Work Experience

[HebeJeeby]

Hi, my daughter is in Year 12 and wants to become a solicitor. She is finding it impossible to get any law firm to offer her work experience. She has written to the CPS, local law courts and magistrates courts too - again with no success. She has done a 2-day online work experience with a law firm and we have been to the local county courts to view cases etc… I have a friend of a friend, who is a solicitor, who is willing to have a chat with her about law which is great. Otherwise, I’m at a loss on how to help her proceed. Will it be the kiss of death in her Uni application if she hasn’t been able to secure any work experience? She is also interested in applying for a law apprenticeship too.

Are there any other avenues we can explore which might help her gain work experience or, at least make up for not having any actual experience? Her careers advisor is hopeless and just keeps telling her to keep on applying to law firms but doesn’t seem to have any other ideas or offers of help. Any ideas would be really appreciated. Thank you.

[Kanoe2]

Would businesses which have in-house legal departments be an option for work experience? It may not be the correct area of law your daughter is interested in depending upon the business but would offer experience into how the law is applied or insight into litigation.

[ZoeyBartlett]

Are you in London? She can come to me - in house legal team

[ZoeyBartlett]

But also email every local solicitors firm. Try and find out who does recruitment and send specifically to them.

[LoserWinner]

She can visit any magistrates’ court and watch cases without having to sign up for work experience.

[HebeJeeby]

Thank you for all your replies and good advice upon which we will act.
@ZoeyBartlett , I have DM’d you. Thank you.

[TizerorFizz]

@HebeJeeby Just to add: you can ask if your local authority has a law department. Many do and might offer work experience. Also definitely write to every solicitor in your locality. On a slightly different tack: is her school interested in moot competitions and putting in a team? At this stage it’s more important to decide if she wants a law degree or another academic degree and then convert. So I’m assuming you are doing uni open days. Most students get going with work related experience at uni.

[fiorentina]

Could you also put out a polite request on your local Facebook group - I see those here and sometimes successful.
At work they don’t allow us to have under 18s for work experience.

[TizerorFizz]

It’s also not necessary to have direct work experience when applying for a law degree. Visiting a court and understanding why you want to study law is good enough. Also any other academic degree is good enough convert. So if she would really prefer history for 3 years, do it. Then get going with law related WE at uni. Or simply volunteer. In my view, go to the best university possible and work out what you need to do from there. Others will be doing the same.