Here are some pointers on how to approach the hunt for newly qualified solicitor jobs:
Be up to date with the job market
This can be done in 3 main ways:
1. Legal Press – regularly review the jobs sections of the legal press (both print and on-line) to get a feel for the market and to identify positions you might want to apply for. Many public libraries will have copies of the latest Law Society Gazette and even The Lawyer.
2. On-line Recruitment Sites – there are various sites that purport to advertise the latest legal jobs but some are better than others – the one we would recommend is called Totally Legal. However, it should be mentioned that most of these recruitment sites are advertiser based and so only carry job vacancies offered by firms and agencies that are paying them to advertise there. Therefore, they do not publish every newly qualified solicitor vacancy to their sites.
This site, however, does not take advertising payments for specific job vacancies and so can publish every job vacancy that is made available around the country. For more information on how to receive our regular job vacancy updates please click here: Latest Newly Qualified Solicitor Jobs
3. Legal Recruitment Agencies – for many newly qualified solicitors this is the first time they have had to consider contacting recruitment agencies in their hunt for employment. For more information about using recruitment consultants and getting the most out of them please click here: Using Recruitment Agencies
How to increase your chance of success
Depending on your personal circumstances and ambitions, the more flexible you can be in your search for a newly qualified job the better. Be flexible on the type of work you would do, the location in which you would work, the type of firm you would work for, the starting salary you will get, how far you would have to travel, etc.
This flexibility will increase your chances but you have to be very mindful of not just taking something for the sake of it which will ultimately make you unhappy. Whilst it might not feel like it right now, work is not the be all and end all of life and you don’t want to do something just to take the next step if it’s going to adversely affect your enjoyment of life.
Present yourself in the best possible way
At all stages of the application process care and attention should be taken to ensure that you present yourself in the best light possible. This starts with CV’s and covering letters and applies right the way through to the interview stages. Preparation is key here – it’s no good just throwing a CV together and sending it to as many places as possible as this sort of approach is often apparent to recruiters.
For more information on getting your applications for newly qualified solicitor jobs right please see the following section: Newly Qualified Solicitor Job Applications
Be Positive!
Whilst we acknowledge that this can sometimes be hard, if you can remain positive and project this attitude together with your experience to potential future employers then this is half the battle won. Add some good old fashioned perseverance and the other half of the battle should be within reach.
Professional One to One Careers Advice for Newly Qualifieds
Get help with your career decisions, job search, applications and interviews from our resident legal career coach, Matt Oliver LLB (Solicitor).
