In a tough job market, mentoring can secure that vital foothold. Schemes at law schools around Britain have already helped thousands of students, matching them with volunteers from their favoured practice area to give guidance on network-building, interviews and writing job applications.
Katherine Schofield was mentored by a clerk to the justices at York Magistrates’ Court while completing her Legal Practice Course (LPC). It gave her a valuable insight into practising criminal law and helped her to develop her networking skills “because I was introduced to so many criminal lawyers and magistrates”.
The College of Law’s mentoring scheme has grown by nearly a third in the past year, with about 640 volunteer mentors across its seven centres. Meanwhile, BPP Law School’s Access to Practice scheme last year matched 465 students with volunteer practice advisers from a range of firms, practice areas and positions, including managing partner, associate, trainee and human resources.
Peter Crisp, the chief executive of BPP Law School, says: “This scheme has helped about 1,500 students who don’t have training contracts to develop their insight into the profession and, with it, their confidence to go on and succeed.”
After completing her LPC at the College of Law’s York centre, Schofield was able to discuss her experiences at the magistrates’ court when she went for an interview with Mark Williams Associates, the specialist criminal practice in the South East, helping her to secure a training contract.
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Kate Rodgers, a solicitor with Ince & Co, the international commercial firm, is one of the college’s mentors. “I thought it a great idea. I have a mentor within my law firm so I appreciate the value of having a designated person to talk to. I remember the difficulties I had in applying for training contracts and how these could have been avoided if I’d had a mentor.”
All mentors and practice advisers receive training and support. “More and more solicitors and barristers are coming forward to offer their services as they know how tough it can be to gain a foothold in the profession, particularly in a recession,” says Rachel Harris, head of the college’s careers service.
? A free careers e-mail advice service offering help with CVs, covering letters and application forms has been set up to support former College of Law students for two years after graduating. Register with its alumni association