Careers in Law
Employers highly value capable law graduates. If a career as a solicitor or a barrister is not for you, the range of possibilities is wide.
Law-related opportunities include the Crown Prosecution Service, the Law Commission, the courts (Magistrates courts as well as the Court Service), legal executive, barrister's clerk, conveyancing and paralegal work.
Other possibilities include accountancy, finance, the Civil Service and HM Revenue and Customs and the wide range of graduate training schemes in management and administration, for which a degree in law is as good, as any other.
Careers events
The Leeds Law Fair is a two-day event, held at the beginning of November each year. Representative from major companies, top recruiters and other organisations attend the event and it is an opportunity for students and potential employers to meet.
Career planning
If you aim to become a solicitor or a barrister, start your personal development plan early in your University career.
Competition is fierce and the larger law firms recruit up to two years in advance: you need to apply for placements, mini-pupillages and training contracts during your second year.
Similarly, if you intend to apply for a Legal Practice Course or a Bar Professional Training Course, research your options early and use the resources available in the School and University to help you complete your application.
Whilst your degree programme will provide you with a breadth and depth of knowledge to pursue a legal career, there is a range of vocational and personal skills that you can acquire by participating in extra-curricular activities at university and through work experience. Early work into career planning and personal development will give you an advantage in the competitive graduate job market.