Get Ready for the New Academic Year

The world of corporate law can be daunting and navigating your career as a student can be complicated and challenging. In this article, I will outline how to ace next academic year especially if you are entering your first or second year in your LLB as an aspiring commercial solicitor. As a socially mobile candidate, I have had to do my share of research to understand the path to qualification better. Let me save you some time and help you break it down.

Academics

As you may know, law firms often require a 2:1 from their candidates. This is also important for those entering 1st year. 1st year definitely matters. Especially for those completing a law degree, readings can be demanding and it is important you stay on top of things.

What worked for me:

1. Make use of all support! It can be challenging to know exactly what your professors are looking for sometimes so don't waste time guessing. Make sure to at least book an office hour per module before exam season. It can save you the time of making mistakes and give you more direction. Also attend office hours after exams to reflect and give you guidance for the next exam season.
2. Spaced repetition. Do yourself a favour and don't leave revision until the last minute. It will actually demand more time from you if you do. Instead regularly review content every week. This does not need to be hours of extra readings and revision. Even writing one flashcard per week will deeply improve your knowledge recall and remove the need for extensive revision later on.
3. Make friends with those in the year above you. Fellow students can give you advice that professors might not be able to give you since they were in your position not that long ago. They understand how it feels and what really is important to succeed.
4. Study groups. This works for some better than others. I know those who get distracted when studying with friends however for me it has been great. It keeps me accountable and makes it a more fun experience. It also allows you to learn from each other.
5. Find a study spot. Staring at your screen can be overwhelming for long hours and studying in your room can make it easier to just slip back into bed. Find a space where you can go regularly to study. This allows you to separate work and rest and manage your work-life balance. Some like the quietness of a library while others love cosying up in a cafe with a warm mocha.
6. Read the introductions and conclusions first. Having a hard time navigating sources? Start with the introduction and conclusion to make sure the article is suited to your research. Navigating articles and sources efficiently is a skill that you will learn quickly on your path as a lawyer and this is a great start.
7. Use the bibliography in an article. Once you found a fantastic article, the bibliography is like a treasure. Use it. These will all be articles that relate to the topic and can help you. This way you can get lost in a rabbit hole of insight and judge the original sources. It is important to use a variety of sources and build your own opinion on the matter.

Networking

You heard it. The dreadful word. Don't worry it is not as scary as it sounds. If you can make friends, you can make professional connections. It is the same principles for both. It's about meeting people, being genuine and keeping in contact.

What worked for me

1. Polish your LinkedIn. If you are reading this, you are already halfway there. Get a professional-looking headshot, get some help writing a personal profile, add your work experience and use it to connect with people. Be an active member and add value to your connections. Know of a good opportunity someone would like? Message them about it. Really want to know what a career as a real estate lawyer looks like? Find and connect with a real estate lawyer and ask them yourself.
2. Polish your CV. This is a living and breathing document. Each time something changes in your career you should be amending your CV. Don't leave it until applications roll out. Law firms are often looking to have your grades first followed by work experience. If you have legal work experience, make sure to highlight it and put it first. Don't forget to add extracurricular activities at the end of your CV. They are great ways to gauge what type of person you are and if you have any leadership experience.
3. Networking events. Connecting in person always beats digital connections. Start applying for networking events through coaching programmes ( Rare Recruitment , GROW Mentoring , Aspiring Solicitors , SEO London etc.) as well as on the website of law firms. Make sure to have questions ready as well as an elevator pitch about who you are.
4. Informal networking. Don't underestimate the fantastic prospective lawyers in your class! Make sure to always be involved in your university's law society and keep in contact with those in your cohort.

Applications

With the start of the academic year, comes the start of application season. Applications can be demanding so here are some tips to prepare yourself.

What worked for me

1. Get a mentor. Applications are fierce so make sure to get someone to support you through it. It can be hard to always know what you can improve especially as very few firms give feedback on applications. A mentor will be able to check your applications and provide support during rejections. You can get a mentor through these coaching programmes or informally by reaching out to someone and asking them to mentor you.
2. Research, research, research. This is important for you since it is important that you find a firm you are genuinely passionate about but also for applications. Firms are looking for a well-articulated answer as to why you applied to that specific firm. Think about details such as their diversity policies, their training structure and their practice areas.
3. Practice for the Watson Glaser. Some firms won't even look at your application if you don't pass the Watson Glaser. The structure of the test can take some getting used to. I really recommend Simranjeet Kaur Mann 's video on it.
4. Use your university's career services. You need all the eyes on your application you can get. Often universities have appointments you can book to review your CV and cover letter as well as appointments to prepare for interviews.

Work Experience

Academia can be very different to practice so it is important to develop work experience. This way you can learn if the career is for you and build invaluable skills.

What worked for me

1. Highlight non-legal work experience. Don't be ashamed of your retail or fast-food part-time job. There are many transferable skills to be proud of. Emphasise them in applications.
2. Approach local firms and ask them if you are able to shadow/complete work experience for a couple of weeks. Don't limit yourself to formal applications. Many firms are happy to have a student shadowing.
3. Apply for formal work experience. These are your vacation schemes and first-year schemes. These are not the be-and-end-all but they do give you experience of the application process and opportunities to learn about the firms at a deeper level.
4. Apply for pro-bono. There are a lot of voluntary opportunities in law you can get involved in. This includes Citizens Advice and legal clinics which your university might run.

Forage . This is a great platform to complete online work experience at your own pace without the need for an application.

Commercial Awareness

This is one that I struggled with a lot myself. There is a wealth of information and it's challenging to know what to keep up with.

What worked for me

1. Podcasts. These are fantastic if you commute anywhere and give you a break from reading. My favourites include Commercial Awareness with Watson Daily, Times News Briefing, Thinking Commercially, and Wake Up to Money.
2. News Letters. These are great as you can search for some really niche ones based on your interests. My favourites are Morning Brew , Law Society Gazette, ZIP LAW , and Quartz.
3. Events. These are great if you are new to commercial awareness since you can ask questions and it is usually broken down with students in mind. Legal Cheek does fantastic events including a regular commercial awareness academy.
4. Always think about how a law firm would be involved. To do this, it is important to know how law firms operate and what practice areas law firms have. You will often be given case studies in interviews and asked questions on how the firm would be involved. Law firm websites are fantastic sources to learn more about this.
5. A little more regularly is better than a lot at once. Commercial awareness is built incrementally and naturally. Try not to cram it in preparation for interviews; it will sound too scripted. Instead consume one piece of media per week and really break it down. Choose a topic you are genuinely interested in.

Ending Note: Be Kind to Yourself

It is important to work hard and give it your best however it is also important to take care of yourself. When you dedicate so much time to your success and start surrounding yourself with successful prospective lawyers, it can take a toll on your mental health.

It is important to reflect on your progress and only compare yourself with your past self. Everyone is different and comparing your journey with others can be harmful. Furthermore, it is important to keep a healthy perspective. The ones on your LinkedIn page are a small minority to which the algorithm applies. You are not failing in your career. Furthermore, chances are that you are still very young. Your career has barely started and you have a lot of time to develop it. As long as you have time, you can achieve anything. Not everything has to happen now.

You might never experience university again. Enjoy the moment and take a step back once in a while.