LPC Bulletin - July 2012

Transcription

1 LPC Bulletin - July 2012 Current Training Contract Opportunities - CLOSING SOON! For an easy way to see training contract application deadlines by region and to apply direct, follow the link: For advice on applying for training contract opportunities, please contact your Employability and Careers Service at employability@anglia.ac.uk useful advice can also be found by following the link: Kirkland & Ellis If you are interested in applying to Kirkland & Ellis, the deadline is fast approaching. For a training contract commencing in September 2014, the application deadline is July 31st. We cover the full spectrum of corporate transactions important to global businesses, including private equity, M&A, fund formations, tax, capital markets and banking. Our private equity practice in particular is recognised and respected as a leading global player. You can look forward to more personal attention and tailored career development on a Kirkland & Ellis training contract. Part of that is to do with our Firm wide approach to career planning. But it's also because we only take on a select number of trainees every year, meaning we can train and develop each one as an individual. The programme is based around four six-month seats, during which you'll learn about all of our core practice areas. As corporate law specifically private equity and M&A provides a key focus for our London office, this will be central to your training, too. There will also be opportunities to undertake a secondment in an overseas office. Apply now at ukgraduate.kirkland.com

2 Cozens-Hardy LLP, Norwich Currently recruiting trainees to potentially work in our commercial department, private client department or family department. Up to 18 months specialised training in the relevant department. We take both law and non-law graduates as trainee solicitors. You will spend up to 18 months in the department to which you have been recruited as a trainee solicitor. The balance of your training will be with another department(s), to be agreed with you and subject to the training meeting the Solicitors Regulation Authority requirements for your training contract. The qualities we look for in trainees are academic excellence, sound judgment and the ability to get on well with both clients and colleagues. At an early stage in your training you will have client contact and be expected to accept responsibility for your own work, although this will be under qualified supervision. Apply by letter (or ) to Ms PG Rudd, Training Principal at pgrudd@cozenshardy.com Application deadline: 31st August 2012 to commence The GLS Legal Trainee Scheme The GLS Legal Trainee Scheme offers you the chance to conduct your training contract in the legal team of a participating Government department. The broad structure of a GLS training contract is similar to that found elsewhere. The nature of the work you will undertake during the training period and the level of responsibility you will be given is very different and beyond comparison. As a valued member of your legal team, you'll be fully involved in a broad range of work. You'll have an active role to play in your department's casework. You'll liaise with senior policy makers, Ministers and counsel. And you'll have the opportunity to participate in the legislative process itself. In addition to a minimum of a 2:1 degree you will also need excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the commitment to developing a career in the public sector. Application Deadline: 31st July 2012 Your salary will vary according to your department. 1st year legal trainees' salary is in the range of 23,250 to 25,575. The second year salary range is 24,850 to 27,350. Location: Greater London Follow the link below to apply government-legal-service-the-gls-legal-trainee-scheme

3 Mills and Reeve Offices in Birmingham, Cambridge, Leeds, London, Manchester and Norwich. Trainees require a 2.1 degree minimum plus a good balance between academic ability, interpersonal skills, drafting skills, common sense, commercial awareness, confidence, professional attitude and a sense of humour. You will also need to be willing to accept early responsibility. Apply at Application deadline: July 2012 Manches LLP Manches values highly the contribution our trainees make and offers many opportunities for early responsibility, high levels of client contact and a vibrant, close-knit working environment. We can offer an excellent variety of practice areas in which trainees can receive their training, in contrast to many other commercial firms. Manches has approximately 20 trainee solicitors in residence at any one time. We recruit up to 10 each year between the London and Thames Valley offices for our annual intake each September. We look for candidates with an excellent academic record (very good A' levels and a strong 2.1 degree or higher are required) but who are also enthusiastic, engaging committed to the law and to working for Manches. They should display a strong commercial awareness, the ability to think for themselves and polished interpersonal and social skills. Application closing deadline: 31 July 2012 Start date: September 2014 To find out more and apply follow the link Bond Pearce LLP We are now recruiting for Training Contracts commencing in The application form is available for you to complete and the closing date 31 July Follow the link below to apply

4 Vacancies Wixted & Co Solicitors: Claimant Personal Injury and Commercial Litigation Paralegal Location: Putney, London Busy specialist Personal Injury and Commercial Litigation Practice seeks paralegal with a view to a training contract. No experience necessary. Excellent salary and bonus. Apply with CV by to marie@wixtedandco.co.uk David Long Solicitors: Paralegal Location: Uxbridge, West London UB8 1RG Salary: 14,000 Application Deadline: 6 August 2012 Start Date: September 2012 (subject to satisfactory references) We are seeking a paralegal to assist in our housing and employment departments. The ideal candidate will be an LPC graduate with a 2.1 degree. They should be IT literate and preferably have at least 12 months' experience as a caseworker in a solicitor's firm. A training contract is available subject to nine months' satisfactory performance. We are a small civil litigation firm with a substantial legal aid caseload in housing, employment and community care. We also undertake personal injury and general contract dispute work. Please apply by sending your CV and covering letter to: enquiries@davidlongsolicitors.com Conveyancing Paralegal Advertised by Law Staff Legal Recruitment Location: Suffolk Salary 15,000 THE FIRM A highly regarded firm in Suffolk with an excellent reputation and a growing client base, our client is really going places. With an emphasis on staff development, they take pride in ensuring that their staff have a good working environment and excellent training. THE ROLE A fantastic position has arisen for a Paralegal who wishes to specialise in Conveyancing. Ideally you will have good experience in the field, but candidates with an outstanding background and exceptional qualities will be considered should they have less or no Conveyancing experience. The role will be busy and varied and will involve you dealing with a vast array of matters throughout the Conveyancing process.

5 Enthusiasm and competency are key features to the successful recruit - for the right candidate the role may turn into a training contract. THE CANDIDATE Candidates must have completed the LPC and have at least 1 years` experience as a Paralegal in a private Practice environment. You must be highly motivated and hardworking. You must work well as part of a team and enjoy building good working relationships, with an ability to maintain a good sense of humour in a pressurised environment. You must have excellent attention to detail and have superb communication skills, both verbal and written. Ambitious and committed to your career, you must have a strong drive to produce exceptional work. Apply at: Ashfords LLP: Paralegal Location: London Starting salary: 16,000 per annum Application Deadline: August 2012 Ashfords LLP merged with Rochman Landau LLP on the 1 March 2012 and is a leading full service law firm providing a broad range of legal and business services to both commercial and private clients. As a major UK force, Ashfords now has over 470 partners and employees across six locations including Bristol, London, Plymouth, Taunton, Tiverton and its head office in Exeter. We are currently looking for a bright, organised and motivated paralegal to join our growing London office, to provide essential support to the partners and fee-earners within our busy commercial and residential property departments. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing an efficient and effective legal service to the firm's clients which will involve the management of client files, ensuring instructions and procedures are followed and maintaining the use of the firm's systems. We are looking for an excellent communicator, with an eye for detail and a proactive approach to client service. The successful applicant will be adaptable, have the ability to remain calm under pressure, and able to work efficiently both independently and within a busy team environment. Applicants will need to meet the following criteria: Educated to degree/lpc level Excellent IT skills Relevant property experience (desirable) Further information on our current and anticipated vacancies is available at To apply, please forward your CV and covering letter to jobs@ashfords.co.uk.

6 The Employability and Careers Team are always very keen to hear if you make an application to any of the advertised opportunities. Please do let us know of your progress and do not hesitate to contact us if you require any assistance with your CV, making applications, interview technique or any other Employability related queries. Events Employability Summer Workshops The Employability and Careers Service are pleased to announce the following summer workshops... Chelmsford 12 pm 3 pm, Wednesday 1 st August MAB 008 Cambridge 12 pm 3 pm, Thursday 2nd August LAB 006 Programme of Events Make the most of your CV and Applications How to improve your interview techniques and presentation skills Motivation, Creative Job Hunting and Your On Line Profile Time The workshops are free of charge and Careers and Employability Advisers will be available on the day for appointments so bring your CV! Register to attend Chelmsford: Cambridge: For more information please employability@anglia.ac.uk

7 Q&A Can I get a training contract with a 2:2? - Brought to you by AllAboutCareers.com First of all, it s not impossible to get a training contract with a 2:2, but it will make things harder. People with 2:1s and firsts struggle to get training contracts, having a 2:2 adds yet another hurdle. So are you prepared to work extra hard? Do you really, really, really (and we mean REALLY) want a training contract? Here s the problem Many firms specify that a 2:1 is the minimum requirement for people applying for their trainee positions. Some simply won t allow people with 2:2s to continue with the online application. It sounds harsh, but it s the reality. If you have genuine extenuating circumstances as to why you got a 2:2 or a third, then do mention this on application forms, or better still ring up the HR department and explain your circumstances. Realistically, though, you should widen your net and try high street firms and mediumsized firms. Many of them won t advertise opportunities, so you ll need to do the leg work and get in touch with them. The speculative application will be your best friend, as will work experience. Since many graduates with 2:1s and firsts are battling it out for training contracts, you ll need to make your application stand out from the crowd. Getting plenty of work experience is very important, as is networking to find out about opportunities. You ll need to develop a strong sense of commercial awareness and, in short, do everything you can to impress law firms. Exploring other career options It s incredibly tough getting a training contract with a 2:2, so it certainly won t hurt to explore your other career options or have a backup plan. Many go into paralegal work, become chartered legal executives or take on administrative positions at law firms. Some graduates who become paralegals after university go on to secure training contracts. Alternatively, you can take all that legal knowledge and passion for law, and apply it to another career, such as accountancy or insurance, trading standards, advice work, the police force, human resources or health and safety. To see a case study from a Trainee Solicitor who graduated with a 2.2 follow the link - Can I get a training contract with a 2:2?

8 An offer you can t refuse? - Brought to you by LawCareers.net 26/06/2012 Dear Oracle... I have been offered a six-month paralegal position followed by a training contract in personal injury/clinical negligence by the firm where I'm currently working in an admin role. This is not an area of law I had ever intended to go into, but my A levels aren t great and I don t know what my chances would be elsewhere. Should I take the training contract? The Oracle replies First of all, congratulations on your offer of a training contract! Without hesitation, we would advise you to accept the offer, for so many reasons, including the following: It is an incredibly competitive recruitment environment at the moment, and people are struggling to get paralegal positions, let alone training contracts. To have this offered to you, with guaranteed career progression built-in, is something of a dream come true. You have obviously been selected on the basis of the skills you have demonstrated in your current role and by proving your worth to the firm. They like what you have to offer and see your potential as a trainee! If your A levels are not brilliant, they will certainly hold you back if you go through the traditional application methods, including possibly meaning that you are automatically deselected in online application forms. So many solicitors mention that the areas of law they thought they would want to practise in are not those they end up in. It is very hard to gauge from a position of academic study or little experience exactly what you will enjoy or be good at. Keep your options and your mind open. Now, what s that saying about looking a gift horse in the mouth? Top of the trainees - Brought to you by LawCareers.net 17/07/2012 Dear Oracle... I start my training contract in September and was wondering how best to make a positive impression and to stand out from the crowd. Also, what should I aim to achieve in each seat? The Oracle replies Keep showing the qualities you showed at your initial interview! Be keen - regularly ask how you can assist others in your department. Read independently about your area of practice in each seat. Develop friendships within the firm that are based on initiative and positivity. Never join in with moaning or unpleasant gossip. Participate in team-based extracurricular activities and social events. Think about how you can be an ambassador for the firm (e.g. taking a role with a local young professionals group).

9 Mostly, you should work really hard to improve your skills as a practising solicitor. These include written and oral skills, across many formats and scenarios. Think about how you can improve your drafting and proofreading. Become as indispensable to as many people as possible within your team. Develop mutually helpful relationships with the support staff. As for what you should be aiming for in each seat, this is a question to ask of your firm's training partner or supervisor. They may have checklists. If not, you could perhaps discuss with your seat supervisor whether you can both create a seat checklist together. In many firms, policy is co-authored by trainees and partners. If you feel yours falls short on formal, written procedure then perhaps this is something you and your peers can think about. The Employability and Careers Service is here to help you throughout your course and after graduation. For any employability or careers related advice, please see our contact details below: CHELMSFORD Laura Sinclair, Employability Adviser Tel: laura.sinclair@anglia.ac.uk 2nd Floor Tindal Building Drop-ins: Wednesdays from 12pm to 2pm in 2 nd Floor Tindal Building. CAMBRIDGE Sarah Claydon, Employability Adviser Tel: sarah.claydon@anglia.ac.uk Hel 341 Drop-ins: Tuesdays 4pm to 5pm in the Start-Up Lab COS115 Thursdays 4pm to 5pm in LAB035 For back issues of the LPC bulletin and for more employability information, visit your faculty page: