitter for example: 

@LJMUCareers

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@Prospects @ProspectsJobs

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@targetjobsUK

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@Lawyer2Bmag

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@TheLawyermag

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@LDNLawExchange

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@LawCareersNetUK

Examples of employment destinations (LJMU Law graduates):

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Trainee Lawyer-Hampson Hughes Solicitors

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Paralegal-Hampson Hughes Solicitors

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Paralegal-Weightmans LLP

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Litigation Executive-DWF LLP

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Police Constable-North Wales Police

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Special Constable-Northamptonshire Police

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Probation Officer-Cheshire Probation Service

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Executive Officer-Home Office

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Trainee Accountant-Harrison Salmon Associates

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Investment Banker-Barclays Capital

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Commercial Graduate-Fujitsu

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Graduate Management Trainee-Enterprise Rent-a-Car

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Trainee Area Manager-Aldi

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RAF Officer-Royal Air Force

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Residential Children’s Worker-Inspire Children’s Services

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Career Insight: Law and Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice Introduction Studying towards a degree in Criminal Justice will help you develop a number of skills, which will put you in a good position to enter a range of careers, both within and outside of the criminal justice system. Although your degree would be an excellent foundation for different career paths in the public, voluntary and charity sectors, you are by no means restricted to these areas and could use your transferable skills and work experience to follow a number of other career paths in areas like: research, retail, HR, consultancy, law, finance and general management. In recent years, securing a graduate role has become increasingly competitive, so gaining relevant work or voluntary experience and engaging in extracurricular activities alongside your studies is crucial to demonstrate to prospective employers that you have the motivation to succeed in your chosen area and have developed the required skills. Researching different career pathways and entry requirements is essential preparation for your graduate career, so ensure you make the most of available resources, attend career events or employer talks, and take every opportunity to network with professionals to find out as much as possible about the career areas that interest you. You could also consider setting up a LinkedIn profile and following relevant organisations and vacancy sites on Twitter. In recent years there have been cutbacks to the criminal justice sector which have impacted upon areas of recruitment. Consequently it would be worthwhile for students to research career opportunities that are available both within and outside the sector.

Typical job options A significant proportion of Criminal Justice graduates who enter employment after graduation work in the public sector. Types of work include: information and advisory roles, support work and administration within the public sector, charities and voluntary organisations. Once you have gained relevant experience/qualifications, your longer term career options within the criminal justice and social care sectors include:

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Probation Officer: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/probation_officer_job_description.htm https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/national-probation-service https://www.workwithoffenders.co.uk/

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Youth Offending Teams: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/youth_worker_job_description.htm https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/youth-justice-board-for-england-andwales/about https://www.gov.uk/youth-offending-teams-north-west-england

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Social Worker: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/social_worker_job_description.htm http://www.stepuptosocialwork.co.uk/ https://www.gov.uk/guidance/step-up-to-social-work-information-for-applicants http://www.thefrontline.org.uk/ http://www.hpc-uk.org/aboutus/

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Career Insight: Law and Criminal Justice

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Prison Officer: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/prison_officer_job_description.htm https://www.gov.uk/noms-graduate-programme

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Police Officer: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/police_officer_job_description.htm http://recruit.college.police.uk/Pages/home.aspx

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Solicitor/Barrister: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/solicitor_job_description.htm http://www.prospects.ac.uk/barrister_job_description.htm

The suggestions listed here are by no means exhaustive, so we would encourage you to consider other relevant options e.g. based on previous work or voluntary experience, skills and interests. To explore job options by sector, check http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs.htm. You can also use career planning tools like http://www.prospects.ac.uk/myprospects_planner_login.htm and https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-report to generate initial career ideas. Ensure you check entry requirements for each area e.g. will you need a degree in a specific subject? Is a 2:1 degree classification essential? Will you need to obtain/work towards a postgraduate qualification? Is any specific work experience required? We also recommend that you download a copy of our “Planning your Career” guide from the Careers website at https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm this includes a list of useful questions to help you explore your career options and introduces you to the DOTS model to help you with your career planning.

Main employers Although many Criminal Justice graduates work in the public and voluntary sector, there are also good opportunities in the private sector in areas like retail, finance and law. Typical employers include: 

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Community Rehabilitation Companies: http://www.merseysidecrc.co.uk/, http://cgm-probation.org.uk/, http://www.clcrc.co.uk/, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/432888/probati on-directory-June-2015.pdf Police forces: http://www.police.uk/contact/force-websites/ HM Prison Service: http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/prison-finder Local Government: http://www.ngdp.org.uk/, http://www.lgjobs.com/ Crown Prosecution Service: http://www.cps.gov.uk/careers/ Civil Service: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-service-fast-stream

Occupational profiles listed on http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs.htm include a section on typical employers and vacancy sources, so use these as a starting point to research potential employers within the career areas that interest you.

Useful links and websites    

LJMU vacancy website - http://ljmu.prospects.ac.uk/ Prospects - Careers information and graduate jobs - http://www.prospects.ac.uk/ TargetJobs - Careers information and graduate jobs - https://targetjobs.co.uk/ Milkround - Graduate jobs, placements & internships - http://www.milkround.com/

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Career Insight: Law and Criminal Justice

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Jobs in the public sector - http://www.lgjobs.com/, http://www.jobsgopublic.com/ Vacancies in higher education and research - http://www.jobs.ac.uk/ Graduate Talent Pool - Graduate internship opportunities http://graduatetalentpool.direct.gov.uk/ Lawcareers.net - Careers options in the legal sector - http://www.lawcareers.net/ British Society of Criminology - News, jobs board and useful links - http://britsoccrim.org/ Skills for Justice - Career pathways in the legal and criminal justice sector http://www.skillsforjustice-cp.com/ Careers in care and social work http://www.skillsforcareanddevelopment.org.uk/Careersincare/careers_in_care.aspx CommunityCare - Website for people working in the social care sector: information on upcoming events, legal changes and vacancies - http://www.communitycare.co.uk/

Follow relevant companies/websites through Twitter for example: 

@LJMUCareers

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@Prospects @ProspectsJobs

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@targetjobsUK

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@MerseyPolice

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@MerseysideCRC

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@cgmprobation

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@BritSocCrim

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@MoJGovUK

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@FrontlineSW

Depending on your specific career interests, you could also follow relevant websites and organisations e.g. @LawCareersNetUK for news and updates on the legal sector or @retailweek for news relating to the retail sector.

Examples of employment destinations (LJMU Criminal Justice graduates):              

Police Community Support Officer-Merseyside Police Police Officer-Merseyside Police Prison Custody Officer-Serco Operational Support Grade-HMP Styal Drug Worker-HMP Liverpool Learning Mentor-St Chad’s High School Youth Support Worker-Catch22 Youth Worker-Liverpool Youth Services Caseworker-Crown Prosecution Service Trainee Solicitor-Jacksons Commercial & Private Law LLP Legal Assistant-Silverbeck Rymer Solicitors (now taken over by Quindell Legal Services) Civil Servant-Home Office Lecturer-St Helens College Case Administrator-Probation Service

www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

Career Insight: Law and Criminal Justice

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Management Trainee-Enterprise Rent-A-Car Savings and Investment Specialist-Barclays Bank Money Laundering Screening Sanctions Analyst-Santander

Sources of work experience (general) Download our mini-guide on “Making yourself employable whilst at University” from https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm for an overview of the different types of work experience available and some general suggestions about finding work experience opportunities. LJMU has been managing a summer internship programme for Level 5 students in recent years, so keep an eye on your LJMU inbox for details of any opportunities. Many large organisations/companies offer summer internship opportunities or year-long sandwich placements. These are generally advertised on websites like Prospects, Targetjobs or Milkround, as well as on more subject-specific websites e.g. Lawcareers.net for legal vacation placements. Opportunities are also advertised on organisations’ own websites and on the Careers vacancy website http://ljmu.prospects.ac.uk and www.ratemyplacement.co.uk. Many placement schemes are open to students from any degree discipline. Check your eligibility before making an application e.g. some summer placements are specifically aimed at penultimate year students. Application deadlines for sandwich placements and summer internships can be as early as October/November for a start date between June and August the following year, so start your research early to ensure you don’t miss out on relevant opportunities! Applications for summer internships or year-long placements with large employers are very competitive, so involvement in extracurricular activities, previous work experience or voluntary work can give you the edge over other candidates. It’s never too early to start getting involved in clubs and societies or to gain work experience, so explore relevant options early on in your studies. Many societies/clubs through LiverpoolSU have co-ordinator/officer positions which could be an excellent opportunity to gain valuable/relevant experience which can significantly enhance your employability. Many undergraduate students also secure work experience through a more ‘speculative’ or ‘creative’ approach i.e. after contacting organisations directly through networking events, via email or through LinkedIn. You might, for example, consider contacting a local law firm/community rehabilitation company (depending on your career interests) as a starting point. Once you have some initial career ideas, undertaking work experience or voluntary work in these areas can be a great way not only to find out whether this role would be right for you but also to build up a network of professionals and organisations in your chosen sector, which can often lead to further work experience or even a fulltime role after graduating. Before contacting organisations about work shadowing or work experience opportunities, make sure you research the organisation and find out the best person to get in touch with. It is important that you demonstrate that you are interested in the organisation and have spent some time finding out what they do. Even when applying to secure work experience for the first time in a particular industry, show the employer what you have to offer e.g. briefly outline any relevant skills or knowledge gained from your course. Look at the skills listed under entry requirements in the occupational profiles on Prospects http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs.htm and try to evidence these on your CV, drawing on examples from your course, work experience or extra-curricular activities to demonstrate how you developed these. Useful websites to research a range of voluntary opportunities include https://do-it.org/ and https://www.liverpoolguild.org/main-menu/volunteer. You could also contact LJMU Volunteering

www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

Career Insight: Law and Criminal Justice

Manager Chris Prescott on 0151 904 6356 or c.j.prescott@ljmu.ac.uk to enquire about current opportunities. It is also worth researching relevant organisations/charities and contacting them directly to find out about voluntary roles on offer.

Recruitment schedule (general) Recruitment cycles and deadlines will vary depending on the type of work you are applying for. Again, research is key to ensure that you do not miss relevant opportunities. As a rule of thumb, the selection process takes longer in larger organisations, as they tend to receive a higher number of applications and use several different stages to reduce the number of potential candidates. As a result, application deadlines can be as early as October/November in your final year of study for a start date in August or September of the following year. If you are considering postgraduate study, find out if there are any specific closing dates for applications by contacting relevant universities directly. Many graduate training schemes with large companies will accept applications from students of any degree background. If you are interested in these roles, you will need to be aware of the recruitment cycle. Many employers begin the graduate recruitment process during the autumn term for final-year students – some placements are advertised then as well. Most closing dates are in November and December, but some are earlier so it is important to start researching companies that you want to apply to early on. The application process for graduate training schemes usually involves completing an online application form, which may require you to answer ‘competency based questions’. This may be followed by psychometric tests, a telephone interview and an assessment centre. You may also need to submit your CV. Most of the large recruiters have a section on the student/graduate pages of their website that outlines the different steps of their selection process, so check these to find out what is required. For more information about graduate schemes, download the ‘Graduate Schemes’ guide from https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm. The Careers Team runs a “Graduate Schemes Uncovered” workshop and webinar (online class) on a regular basis – please check our events pages on https://worldofwork.ljmu.ac.uk/events/ for details. Many of these opportunities are advertised in the Prospects Student Career Guide and the Targetjobs directories (available from Careers Zone) and on websites such as Prospects, Milkround and Targetjobs – also check organisations’ own websites. You may also find work through small and medium-sized enterprises/businesses (SMEs). These types of companies don’t usually have structured training schemes but will recruit ‘as required’. Depending on previous experience, you might find yourself applying for entry-level roles on an administrator grade at first, but once you have gained experience this should open up opportunities for promotion within your organisation, or give you the required experience to apply for higher-grade positions with other employers. Some SMEs may use their own application form but most applications will be by CV and covering letter. These positions will be advertised on company websites, relevant recruitment websites, the Job Centre and national and local newspapers. The ‘creative’ or ‘speculative’ approach to job hunting, outlined above, is also important when looking for graduate roles. Making contacts and approaching organisations speculatively to look for work is a common route into employment. For more information about the speculative approach to job hunting, download a copy of our guide to ‘The Hidden Jobs Market’ from https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm. You can get advice about the recruitment process by booking a one-to-one appointment with a careers or employability adviser (call us on 0151 231 2048/3719 to arrange this) or you can attend relevant workshops or webinar.

www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

Career Insight: Law and Criminal Justice

Key events and networking 

Liverpool Careers Fairs: are usually held in the autumn and spring of each year and the Liverpool Law Fair usually takes place in November, see fairs website http://www.liverpoolfairs.org.uk/ for details.

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Manchester Careers Fairs: open to students and graduates from any university; check http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/events/ for details.

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Careers and employability events at LJMU: keep an eye on our events page at https://worldofwork.ljmu.ac.uk/events/ for details of upcoming employability workshops, networking sessions and employer talks – employers from the legal and criminal justice sectors play a regular part in our events programme.

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LinkedIn: you could also consider setting up a LinkedIn account https://www.linkedin.com to network online with professionals and organisations in your chosen industry.

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LiverpoolSU Clubs and Societies: http://www.liverpoolsu.com/clubsandsocs.

Careers Zones Campus-based Careers Zones provide easy access to careers support in convenient locations at Byrom Street, Aldham Robarts Library and at IM Marsh, staffed by the Careers Team. Support available includes CV and application form reviews, Careers Adviser appointments, drop-in quick queries, practice interviews and access to careers resources and information. The Zones also host regular employer visits during term time where you can meet and network with employers and discuss job and placement opportunities. For the latest updates and details of locations and opening times, try our Twitter and Facebook pages.

Other information Centre for Entrepreneurship - support for LJMU students and graduates interested in starting up their own business https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/startup/. Postgraduate Study - download our mini-guide on “Thinking about Postgraduate Study” from https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm for an overview of the different options available.

www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

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www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers LJMU CAREERS WORLD OF WORK CAREERSTEAM CENTRE 0151 231 2048/3719 ❚ careers@ljmu.ac.uk || worldofwork@ljmu.ac.uk 0151 231 2048/3719

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