Finding work experience can be so tough in this industry and I remember making so many applications and getting nowhere. It almost feels like you need experience to gain experience in the first place.
The legal industry is competitive and you need to be determined to make sure you secure these placements. Here are my tips on gaining experience to help towards securing a job in the legal sector:
Tailor your applications to each individual firm. This may sound like you've heard this a million times, but this is genuinely one of the most important things you need to consider. If you send a generic application to a law firm they will 100% throw it in the bin. Look at the firm's website, note what accreditations they have, notable cases they have worked on and what charities/community groups they are involved with and mention these in your applications. This shows that you have taken the time to research the firm.
Small and local firms. Sometimes it pays to aim for smaller firms in your local area. For a lot of aspiring lawyers, London is the end goal, but if you are finding it difficult to secure experience in a large London firm look elsewhere. It is sometimes more beneficial to gain experience in small and local firms as they may have more time to teach you about the job.
Ask your friends. Perhaps you have no lawyers in your family or friendship circle, but a friend of yours may know someone that is. Ask your friends and family if they know a lawyer and if so, ask for a contact number or email address to ask about gaining some experience. It's worth a shot, and if you don't ask you don't get.
Local advice centres. If you're really struggling to obtain legal experience, perhaps start looking at local advice centres such as the Citizen's Advice Bureau or a Legal Advice Centre. Having experience in these places is of equal value to a law firm. Both involve giving legal advice and therefore this would definitely boost your CV.
Shadowing. If you can't get a placement, see if you can shadow a lawyer for the day. Perhaps they are going to court for the day and you can tag along? It's worth asking and the worst that can happen is that they'll say no.
It's a long battle trying to get your first bit of work experience, but keep going. I made a number of applications and was rejected many times. Don't let it put you off, keep applying and if you are given feedback on any applications that weren't successful, pay attention to it.
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