To ask for advice about law careers

[LimaLemur]

I volunteer as a mentor for a brilliant charity which focuses on helping girls from disadvantaged areas to connect with female professionals and give them access to opportunities that help them prepare for further education and future options like work or university.

My mentee’s in the first year of GCSEs (Year 10) and really interested in a career in law.

Does anyone have any advice on who I could contact so my mentee could have a chat about what a law career is like, please?

Thanks!

[ZacharyQuacks]

@Lima I'm a lawyer (intellectual property) and have been a mentor for uni students in the past. Most schemes are organised by universities or providers of the legal practice course (BPP, College of Law, Kaplan). But the organisers might be open to having a mentor chat through the options with your mentee.

Well done with your volunteering. It sounds brilliant and we need more diversity in the profession!

[LimaLemur]

Thanks for your post, Zachary! Would you suggest I contact universities and course providers (rather than law firms) about this, directly?

Thanks for your supportive comment on the volunteering :)

[ZacharyQuacks]

@Lima I would. Most law firms have vacation schemes/training contracts but you are usually only eligible to apply in the second year of uni or later. Law firms also wouldn't necessary have people with the time/availability to discuss this, also unis and course providers tend to be much more up to date on alternative ways into the profession. I have friends who qualified via the ILEX route and I've heard some firms now offer apprenticeships, so that might be an option.

I am part of a women in IP network and IP inclusive group (I think you can find them/similar groups on LinkedIn) and this type of group might be able to give some good advice regarding careers in law/ opportunities into the profession.

Best of luck to you and to your mentee .