Advice for my son wanting to go into law

[Spanishsplendour]

My son is reading History at Cambridge and has just finished his first year. He has recently decided he wants to be a solicitor and has researched the pathway (SQE etc). He wants a reasonable work-life balance (he loves his sports!) so does not want to apply to “magic circle” firms - but he does want to make the most of his Cambridge degree and aim high. He hasn’t yet narrowed down which area of law he will want to specialise in and hopes to do that via an internship (he seems to think firms “rotate” interns around various departments?).

My question is how does he narrow down which law firms to apply to for a) internship next summer (at the end of his second year) and b) a training contract? We live in London which is handy for law but have no legal contacts or knowledge so feel rather clueless!

@TheWayOfTheWorld I applied in the mid-late 90s and my main reason for applying to Slaughter and May was that they only wanted a CV, not a form. I had a basic word processor thing so typed it on there.

@Delphigirl did you train at Links by any chance?

Not sure if the OP is coming back to read all of our awesome advice sadly

Yup!

I think he should go with the flow . Finish his degree and study law and see what area of law he is passionate for . I got into law thinking I wanted to do criminal law however during my course realized I was more interested in employment law which wasn't what had planned for

Sibling works at mc firm. Don't think there's much life balance in law unless you go in house. Very competitive now too

1. Adlers (interview arranged but cancelled by me after TC offer)*
2. Allen & Overy
3. Allison & Humphreys
4. Baileys Shaw & Gillett
5. Cameron Markby
6. Charles Russell *
7. D J Freeman
8. Denton Hall & Burgins
9. Fishburn Boxer
10. Frere Cholmeley
11. Gouldens *
12. Herbert Smith
13. Hewitt Wollacott and Chown (2 interviews)
14. Ince & Co
15. Kenneth Brown & Baker
16. Knapp Fishers
17. Lovell White & King *
18. Merrick & Co
19. Nabarro Nathanson
20. Herbert Oppenheimer Nathan & Van Dyke
21. Norton Rose Botterell & Roche
22. Radcliffes
23. Reynolds Porter Chamberlain
24. Rowe & Maw *
25. Slaughter and May
26. Theodore Goddard
27. Trower, Still & Keeling
28. Vizards
29. Wedlake Bell

I think star means 2 interviews.
Anyway nowadays I agree for most firms it takes longer to apply with Watson G psych type tests and whole day assessment although some have stuck with the cover letter, CV and form and interviews like one of my old firms.

For the boy concerned on this thread might want to look at https://www.lawcareers.net/Solicitors/TrainingContractDeadlines as that has a reasonable list of deadlines on it but always also check the firms' websites too.

@Spanishsplendour Hope you are still around!

I know a few young lawyers (via DD who is a barrister) who did non law degrees and converted. Cambridge is very good at ensuring students have the info about applying for law. It’s also a bit of a lemming thing! As deadlines loom, he will not be the only history grad applying. @Xenia knows the ins and outs but several of DDs friends who have done commercial law have also done the MLaw at Cambridge. However he might well have to accept sport is limited to weekends! No one gets work life balance!

Therefore he will be swapping earnings for more time to himself if he goes to a “lesser” company. If you go into law, you really have to want it. He’s very well placed to get all his ducks in a row. Start with internships. Rule out city law if it doesn’t suit or he doesn’t get one. Apply for a variety. Magic and Silver circle refer to prestige of city firm. There are others but big earnings lie with these. Work life balance doesn’t.

Criminal law doesn’t pay. High net worth divorces do. So think about a variety of law firms and what might interest him. This then informs how he uses his time to boost his cv. Also do not forget there are barristers too if he’s interested in advocacy. It’s never too early to start the research but start with Cambridge careers early next term as the deadlines for internship applications will be looming!

yes I am still here and am catching up with all your brilliant advice! Thank you so much. Will show it to my son when he’s back from his weekend away 👍❤️

Delph I am thank God v grown up - you are meanwhile puerile 👍🏿☘️

@halesie that definitely rings a bell - application forms were a pain even then

@Xenia that list of firm names is a blast from the past