Law Student Survival Guide

It’s a jungle out there, as a law student at university, so here is a law student survival guide to help inform you of the process! A law student survival guide tries to provide information on all that a student needs to know before embarking on what should be an exciting and enjoyable time as a law student. This law student survival guide takes you through the various joys and pitfalls that may arise as a law student.

Law student survival guide to ensuring that experience at university is valuable and useful: Officially law school starts at undergraduate level. You may choose to study law, or law with a combination of another subject. A straight law degree is an LLB, which means Bachelor of Laws. Thereafter you may choose to study postgraduate courses, which may or may not contain law as the topic of study. Usually a Masters degree in law is an LLM, and a Masters degree in another subject is an MSc, which means a Master of Science. The next stage in the route to qualifying as a barrister or solicitor in England and Wales is the professional training period. This comprises both academic and practical experience. At professional level, the route to qualify as a barrister is known as the BVC, or Bar Vocational Course and the route to qualification as a solicitor is known as the LPC or the Legal Practice Course. The BVC and the LPC must be followed by a period in apprenticeship. For prospective barristers, this period is the pupillage, which lasts for one year, and for prospective solicitors, this period is the training contract, which lasts for two years.

Law student survival guide to getting involved: law students should take advantage of the various extra-curricular activities that are organised at university. These are in the formof clubs and societies, social events such as musical performances, and studentcompetitions. These will assist students in forming relationships, contacts andenable them to enjoy their time at university by taking part in activities that they enjoy.

Law student survival guide to time management: law students are expected to be able to effectively combine study, with pursuits outside academia that help demonstrate relevant skills. Time management is a key skill that is needed by a law student and employers will be looking at how a law student has managed this throughout their university education and working life.

Law student survival guide to vacation placements and mini-pupillages: vacation placements and mini-pupillages are periods of (often assessed) internship that enable a student to get a glimpse of what practice is like, and at the same time they enable an employer to evaluate an individual student. Vacation placements are tied to the solicitor profession, whereas mini-pupillages are tied to the barrister profession. Most students who are later to become successful at getting traineeships will have a few of these types of experiences under their belt. Usually 3-4 are sufficient.

Law student survival guide to what are employers looking for: Generally employers looking to recruit prospective trainees are looking for a mixture of skills and academic performance as demonstrated by their application. Performance in A-Levels, at university, at the professional training stage and references all matter and will be taken into account in this assessment.

Law student survival guide – is “law” competitive?: Yes! Very! Probably more so than most other professions. Prospective employers are looking for A and B grades at A-Level and 2.1 + at undergraduate degree level. For the bar course, prospective employers usually look for an average of 70% plus, which is usually classified as a “Very Competent”, out of a possible three categories: Competent (50-70%), Very Competent (70%-85%) or Outstanding (85% +). If you do not have these grades, do not despair as you may be able to compensate by achieving better than average grades at postgraduate level, or by getting excellent experience than demonstrates relevant skills and individual ability.

Law student survival guide to the Inns of Court: The Inns of Court are the four professional societies that regulate the conduct and help regulate the education of barristers. They are all located in England, and are The Inner Temple, Grays Inn, The Middle Temple and Lincoln’s Inn. These societies organise activities that support the professional development of barristers at all stages of their academic and professional development. They have individual, dedicated websites.

Law student survival guide to making contacts: It is useful to try to make contacts throughout a student’s time at law school. This may not successfully be achieved by looking at a law student survival guide, although such a publication may be able to explain the importance of doing this successfully. These may be academic or professional. Law students should try always to create a good impression, and to work hard, and prospective employers will be able to gauge this from the level of detail a referee is willing to write about an individual student in a reference.

Law student survival guide to funding opportunities: a law student survival guide would not be a law student survival guide if it did not advise about the mechanics of actually being a law student. Fees at undergraduate level can be managed more effectively with a student loan arrangement. Students should consult their students union, or their prospective university to discuss this. Students of Masters degrees and those working towards professional qualifications are not as fortunate. They may need to rely on career development loans that can be arranged through most high street banks such asthe Halifax, Nat West or HSBC. Banks may publish law student survivalguides to financial matters. The Inns of Court have annual scholarship competitions. Students should check with individual institutions.

Law student survival guide to the difference between undergraduate and professional qualification study: There is a world of a difference between these two forms of study with the later involving an expectation that the student will behave more independently and professionally than was the case at undergraduate level.

Law student survival guide to getting support for disabilities: Law students with disabilities may be entitled to Disabled Students Allowance or DSA. Check with their university, professional provider of education or any law student survival guides these institutions may publish.

Law student survival guide to security: law students can often live away from home. A good tip is to ensure security when living in student “digs” because these locations are usually targeted by would-be burglars. Again check any individual law student survival guides published by the university or education provider, or by the students union for information and specific information on local any problems.