Understand Your Rights. Solve Your Legal Problems
Essay writing is hard as it is; now you’re in law school and it seems almost impossible to get it done. Continuing on with Lawyer Monthly’s Law School & Career features, Francine Ryan, lecturer in law and member of the Open Justice team at the Open University, provides Lawyer Monthly with the her top tips on law school essay writing.
So, it’s that time of year- trees are turning gold, the air is becoming crisper and Universities start to welcome their students to the start of a new academic year! Whatever stage you are at in your journey through Law School, you are likely to be writing a law essay this semester- here are five top tips to help you produce the perfect assignment.
‘By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail’ Benjamin Franklin; organisation and preparation are important for successful essay writing. Firstly, gather and organise your research- think how you will use the material and create a plan that develops an answer to the question. A plan is a working document that can be refined as you write- use it to help focus your writing and ensure you have covered all elements of the question.
Preparation and writing can happen at the same time, start drafting some parts of your essay and this will identify any gaps that require further research. To meet the deadline for submission factor in enough time to research, plan, write, edit and polish your essay. Writing at the last minute is stressful and unlikely to produce your best work.
An essay needs a clear structure- introduction, main body and a conclusion. The introduction unpacks the question and tells the reader what issues the essay will address. The introduction is an opportunity to show the marker you have understood the question. The main body is a series of paragraphs that develop a logical and coherent response to the question. Each paragraph builds and develops your argument. The final paragraph is the conclusion which draws together the arguments and comes to a view on the question.
A good essay answers the question asked. It’s not a general discussion of the legal topic it should have the right balance of description and analysis. It should explain or describe legal concepts but then go on to analyse, critique and engage with the issues in the question. Answering a question about judicial precedent and judicial law making- would explain judicial precedent and then analyse to what extent it can be argued judges do or do not make law. It is important to ensure there is the right level of description to support the analysis.
Make sure you know what the word limit is before you start writing as penalties can be imposed for exceeding the word count. You should be able to gauge from your plan whether it will fit within the word count. If at this stage you have too much content you can take out some aspects of your plan or you can write the essay and then re-draft it to fit the word limit. Conversely, if the final version is under the word count go back and re-visit the question to identify any gaps in your answer.
Once you have written a draft, go back and review your work- it’s likely to need further revisions then polish your essay, make sure it flows, and carefully check there are no errors or omissions. Reading your work out loud helps to identify mistakes. Check your references both in the text and in the reference list to ensure they are complete and conform to the requirements of your University.
Remember that writing legal essays takes some practice so take advantage of the feedback you receive from your tutor; identify areas for improvement and work on them in your next essay. If you need more help seek advice and support from your University, there are also lots of books which give good quality advice, including: ‘Legal Skills’ by Emily Finch and Stefan Fafinski which is accompanied by an online resource centre.
Criminal law is no easy path. Often needing thick skin, to be street smart and work long, tiring hours, criminal law is no longer as appealing to young lawyers, according to Mark Dooley, Partner and Section Head of the Criminal Department at Oxley and Coward Solicitors LLP. He gives inside information on what it is like being a criminal lawyer, and why there is a decline in criminal lawyers.
As an expert in criminal defence, can you share any aspects of the law which can cause frustrations, either with legal experts or with your clients?
This has to be the constant undervaluing of our entire criminal justice system.
The last few years have seen even further cuts to legal aid fees and the closure of many local courts. Local justice is becoming a thing of the past. There is a real shortage of criminal defence lawyers at the moment. I qualified five years ago and I do not know of anyone else qualifying after I did in my local area. In another 10 to 15 years, this will become a real problem. It is down to constant slashing of legal aid fees and the fact that remuneration in this field is not what it once was as a result. Graduates no longer see this area as a good career prospect and that is a real shame and a big concern for our criminal justice system, which is held out to be one of the best in the world.
From your experience, what do you think is the most challenging part of being a police station representative? How do you prepare yourself for such a role?
The police station stage of a case is crucial. This can often be where a case is won or lost. For me, the biggest challenge we representatives face is being expected to advise suspects at any time of day or night, on often complex and serious matters and often in anti social hours having already completed a full working day or week. It can be daunting when you start out, especially at 3am when the rest of the world is asleep, and your client is upset and distressed after already being held for a number of hours. Despite this, you need to obtain instruction and advise clearly and rationally in a way they will understand and appreciate.
The biggest lesson I have learnt to date is that in this job, you never stop learning.
There is nothing that can prepare you for being a representative at the station other than experience itself. You have to have the mindset that being a defence solicitor, this is all part and parcel of the job. It requires patience, dedication and above all else you must trust in your own ability and training.
From finishing law school up until now, what has been the biggest lesson you have learnt, in relation to working in criminal law?
The biggest lesson I have learnt to date is that in this job, you never stop learning. You do not simply qualify and become a great lawyer. Advocacy is a skill that you develop over time. The law changes often. Each case is different to the last in some unique way. Your people skills and negotiation skills increase with time and experience.
With most areas of law, the day you qualify is often of little difference to your last day as a trainee. That cannot be said of criminal defence lawyers. The day you qualify is the first time you will appear in court yourself, which is a huge learning curve.
There are some incredible advocates in my local Courts and over the years I have tried to observe them on their feet whenever possible. The day when you think you know everything in this job is probably the day you should pack in and go home.
"I am a Partner and Section Head of the Criminal Department at Oxley and Coward Solicitors LLP. I joined the firm in 2009 and trained with the firm before qualifying as a solicitor in 2013. I am a duty solicitor and Higher Court Advocate. I undertake both legal aid and privately paid work. I am also a prison law specialist."
Oxley and Coward Solicitors LLP is a multi disciplinary High Street firm based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. The firm has just celebrated its 225th anniversary. It has a young and vibrant partnership with six of its eight partners being homegrown.
As a law student you may well have had feedback on assignments asking you to “explain your reasoning”, “add in more analysis and evaluation” or even “be more critical”. What this means is that your marker is looking for you to demonstrate more critical thinking skills. So, what is critical thinking and how does it relate to the law degree? Emma Jones, lecturer in law and member of the Open Justice team at the Open University explains for Lawyer Monthly.
What critical thinking is…
Put simply, critical thinking is about gathering evidence, ideas and/or arguments and then evaluating (weighing up) their strengths and weaknesses in an objective and methodical manner. For example, when writing an essay you could be presented with an article arguing that the Human Rights Act 1998 should be repealed. To assess its validity you need to spend some time identifying the key arguments contained it in. Depending on their content, you might then have to re-examine parts of the Act (or other relevant Acts and cases) used in the argument, search for counter-arguments in other articles and then decide which provide the most persuasive evidence.
When tackling a problem scenario, it may involve reading the facts with an open mind, identifying key information, comparing the information you have with the facts of relevant cases and considering any arguments the other party or parties may come up with.
… And what it isn’t
Sometimes students think that showing critical thinking involves including lots of quotations from cases or academic articles and putting in a lot of references. This might show you have found plenty of information, but it doesn’t demonstrate that you understand it or can apply it to whatever topic you’re discussing. Some students may go one step further and explain arguments they find in such cases or articles in their own words. However, while it is important to look at all the relevant arguments, critical thinking is more than that. You need to evaluate the arguments yourself and decide how strong you think they are. In other words, you need to put your own spin on them, rather than just describing them.
Using critical thinking in your studies
Here are some suggestions on how to incorporate critical thinking into your legal studies:
As a law student you probably need all the help you can get, and online resources can more than often be your best assets. Below Emma Jones, lecturer in law and member of the Open Justice team at the Open University, lists three key online resources you can turn to.
It wasn’t so long ago that law students would spend days sat in the law library leafing through case reports and textbooks. Now many resources can be accessed anywhere, anytime with just an internet connection and smart phone or other device. To study effectively and keep up to date with changes in the law, it’s important to make the most of this information at your fingertips. Here are some hints and tips on using online resources.
The likelihood is your law library gives you access to a range of online legal databases, such as Lexis Library, Westlaw and Lawtel. These are particularly useful for finding legislation and cases. Often they will also show you if a case has been referred to in subsequent cases and its status as a precedent. It is well worth taking up any training available either by your library, or the database providers, to ensure you make the most of these resources.
If for any reason you don’t have access to these, do try the British and Irish Legal Information Institute for cases and legislation and legislation.gov.uk for legislation.
Given the size of law textbooks, the advantages of an e-version are fairly obvious! However, there is also a range of other e-books that can add value to your studies, particularly when you are being asked to evaluate arguments or demonstrate critical thinking. Often, skimming the introduction and/or conclusion will be a good way of identifying the book’s main arguments and working out how relevant it will be. Depending on how you access it, there may also be functions allowing you to search for key words and phrases.
Similarly, don’t forget to use key words and phrases to do a search for any useful journal articles available through your library. Going onto Google scholar can also lead you to different academic books and articles to use. Often at least part of these are openly accessible, making it a good way to find even more sources. You can also use Google Scholar to see when and where a particular article has been cited, ensuring you access the most up-to-date discussions on a topic.
Law firms, chambers, regulators, government bodies, the Westminster and Scottish Parliaments, the Welsh and Northern Irish Assembly, the BBC and many more all offer lots of useful legal information and guidance. Of course, you have to take care that you are using resources that are up-to-date and relevant. A good way to judge this is using the PROMPT criteria and looking at:
Remember, although scanning Wikipedia and Google generally might (but only might) be a starting point for your research, you need to then go on to use academic sources which are appropriate for your level of legal study. Referencing either of these in your assignments is not going to impress your reader or demonstrate any real skills in using online resources.
On the subject of referencing, it’s also worth spending a few minutes checking how to correctly reference resources you find online. It is very frustrating for someone reading your work if they can’t properly trace where you found the various pieces of information.
Overall, using online resources can really help you to develop your legal research and writing and enhance your assignments. It also provides you with valuable skills to put on your C.V. and to use in future employment. However, doing it properly means taking time and care in identifying and evaluating your resources and ensuring you use them appropriately. Getting used to doing this at an early stage in your studies will save time and stress later on. You might even find time to still visit the library once in a while!
Going to university should mean you earn more over your lifetime. But how much difference does the choice of university make? Well, this has been calculated* for the first time by the Institute for Fiscal Studies as evidenced by a new tool launched by the BBC.
It is data from this tool theknowledgeacademy.com analysed to determine which UK universities have the power to provide women with a fuller pay-packet, five years after graduation.
To accomplish their research, The Knowledge Academy first sourced the most popular subjects for women to study, using HESA’s ‘HE student enrolments by subject of study 2016/17’ report. Then, each subject was selected using the BBC’s ‘Difference in Earnings’ tool. Lastly, data for the university found to have the biggest effect on earnings, five years after graduation, in comparison with the average degree, was recorded.
The Knowledge Academy found Medicine and Dentistry is the “most popular” subject to study for women. To earn big in this field, women should consider enrolling at Keele University. Where, five years after graduation, women are expected to earn +£22,910 in comparison with the average degree.
For ladies who favour Business and Management, it may come as no surprise that the University of Cambridge offers candidates the chance to earn an extra £21,658 five years after graduation. Next are degrees in Biosciences (+£5,726; University of Oxford) and Sociology (+£6,303; Oxford), while women who choose to study Education and Teaching at St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, may achieve £5,162 more than the average degree.
In Creative Arts and Design, the biggest boost in post-university earnings can be found at Bournemouth University (+£2,042.) While Cambridge and Oxford (making the list yet again), may increase earnings by £8,839 and £26,062 for women who take the subjects Languages, Linguistics and Classics and Law, respectively.
History and Physical, Material and Forensic Sciences are the last two “most popular” subjects for women to study. For avid historians, the London School of Economics (LSE) could provide +£15,189 in earnings five years after graduation, while Cambridge is the key for enthusiastic scientists, who can expect added earnings of +£7,025 in the same 5-year period.
Joseph Scott, a spokesperson from theknowledgeacademy.com, comments: “Conducting this research was incredibly interesting, not least because it highlights how lifechanging choosing the right university can be. My advice to those contemplating higher education is, throw yourself into research. Choose the best option for you and you alone. Get the brochures, go on campus tours, and don’t be afraid to ask the big questions. It’s a significant opportunity, one can – quite literally – not afford to overlook!”
(Source: theknowledgeacademy.com)
Where do US female lawyers get their education? Below, Enjuris has collated a number of statistics on US law schools, female, enrollments and more. The New York Times recently reported that women form less than 20% of partner positions at top US law firms. It also reported that although more women were being enroled in law schools, they were generally being educated at lower ranking schools than male law students.
While female representation doesn't cover the majority of students, stats indicate it is none the less growing in the US's top-ranked law schools.
In addition between 2016 and 2017, female legal enrollment increased, though not dramatically. More data on the below enrolment comparisons can be found here. The below highlighted in blue are schools that increased enrollment of female law students in 2017, while the rest either kept their figures the same or decreased their female enrolments.
As a law student you’re likely to spend a fair bit of time writing answers to problem questions, so it’s best to be prepared. Below Lawyer Monthly’s latest law school & careers feature benefits from expert top tips from Emma Jones, lecturer in law and member of the Open Justice team at the Open University.
Problem questions can help you to develop valuable skills around identifying relevant information, applying legal principles to specific scenarios and writing advice in a clear and logical manner. Here are some top tips on how to approach this type of question.
OK, so this really applies to all types of assignments, but with problem questions there can be a pretty lengthy scenario for you to get to grips with. It can help to highlight or underline, but even better try making a flow chart or chronology of events, or a spider diagram detailing the involvement of each party.
One common way to approach analysing problem questions is the IRAC method – identify the Issue, explain the Legal Rule, set out its Application and reach a Conclusion based on this. Depending on the scenario you’re given, you might need to work through this process several times, for example, once for each party involved or each potential cause of action
When it comes to explaining the legal rules that apply to a scenario, it can be tempting to quote sections of statute or parts of judgments. Although it’s great to reference legislation and cases, setting out their meaning in your own words really demonstrates your understanding. It can be tricky to get the balance between keeping the original meaning and putting it in your own way, but it does get easier with practice.
The Application part of a problem question is key. It can be very tempting to jump from the legal rule to a conclusion, but you need to take your reader through your thought-process step-by-step. Often, there is no one “right” answer to a scenario, the key is to construct a clear and sound argument using legal authorities and explaining how they apply to the facts.
This leads neatly onto the next point – structuring your work carefully. Your Law School may have its own rules on this, for example, whether or not to include a brief introduction and when to use headings. It is important to follow these. The general rule is to try and make your structure and writing as easy to follow as possible. Imagine you are writing for an intelligent lay person with no previous knowledge of law. In fact, you can always ask a friend or family member to take a look to see if they can follow what you’re saying.
When you are trying to write a conclusion, you may find that there are parts of the scenario that are a little ambiguous or where there is potential for different outcomes. If that is the case, it is fine to indicate that you can’t reach a final conclusion, but it is important to explain why not. On the other hand, if you can give a conclusion, you should try and do so. It’s usually fairly clear when someone has lacked the confidence to make a decision.
Problem questions can be challenging, but they are a great way of developing key skills which are needed in plenty of careers, not least for working on the legal profession. Just remember, one day you may have a real client in front of you, and be very glad you had the chance to practice first!
The legal path is seldom an easy journey. Getting a foot in the door is difficult in itself but climbing the ladder to get to managing partner is tough journey. In this feature, we speak with recently appointed Sara Teasdale, who shares three top tips on how she became managing partner in less than 20 years of being qualified.
Whilst undoubtedly everyone’s journey through career progression and promotion is a unique and personal one, having being asked to reflect upon my own personal career path, culminating in recently being appointed as Managing Partner of Byrne and Partners LLP, it is clear to me now that there are three recurrent themes that I have navigated throughout my professional career.
Having qualified in 2000 into the business crime department at the Manchester firm Pannone, I moved to London in 2003 as an assistant solicitor in a boutique city litigation practice. In 2006, I accepted a job that may have appeared to some as slightly “off piste”. I joined Roiter Zucker, a niche life sciences practice based just off Finchley Road. One of the firm’s long-standing corporate clients was being prosecuted by the SFO, in what was at the time one of the biggest SFO prosecutions brought to date, and I was recruited as the sole criminal lawyer to run the criminal side of the corporate defence and to build up a free-standing criminal fraud practice. It was not without a high degree of trepidation and lingering self-doubt that I accepted the position. However, within twelve months I had built up a steady independent flow of criminal fraud work and I happily accepted an invitation to become a partner.
Fast forwarding to 2010, I was approached to re-join Pannone to set up its London office to build up its fraud and regulatory London offering. That move coincided with the timely return to my psyche of my doubting gremlin friend, but emboldened by my four happy, successful years at Roiter Zucker, I again ignored my nagging self-doubt and took on the challenge with a heady mixture of nostalgia and abject fear. Whilst the Pannone office never reached magic circle proportions, it progressed from me, alone in a subterranean office with my own balloon-based version of “Wilson” to a fully functioning full service offering with a headcount in double figures (just). I was asked to head the full service London office and be the main point of contact for the Manchester-based Board and Managing Partner.
In February 2014, Pannone was acquired by the personal injury behemoth Slater and Gordon and whilst there was a keen desire for me to move across to Slater and Gordon as part of that acquisition, I had a firmly held belief that my practice was better suited to a more commercial practice. At the time, my decision was unexpected and unpopular and throughout that period I recall that my mantra was that of “be brave” and have faith that I am best placed to know what is best for me and my career. After exploring a number of potentially exciting and quite varied opportunities, I joined Byrne and Partners LLP in March 2014. Four and a half years on, I am in no doubt that I was absolutely right to stand by my unpopular decision and to forge a new and different path.
It is never easy to swim against the tide of popular opinion but a large part of the job of any solicitor is about exercising and trusting your own judgment. That applies equally to one’s own personal and professional decisions. The majority isn’t always right!
My advice to any junior solicitor has always been to start at the earliest possible stage of your career to build up your network of contacts. A linchpin of most law firms today is the ability of its partners to generate work, and I have no doubt that my ability as a rainmaker has been seminal to my career progression over the last ten years.
Even as a trainee in 1998, I sat on various committees, and upon moving to London in 2003, I joined the committee of the Young Fraud Lawyers Association and latterly became the Chairwoman. I have continued that practice to date and am currently the Treasurer of the Fraud Lawyers Association. I have met many brilliant and extraordinary lawyers through my involvement in those committees and through immersing myself in many years of networking and people who started out as “mere” professional counterparts are now amongst my closest friends and confidantes.
That support and guidance has had an immeasurable impact on my career progression, not only in terms of work referrals but more importantly in terms of having a network of people you trust; who will support you and be honest with you when you are having a moment of self-doubt or are struggling to stand by an unpopular decision.
And so to Managing Partner
Agreeing to become Byrne and Partners’ next Managing Partner wasn’t an easy decision. I read an article recently that opined that the first step to making a great managing partner was having an easy act to follow. It concluded that “there is never a better moment to emerge than taking over from an awful predecessor”. My predicament is that I am following in the footsteps of a strong, successful and popular predecessor, and so again to lingering self-doubt. Whilst that is undoubtedly one of the many challenges that I will face in my newly appointed role, I will instead focus on my fellow partners’ trust and belief in my ability to lead and continue to take forward a successful and profitable business.
Practically, my other challenge will be to maintain the right balance between the demands of my new management role and continuing to grow a successful fraud practice, not to mention of course the demands of my three year old son!
In conclusion, more than ever I will need to ignore the gremlin; rely on and lean upon my unflinching support network; trust my own judgment and be brave!
Sara Teasdale
Managing Partner
Byrne and Partners LLP
Sara Teasdale is Managing Partner at Byrne and Partners LLP. Sara has extensive experience of criminal and regulatory investigations and prosecutions brought by the SFO/FCA/MHRA/DOJ, acting primarily for senior, often high-profile individuals. Notable previous cases include acting for a corporate defendant in the SFO investigation into alleged criminal cartel activity in the pharmaceutical industry; for the former Finance Director of the main trading arm of Cattles PLC in the FCA and FRC cases; and acting for individuals in numerous bribery and corruption investigations including BAE Systems, Sweett Group plc and currently in a Unaoil-related investigation.
As a law student, you need all the help you can get. This means as much in terms of contacts and opportunities as it does for learning and growing. As part of our law school & careers features, this week Lawyer Monthly hears from Francine Ryan, lecturer in law and member of the Open Justice team at The Open University, on making the most out of a mentoring programme.
It is becoming increasingly common for UK Law Schools to offer external mentoring schemes to provide students with insights into professional practice and develop links with the legal profession. This may involve discussions on areas of legal practice, CV writing, interview skills, network building and wider issues impacting on the profession. As your career progresses there may be other opportunities for you to benefit from a mentoring programme.
What is mentoring?
Mentoring involves building a supportive learning relationship where an experienced mentor offers their expertise and knowledge to guide and develop a less experienced person, the mentee. Mentoring can provide support in a number of different ways depending on where you are in your career.
A mentoring relationship is a shared responsibility between the mentor and mentee, it requires regular contact and commitment to work. Here are some top tips to help you get the best out of a mentoring programme.
Ground rules will help you work together
Discuss your expectations of each other at the outset of your relationship. Agree practical arrangements such as the frequency and location of meetings but more fundamentally define what you can expect from you mentor and what you mentor can expect from you. This should avoid misunderstandings and will help set appropriate boundaries for the relationship.
Know what you want!
The focus of the mentoring is on you, the mentee, so it is important to be clear about what you want from the relationship, but also to be open and flexible to exploring new ideas and perhaps changing direction. A good mentor will challenge you, ask probing questions and encourage you to think carefully about what is it you want to do, to help you find your own solutions. This is a great opportunity to discuss areas of practice that interest you and to consider whether they are suited to your talents, interests and aspirations.
Set goals- have a purpose!
Successful mentoring relationships need purpose and direction. You need to work with your mentor to set goals which are meaningful, these should be both short and longer term. For example, you may agree that the development of your network as a key priority, your mentor may agree to facilitate an introduction to an event. A short term goal could be going to the event. A longer term goal could involve developing connections with key people at the event. You need to be clear how you will achieve your goals and take the initiative to ensure you accomplish them.
Listen- actively
The majority of the time the relationship between you and your mentor will involve talking and listening. Listening is an active process, it is much more than just hearing what the other person is saying. Julian Treasure in his Ted Talk uses a helpful acronym, RASA, Receive, Appreciate, Summarise and Ask to facilitate active listening. Active listening takes practice and is a critical skill to develop not just for a successful mentoring relationship but in all aspects of your life.
Value what you have
If you are fortunate to have a mentor, who is willing to invest in your relationship, who is genuinely interested in you and wants to see you succeed, you are incredible lucky. You need to value that relationship, by ensuring you are responsible, respectful and ready. This means coming to meetings prepared, respecting your mentor’s time and remembering they are a volunteer. Acknowledging and appreciating their support is important, a simple thank you can go a long way in enhancing a relationship. You also need to be ready to take ownership and responsibility for you own learning- your mentor can’t do it for you!
As a law student this is a unique opportunity for you to engage with a legal practitioner on an individual basis, where you can gain from their professional expertise and experience. It should also motivate and encourage you by giving you the opportunity to think about your career path. A mentoring relationship involves hard work and commitment but can offer invaluable support in developing your career.
To support aspiring barristers The University of Law’s National Programme and Student Affairs Director – BPTC, Jacqueline Cheltenham, and its Careers and Employability Advisor, Anna Williams, have shared their advice on making it as a barrister.
With 16,435 practicing barristers registered in 2017 and 815 students successfully completing the BPTC, becoming a barrister is undoubtedly hard work and takes determination, dedication and intellect. The application process can be tough, but the crucial thing for applicants to do is continually re-evaluate their strengths, as well as their areas for development. However, it’s all worth it to establish a successful career at the Bar.
Don’t expect to get pupillage straight away
About a third of those who get pupillage obtain it prior to starting the BPTC; about a third get it during the BPTC year, and the final third will get it in the year (or years) after the course finishes. You are likely to become a better pupillage applicant over time.
Your set selection has got to be right
Unless your academic profile is excellent, don’t target commercial and Chancery chambers. If you’ve had no mooting or other advocacy experience, criminal and common law sets are unlikely to consider you, until you have.
Understand who you are as an applicant
Your strengths and achievements, your ‘pitch’, and how to use your backstory to differentiate yourself from other candidates in a positive way are all key. Look at biographies of junior tenants on each chambers’ website to gauge your suitability for that set.
What is it that you need more of?
Identify how you need to build your profile and strengthen your weaker areas.
The answer to this question is different for every candidate, but it’s important to be aware of any personal areas of development.
Application forms and interviews are tests of advocacy
As an applicant you will use your experiences as evidence to show recruiters how you meet their criteria. To do this you need to understand and use good application and interview techniques, such as STAR for competency questions. There are many events and other media which deal with application and interview skills. For example, 5 Essex Court produces an extremely useful annual report on its pupillage recruitment process, identifying how good candidates differentiate themselves. Additionally, The University of Law has created “Pupillage Interviews Uncovered” videos for YouTube.
Rogue punctuation and poor grammar are likely to be fatal
Learn how to write flawlessly. This necessarily involves learning how to proof read properly.
All the above tips require time, so start planning your pupillage strategy as early as possible. Utilising your careers service and your Inn (once you’ve joined one) are excellent starting points.
