Hello... I am new!!!!

[NewLawJo]

Hi Everyone

I am new to this site and couldn't work out where to post an introduction... so.. as I need to post on this area I thought I would combine the two.

My name is Jo, I am in my late 30's and have 3 daughters, 13, 11 and 7. I have not worked since my youngest was born, but have been doing a full time degree in Law for the past 2 years.

I am nearing the end of my degree and will graduate next June. I have really struggled to combine the Uni work with raising my children but have managed. I go to Uni for 12 hours a week... come home love and raise my kids and when they go to bed I burn the midnight oil!!!

Anyway,I am set for a good degree ( a low 1st or a very high 2;1) and Sept 2008 I am doing the legal practice course at the College of Law in Chester.

My question is...... to any lega/ non legal employers...

I have sent out so many applications for Training Contracts and not even got an interview... Is this down to my age???

I think my CV is pretty hot ( my careers advisor says so too!!), I have ran my own business, gained valuble work experience in Chambers and Solicitors. I have mooted in the OUP competition and worked voluntarily for the CAB. I was my Uni's Law Socity President in my 1st year too!!!

I have tried to make up for my lack of qualifications in earlier life... but to no avail.

I would really appreciate comments from anyone !!!!

Great Site BTW!!!!

Jo x

what am I doing wrong????

Hi Jo. Welcome to Mumsnet... don't expect life to be the same again now - it's seriously addictive!

Your questions may be better placed in the "Legal/money matters" (I think) topic...that's where the lawyers hang out! HTH.

Hmm, it could be your age (sadly). Then again, I know plently of talented 23 year olds who didn't get any interviews or offers. All you need is one, and it will come.
What sort of firms have you been applying to?

Welcome by the way!

Hi - and welcome!!

I have just graduated in law - took me five years part time as was working and raising two kids!! It was tough but well worth it!!

I have worked in the legal sector also but have postponed doing the diploma for one year as dd is only 8 months old and I want a break from studying!!

Keep applying for traineeships - how many have you applied for? What kind of law do you want to do? I am in Scotland and so am not sure what the recruitment side of things are like down there but I know up here that it is tough to get a traineeship. However in saying that most of the people I went to uni with have all secured contracts and I know that a lot of them did so becase of their experiece!!

Keep trying....I am sure you will end up with a fab contract!!!

Good Luckxx

Sorry - worded that a bit weirdly. Basically, don't worry - you just need to target properly and be prepared to re-jig your CV / application style if it's still not getting you any interviews. What area of law do you envision yourself working in?

PS - top tip - leave your age off your CV. You do not have to put it on and anyway it is now unlawful to discriminate due to age....you never know perhaps some employers are still doing this but you will never know as they are unlikely to tell you this.....at least if you get an interview you can sell yourself on a one to one level....

PS - top tip - leave your age off your CV. You do not have to put it on and anyway it is now unlawful to discriminate due to age....you never know perhaps some employers are still doing this but you will never know as they are unlikely to tell you this.....at least if you get an interview you can sell yourself on a one to one level....

I know nothing about law, although you sound fab, I'd hire you

Just pootled on to be nosy and say hello and welcome!

Hi and welcome

Agree that age not necessary on cv but you can always tell ...

Do you know any lawyers? Personal contact counts for a lot. What about the offices you've worked in already? Have you thought about working for a year in a law firm as a temp? Try the local Law Society, there's at least one that I know of where the secretary knows exactly who needs what. Have you thought about a local authority? they'll often do training contracts ...

Just thoughts

I agree - personal contacts do count for a lot. I know that in Scotland places like the Scottish Exec/PF's office etc do traineeships. Some of my uni friends got summer placements and then were offered contracts - have you thought of this? You could perhaps try contacting a few firms to see about this kind of thing?

Thanks for the lovely welcome....

I am a regular on another web forum.. nfh.org.uk.. a web sit for people suffering at the hands of nasty neighbours. So... Yes I do know how addictive these good sites can be.( I love it!!)

To answer a couple of questions..

I am not interested in the magic circle or even the top 100 Times firms.. I am looking for a good medium high street practice with fingers in family, equity, wills trusts and planning pies.

I am not trying to kid myself that I am young, hot and hungry. What I do have to offer is better!!! I am loyal, dedicated and ambitious. I may be 38 but.. in our present financial climate how many people can admit to say that they will retire at 50 or 55??

I intend to dedicate the next 25 years to a good company who can believe in me...

I may ommit my age from my CV. However, how do I account for my employment record dating back to 1990?? lol.

My CV is a standard template with a few adjustments... my date of birth sits underneath my address at the top of the first page...mmmm... Do ya think I should delete???lol

I will post my initial thread in the legal and finance section as recommended.

Again thanks for the warm welcome.

I shall have a mooch around the other topics now.

Jo x

Jo - you are correct about employers working out your age by your previous experience but all I am saying is that if employers get loads of CV's they sometimes flick through them and take out a selection first - if your age is on front page and near the top perhaps it may be taken out this way. I am not saying that this is happening but you never know!!

Thanks Karen

I will adjust my CV toot sweet!!

also, how long would you go back through employment ??? do I include my topshop student job in 1987 or keep to the last millenium????lol

Thanks in advance
Jo xxxxxxxx

I only go back 10 years - lol!! Anything before was never that great looking on my CV....if they want to know they will ask you about it - hopefully at interview stage!!!

PS - my partner is a solicitor advocate and rather than start with work history he suggests that you start with a small paragraph emphasising why this is what you want to do and what you have done to ensure that you get to your goals...he says that this will catch their eye and make them want to read on...he should know he gets hundreds of people applying and the last two trainees they took on were in their 40's!!!

Yes, remove your age and be quite selective about work experience. I would say only put down what you think is really relevant - i.e. any legal experience, any long term jobs and anything else that looks relevant to those areas of law (if there is anything). Definitely put the emphasis on the legal side of things.

Also, emphasise any good charity / volunteer work (e.g. CAB). Maybe your layout isn't great.

If you email your revised cv to me at [email protected] I will take a look at it if you like.

Karen...

You and your (very handsome...he he) partner are very kind!

I will get onto my CV tomorrow afternoon... In the mean time... I have to endure a gruelling and somewhat confusing Human Rights Lecture at 9am in the morning!!! ..that is if I can manage to shuttle my girls off to breakfast club at 7.45!!!

Thanks again and have a good evening

Jo xx

Hi Jo and welcome

Congratulations on achieving so much with three small children! thought i would give you my two penneth re: your search for that elusive training contract. I've literally just newly qualified as a solicitor. I'm 32 with a 3 year old DD.

I did my LPC in 2000 and then worked as a paralegal for four years before taking maternity leave to have my dd. I never went back to my old job as, by some miracle, I managed to find a training contract in a local high street practice.

In the end, i was offered three training contracts (each worse paid than the next!) - I think what swung it is that I got some work experience organised in the Legal Department of the Local Authority. i literally emailed their head of department asking if I could shadow them for a week and they found me so helpful I stayed for four (obviously unpaid!). then I sent out a mailshot to every single firm within a 20 mile radius and offered to work for them for free for a week - "try before you buy" sort of thing! Only nine responded and only three of those offered me interviews...

I think our age can work to our advantage - after all we can literally put ourselves in an office environment and hit the ground running. I do think it's hard to find the opportunities to even try to demonstrate that which is why offering a week unpaid might be attractive. I offered to do the archiving for the council which is why I think they replied so quickly to my email! They didn't offer me a training contract but they gave me a ruddy good reference!

Anyway, I hope that's helpful. There's tons of lawyer types on MN so hopefully you'll get plenty of feedback that will help you.

Good luck in your search and keep us posted with any developments!

Hi Jo - just wanted to say welcome / glad you made it over here!