Careers Advice
Building the Kingdom, not a CV: Career Advice and Living in the Will of God
“Many are the plans in a man‘s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21)
We believe that it is an important part of the ministry of the Student and Young Lawyers’ Department to provide careers advice for Christian law students. This advice is based on the opinion of lawyers in practice, specialist careers advisers and our own experience.
Warning
A career in law is enjoyable and exciting but also challenging and extremely competitive. Law degrees, conversion and vocational courses (GDL, LPC, BVC) are expensive and pupillages and training contracts are often difficult to secure. It is wise to be prayerful and realistic before commiting to a career in law. Many today are left having to seriously rethink their career path after failing to find a pupillage or training contract.
Before reading any further we strongly advise you to read the following warnings:
Law Society Notice to LPC Applicants:
The Law Society wishes to ensure that all who consider entering the profession are aware of the challenges they are likely to face. In this context, the Law Society urges every LPC admission applicant to give careful thought to the following:
- Successful completion of the LPC is by no means a guarantee of an offer of a training contract.
- Completing the LPC entails a significant financial commitment. Fees for the course range from £5,000 to £9,000, and do not include living expenses.
Click HERE to read more.
Lord Neuberger’s report into access to the Bar:
"Thousands of students who take a costly one-year vocational training course to become barristers have only a minimal chance of succeeding because of their poor English, a law lord’s report claims.
The damning report into entry to the Bar by Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury says that students should be made to take a basic aptitude test in English.
The one-year inquiry by a 32-strong working party said that too many students of “poor quality” were being admitted to the Bar Vocational Course - which costs them up to £13,000 a year, plus up to £7,000 living costs - at the expense of more able students from less privileged backgrounds who had fewer contacts." (The Times Online, 27th November 2007)
To access the full Neuberger Report, please click HERE.
Furthermore, the percentage of BVC students obtaining pupillage / tenancy is low, approximately 20%. Consider these statistics from the Bar Council.
Contents
To help you to find God’s path for you, please explore the linked articles below. Do email either Phil (phil@lawcf.org) or Ruth Oladipo (ruth@lawcf.org) if you have any queries.
- Discerning the Will of God
- Solicitor vs. Barrister and Alternatives
- Steps to Becoming a Barrister or Solicitor
- Choosing a Firm or Chambers
- Navigating the Application Process
- Making the Most of an Interview
- Gap Year Opportunities
These articles are primarily aimed towards those seeking to work in England and Wales - apologies to the Scots and Northern Irish.
For info on seeking a traineeship in Scotland please click HERE.
For info on qualifying as a lawyer in Northern Ireland please click HERE.
International Students: for information aimed at international students on studying and practising law in the UK please click HERE.
