Ask a Recruitment Consultant – questions this month on our chat bot

Questions sent to us via our new Chat service online, together with general career questions emailed across. We do our best to answer all queries, sometimes after a fairly lengthy delay if we are busy!

Hello – can you find me a job? I am a law graduate.

No.

Hi – I’m a law graduate who has been working in PR. I want to progress in law but I haven’t been offered a training contract interview when I have been applying.

Not too surprising here. You have applied for a handful of training contracts so far – why? Why not 75? I know legal careers advisers across the country recommend restricting your applications to a select few so that you can say you have concentrated your search, but you really are reducing your chances of success by doing so. No-one need ever know how many you have actually applied for. Why would they? Training contract applications can be a numbers game if you are not clearly an outstanding candidate with a 1st class degree, connections, outstanding extra-curricular activities to date and some good quality vacation placements under your belt. This advice is short and sweet – try harder. Its not as easy as it looks – competition is and always has been fierce! PS – your PR experience probably counts for very little in reality. Its good you have some work experience, but its not exactly legal. I hope I am wrong with this bit and a firm snap you up off the back of it.

I am writing to enquire if there are any paralegal jobs available in the South Hampshire region. I am a recent history graduate with the Open University and would like to pursue a career as a paralegal. Could you offer advice on jobs or how to gain experience in the industry?

A career as a paralegal? I suggest getting some unpaid legal work experience pronto to help you change your mind and have a proper career plan.. Email law firms – Law Society site very useful for contact details.

Can overseas qualified lawyers secure locum work?

Yes they can, but we are never particularly successful. Try those agencies who work with local authorities – tends to be a way in – local authorities tend to be less selective as to who they take and the hourly rates can be eyewatering as sometimes they pay just about anything to get anyone in.