Once you have finished the training contract you will be entered onto the roll of solicitors. You can then apply for a practising certificate and, if you wish, join the Law Society as a full member. You, or your firm, will have to pay for this privilege!

Perhaps more important is the practical consideration of securing a job! Many newly qualified solicitors (NQs) prefer to stay on with the firm at which they trained, where they are familiar with both the practice and the members of staff. It is good news for these NQs – it is unlikely that a firm will have invested the time and resources in training you if it had not projected that there was going to be a permanent place available at the end of it. That said, it is possible that the firm’s staffing requirements have developed in a way that was not anticipated (eg, through a merger or a downturn in a particular area of work) and that there is no longer a place to offer you.

Some NQs prefer to move firms after qualifying, attracted by, for instance, higher salaries, practice specialisation or location. If you do want to move on, you can search our list of firms by type of practice, city location and size, and get even more background on different types of firm and work area.

In any event, make sure that you get a final decision from your firm in good time so that you can consider your options and give yourself a chance to look for an alternative if necessary. This means that you will want to know the firm’s plans three to six months before you qualify.

Life as an assistant solicitor

Having qualified and been employed by a firm, your title will almost certainly be that of assistant solicitor. This means that you are an employee of the firm, normally working under the supervision of a partner or senior assistant solicitor, and will work on a fixed salary.

The working life of an assistant solicitor varies considerably according to the type of firm you are with, the partners supervising you, the areas of work in which you are practising and your own abilities. In general, you will be expected to work hard and take responsibility for your own clients without constant supervision. To find out more about what it might be like, read our profiles of solicitors working at different law firms in different practice areas.

Most NQs work eagerly towards increased seniority in the firm. Assistants can become senior assistants (or, to use an American term, associates), then salaried partners, and finally full equity partners (see below). You do not always need to go through all of these steps – it is possible (though unusual) to go straight from assistant to equity partner.

Continuing Professional Development

The Law Society requires every solicitor to update their skills and knowledge constantly, so formally assessed training does not end with the training contract. Under the continuing professional development (CPD) programme, NQs must complete one hour each month in their first year. Subsequently, solicitors must undertake 16 hours per year.

You can earn CPD credit in many ways, which include attending Law Society accredited courses, researching, writing on law and mentoring. All solicitors must undertake stage one of the Law Society management course to fulfil their CPD commitment.

Partnership

Although many firms are developing alternative career structures by enhancing the status (and pay) of associates, the ultimate career ambition for most solicitors in private practice is to become a partner. Law firms are partnerships, and are therefore owned and managed by the partners (salaried partners have a similar status to full partners but do not have a share in the firm). How long it will take you to become a partner will depend on both you and the firm you are at.

In general you can expect to wait eight or more years for partnership at a large commercial firm and perhaps a little less at a smaller, less commercially orientated firm. Again, much will depend on your own abilities and probably a bit of luck!

You should also bear in mind that many law firms operate a ‘lockstep’ partnership system. This means that as a new equity partner, you will not have the same share of the profits as a more senior partner. While this is the norm, a number of firms are now bringing in a share/remuneration structure based on partner profitability and revenue generated.

One recent development within the profession – especially among the larger commercial firms – is that partnership is no longer seen as a life-long tie to one law firm. A significant number of partners are changing firms in order to secure higher earnings, develop their practice in a different way, or simply escape from their colleagues and a culture they do not want to work in.

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Solicitors and RELs who work 32 hours or more per week must complete a minimum of 16 hours of CPD per year; requirements are reduced for solicitors and RELs who work on a part-time basis.

The CPD scheme is based on the principles of simplicity and flexibility.

You should assume responsibility for your own development, analysing your own training and development needs. Learn more about assessing training needs.
When you know your own training and development needs, you can identify the activities within our CPD scheme that are most likely to meet them.
You should record all training and development activities in your individual training record.

For more information please visit the Solicitors Regulation Authority website.

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R you serious?

The buzz word at the events, highlighted consistently by almost all of the speakers, was ‘research’. Pervading every aspect of the application process, it is fundamental to success.
“You cannot do too much research and you cannot start researching too early” was LC.N’s very own Matthew Broadbent’s advice to prospective lawyers. He told students that when it comes to finding a training contract, thorough research is what will give you the edge. In these troubling economic times, competition for places in law firms has inevitably got tougher. With more applicants than jobs, thorough research is the way to get ahead of the rest.

Jacqui Megson, graduate recruiter at Jones Day, also spoke of the benefits of well-conducted research in her presentation on the perfect candidate. It is essential to decide early on what kind of practice will suit you and the only way to find this out is by spending time investigating the differences between firms. You can find out about their work areas and culture by browsing their websites and speaking to firm representatives at law fairs and networking events. Sites such as LC.N, The Training Contract & Pupillage Handbook and information in the legal press are also essential reading when it comes to finding out about your chosen firms.

Star applicant

Ok, so you’ve researched yourself silly – what happens now? Next up is the dreaded application form. Hopefully, with the help of these top tips it will end up at the top of the interview pile instead of in the bin.  

The written form is often your first point of contact with the firm and therefore you must strive to create the best possible first impression. “By the time we get to the interview stage, it is much more of a two-way process, but before then, it is entirely up to you to market yourself,” said Victoria Wisson, graduate recruiter for CMS Cameron McKenna. “Sixty percent of applicants will be screened out based on their application form” – which means it must be flawless in order to make the grade.

Using competency-based questions as an example, Victoria gave some useful advice for writing good answers. Steer clear of jokes – only sensible examples should make their way on to your form. Setting up broadband in your college house or switching from phoning to texting in a long-distance relationship to save money were real examples that got the crowd laughing, but served as a warning of what not to say. It’s good to be memorable, but only if it is for the right reasons. 

The structure of your responses is also crucial. Victoria revealed the STAR technique – situation, task, action and result – as a way of making sure each aspect of the question is addressed. Break down your answer to cover these four parts and this should make for a well-rounded response.

Also essential when it comes to making a good impression at application stage are spelling and grammar. “Lawyers need to have great attention to detail and the application form is your first chance to show this off,” Victoria said. Print out your completed form to check for errors and ask a careers adviser, friend or family member to proof it as well.

Last but not least – don’t lie! Being untruthful in your form will not only look terrible if you are discovered later on, but also add to your nerves should you get an interview.

Impressive interviewee

You sent off your impeccably structured, well-written and typo-free application. The recruiters were impressed and an invitation to an interview at the firm of your dreams has just dropped through the letterbox. So what’s the secret to giving good interview? Anna King from Simmons & Simmons had some excellent advice on how best to impress.

To begin with, Anna pointed out that getting to the interview stage means that your written application must have been pretty impressive. The next step is to show the recruiters that you have a well-rounded set of skills and aren’t simply good on paper: “Good preparation and research are absolutely vital and part of this involves being very familiar with your application form.” The written application is the only thing your interviewers have to go on, so rigorous questioning of what you put down is guaranteed.

First impressions are important too. This means you should dress appropriately and if you are going to be late, call up to apologise. “Eye contact should be natural. Think about how you would be in a normal conversation; don’t overdo it and stare at the interviewer the whole time.” Something else that will relax you and come across well to the interviewer is a confident smile.

Anna’s final piece of advice concerned questions. “It is a good idea to have a few prepared for the end of the interview. If you have nothing to ask, it will appear as though you are not particularly interested in the firm. And make sure they are intelligent too – basic information will be on the firm website, so don’t ask something you should already know the answer to.”

Saint or sinner?

“Sin is something you’re taught to avoid, but you should want to sin when it comes to choosing a law school.” This was the intriguing start to the presentation from Giles Proctor, head of Nottingham Law at Kaplan Law School, on the Seven Deadly Sins and why they should most definitely be indulged.

Apparently, greed is good. Or at least, it is when it comes to sussing out the best course providers: “It’s good to be demanding when it comes to picking the institution you are going to study at. Look at the quality of their careers advice. What is their success rate? How many people go on to get training contracts?” Anger/assertiveness is similarly important. Ask the law school representatives at law fairs as many questions as possible and speak to current students to gauge opinion on the quality of the course. Next, indulge in some envy/appreciation by speaking to your peers about which law school they are choosing and why. This can help in your decision, but beware of following the crowd without good reason. 

Postgraduate courses are known for their hefty price tag, so what do you get for your money? This is where avarice/enterprise comes in – is the expense justified? “You’re the customer, so act like one.”

Then there’s lust and gluttony. You have to really want to study at your chosen institution, so once you’re there, don’t forget to indulge – take as much from the experience as possible. But take note: sloth should be avoided at all costs!

So there you have it – how to secure a training contract in a nutshell. With some hard work and perseverance, your legal career might be just around the corner. And Basic Training events will be touring the country again in 2010, so be sure to keep an eye out for a session near you. Giles for one recommends that students attend: “The LC.N Basic Training events are a great way to introduce students to the law and to what it means to be in practice. They help you start your career search in the best possible way – by meeting and talking to lawyers and law tutors about how to successfully apply for law school places and training contracts. They give you the know-how that people who have not attended do not get.”

Source: http://www.lawcareers.net/Information/Features/Detail.aspx?r=1319

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