Legal Recruitment

The outlook for many law students who are seeking to get a training contract in the coming years is a bleak one.  The reality is there are many more law students graduating from the legal practice course than there are training contract vacancies and therefore many end up being disappointed when they apply to get a job on the first rung of the ladder in the legal profession.

The situation has been made even worse by the recent recession which has caused many law firms to defer some of their training contract start dates and reduce the numbers of training contracts they are offering in the coming years.

This has meant increased competition for training contracts and the numbers of people applying increasing each year as the next wave of new applicants joins the existing applicants who have yet to secure a training contract.

The situation is therefore difficult for many law students who often have large student debts but who are unable to then get a job.  The situation isn’t helped by the fact that there is a lack of knowledge and advice available to law students about how best to write an application to give them the best chance of success.

One ex-solicitor became acutely aware of this situation when he was part of the recruitment process for his firm’s future trainee solicitors.  Matt Oliver has since set up a website to give careers advice and information on how to improve applications for training contracts.  The website is called Trainee Solicitor Surgery and is designed to give much needed careers advice to those people who are seeking to secure a training contract.

Given Matt’s background he is able to give specific, targeted advice rather than generic careers advice and application help, which is often all law students are able to get from their university careers offices.  The process needed to produce successful applications for training contracts is unique in many ways.  Not only do the applications need to be prepared in a certain way, but there is an important and necessary research element that needs to be undertaken before any applications are produced.

Matt also offers one to one assistance to students who are seeking to improve their chances of succeeding with their training contract applications.

For more information about succeeding with your law training contract applications click here:  Trainee Solicitors.

The society is governed by law. One has to abide by law while crossing a street, driving a vehicle, buying a house, using public services or doing anything. Various laws affect each aspect of the society. We must have the knowledge of the legal system but it is not possible for everyone to understand the complex terms of laws and so we take the services of a legal agency or a law executive. However, it is not possible for a law graduate to specialise in all law related fields and this is why law graduates specialise in a particular field (s) and make their career in that. So, today we have separate lawyers with necessary experience and expertise to sort out our various legal issues like civil, criminal and corporate.

Young law graduates can choose bankruptcy, probate, elder law, international law or any other field of their interest. Remember you could do wonders in your area of interest. So carefully decide which area of law attracts you the most. A legal recruitment agency could help you find legal jobs in your areas of interest. These days, environmental law is the favorite area for many lawyers. An environment lawyer represents public-interest groups, waste disposal companies and construction firms.

Lawyers could also opt to work as an in-house legal executive or go for their private practice. In-house legal vacancies allow you to work with large corporations and get a handsome package. In-house work deals in litigation, contract law, international law, corporate law and employment law. In private practice, a fresh law graduate can start as an associate to experienced lawyers and can earn good remuneration. A private practitioner has to deal with various laws ranging from property to criminal and divorce.

An interview is a two way process. This means a candidate should always be prepared with his or her counter questions. If you are going for an interview in a reputed law firm then think of some good questions to ask when it is your turn to interview your prospective employer. Always remember that whenever you go for a legal interview, make yourself mentally strong and prepared to face any situation. The employer wants to see a killing edge in you.

Preparing for Counter Questions

A young law graduate is no doubt has the knowledge of his or her profession but when facing an interview in law firms he or she could feel nervous. Certain activities can help boost up your confidence. First, get thorough knowledge about the law firm or the legal company you are going to visit for the interview. Your recruitment agency can give you all the information. On the basis of your knowledge, you should prepare a set of questions to ask. Your questions must be relevant to the job responsibilities you would be assigned. Now arm yourself with two weapons – first is your answers to their questions and second your questions to them – you are ready to face any interview.

On the Interview Day

Always bear in mind that it is your appearance that speaks volumes about you. Next is your attitude. You are going to become a law executive or secretary, so speak confidently. Get the habit to stand by every word you say. Be careful whilst selecting what you would wear for the interview. Ring up the office and confirm your interview with the receptionist before leaving. Reach the venue well before time so that you could get some time to relax. Sit patiently while waiting for your turn if there are other candidates.

A young law graduate may find it difficult to get a job all by himself or herself especially when there are other legal professionals in the competition. In today’s competitive age, you need a legal recruitment agency that can search legal vacancies for you. And it is not an ordeal to find a recruitment agency. As soon as you become a law graduate many of the recruitment agencies will call you to offer their services. However, lawyers can themselves access numerous agencies as they are available online. But it is slightly difficult to discern the best out of the rest.

A legal recruitment agency helps you evaluate your credentials and search the best ways to fulfill your objectives. The recruiter suggests how you can improve your resume. He also gives you valuable tips on how you can be a more competitive candidate. Your recruiter should be honest with you because it’s the recruiter, which will direct you to the most appropriate law firms that seek your level of qualification or meet your level of standards. It is very important on your part to describe in detail the information necessary for your application. The recruiter also should be interested in getting more about you. If you do not feel comfortable in dealing with a recruiter or your recruiter shows apathy towards you then it’s better to search for another recruitment agency without wasting much time.

You can consider it as a big plus if your recruiter has many years of experience in this field. But you should still strive to know other information about him such as the name of law firms he has worked with. It is not unethical to ask for the list of firms, whom your recruiter has provided candidates. If the recruiter has been in this service for years then he must possess a list of law firms.

When a door is closed another opens. This phrase stands quite true with regard to the legal sector. Although currently in the throws of economic recession, law graduates are still in good demand in certain areas.

Economic slowdown has its worst effect on property; extensive redundancies are made in this specific sector. The residential property market is almost closed. But in commercial property, new sales and acquisitions and finance and development have kept the market alive. Solicitors can find jobs in commercial property sector, as landlord and tenant work is holding out.

Caseload of general insolvencies has created a huge demand for solicitors with insolvency and contentious property litigation experience. However, the demand is much higher for solicitors, who have commercial insolvency or corporate recovery experience rather than personal insolvency. Recruitment agencies and legal firms are also reporting that there are a number of jobs available for contentious construction solicitors. A candidate with arbitration experience is especially sought after these days.

Another area with legal jobs in these turbulent times is employment law. As commercial firms are continuously making redundancies and a new employment legislation is being considered by the government, jobs in the field of employment law service are surging. It is certainly difficult to believe that current demand in employment legal service is so high that a single recruitment agency can never fulfill it on its own.

Personal injury sector has remained steady throughout the economic downturn. Yet, this particular sector has moved ahead to take advantage of those law and LPC graduates, who are looking for training contracts. These graduates can work like case handlers for the small and fast track work. Areas such as wills and probate, family and crime seek more paralegal graduates than there are today.

By Melissa Steele

Paralegals are assistants specially trained to handle the day-to-day needs of the lawyers they work for. Whether you are the sole assistant to a top lawyer or part of a team of paralegals in a legal department, your job will include the following tasks:

Draft and file documents, Interview clients, Research cases and precedents, Non-legal research

As a paralegals, you will be able to find work anywhere including private law forms, the district attorney’s office, government agencies, major corporations, banks, hospitals, or insurance companies.

What training do I need to become a paralegal?

Community colleges, online institutions, and vocational schools all offer certificates, associate’s degrees and bachelor’s degrees. No matter which program you choose, you will be trained specifically for the position of paralegal.

Your training as a paralegal will give you the tools to make a lawyers job go more smoothly without the ultimate responsibility of the cases. The list of tasks delegated to paralegals grows daily but their scope of practice is very specifically defined especially regarding presenting cases in court, offering legal advice, and setting legal fees.

What will I earn as a paralegal?

Education and experience greatly impact your earning potential as a paralegal. Where you live and who employs you also affects your rate of income.

Large firms and companies in large cities generally pay more than their smaller, more rural counterparts. Many paralegals, however, are often given bonuses in addition to a salary that could land anywhere between $28,000 and $50,000+. Legal secretaries make a bit more with salaries that range from $32,000 to $53,000+. Senior paralegals command salaries of $35,000 to $60,000+.

Do I need to be licensed or certified to be a paralegal?

No. There are some national exams for paralegals but none are required. It is recommended that you enroll in an American Bar Association approved program.

What is the future of the field?

The position of paralegal is expected to grow faster than most professions in the next decade, by more than 30 percent

About The Author

Melissa Steele is a featured writer for http://www.EducationGuys.com. She has been writing about technical vocational schools since 2004. To learn about legal degrees and law schools online, please visit us today.

About The Author

A. Harrison Barnes is the founder and CEO of CareerMission, the parent company of more than 90 job-search websites, employment services, recruiting firms and student loan companies. CareerMission (originally Juriscape) employs several hundred employees in 14 offices throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe. These companies were literally started from Harrison’s garage several years ago after Harrison quit his job.

Here’s a great article and guide on CV writing and how to survive an interview, found on Scribd

Hudson Legal CV Interview Guide

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samantha_July_Sumile