Job Sector Information

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Legal & Patent work

For information and resources linked to your subject of study, see the Degree Subject Resources pages of our website.

Current Opportunities

If you would like to meet representatives from leading law firms, the bar and alternative training contract providers please take a look at what the CSET Summer School can offer you.

The CSET Summer School is an expenses paid residential event for first-year law students and second-year non-law students that gives the opportunity to:

  • Take part in skills sessions on practical law, commercial awareness, teamwork and how to succeed at applications and interviews.
  • Work with solicitors from top law firms.
  • Work on hands-on case studies and debating exercises.
  • Be inspired by representatives from alternative training contact providers and the self-employed bar.

The 100 place Summer School runs from Monday 11 July until Thursday 14 July and will be held at Queen Mary, University of London.

For more information please click on the link below to access an electronic booklet with comprehensive details, plus hints and tips, on how to complete a good application.
http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/e0a0feab

Applications are now open and the closing date is the 31 March 2011 so if you are interested please apply now. Further information and a link to the online application form can be found on the CSET website: http://www.cset.org.uk/?page=cset-summer-school

If you have any questions about the CSET Summer School then please contact us on 01491 828915 or e-mail us at CSETsummerschool@groupgti.com.

General Resources

The Legal Sector, Law Enforcement and Local, Regional & National Governement AGCAS Sector Briefings give an overview of these employment sectors and includes key roles for graduates, case studies and further links and resources. Free copies of these are available from Careers or you can view or download them from the Prospects website.

Where to look for Jobs and Work Placements

Law Society Gazette online
News, information site, job search

Law Careers

Trainee Solicitor Surgery - specialist careers advice on how to get a solicitor's training contract.

Inside Careers: Patent Attorneys
search for graduate vacancies and career advice etc

The Lawyer Lawyer news, jobs, directories of contacts

Legal Executive Recruitment Law recruitment agency

Legal Executive - Journal of ILE Members area, special features, recruitment section

Local Government Jobs

Totally Legal Professional career advice, opportunities

Patents and Designs Journal - produced weekly by CIPA

Chemistry World published by Royal Society of Chemists

Trademarks Journal published by ITMA has an appointments section

New Scientist - jobs section online

The Training Contract & Pupillage Handbook (available for reference from Careers)

The Times, Tuesdays

Independent, Wednesdays

New Scientist, Thursdays

www.gradsouthwest.com has graduate level jobs in the south west. Register to search for jobs and job alerts matching your criteria

For further information on the job seeking and application process, and resources available, please see the Looking for Jobs and Applying for Jobs pages of this website.

For further information on Work Placements and to download our information sheet, please see our
Work Placement pages.

Useful Web Links

BVC Online Members only website

Bar Council - Training courses, careers section for graduates

Online Pupillage Applications Scheme (OLPAS)
Access to all Pupillage vacancies in England and Wales

The Bar Directory
Search the Bar directory

Civil Service Recruitment Agency

Solicitors Online Search for law firms in your area

HM Land Registry Education and training opportunities

Law Careers.net

Espace Net European Patent Office interface site

Intellectual Property Government back information site

Professional organisations for the Legal Sector

Most professional bodies and associations have careers information and advice. Check the list below:

Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC)
16 Glebe Road, Chelmsford, Essex  CM1 1QG
Tel: 01245 349599
www.conveyancer.org.uk

The Law Society of England and Wales
113 Chancery Lane, London  WC2A 1PL
Tel: 020 7242 1222
www.lawsociety.org.uk

The Bar Council
289-293 High Holborn, London  WC1V 7HZ
Tel: 020 7242 0082
www.barcouncil.org.uk

Bar Association for Local Government and Public Service
c/o Mirza F. N. Ahmad, Chief Legal Officer, Birmingham City Council, Ingleby House, 11-14 Cannon Street, Birmingham  B2 5EN
Tel: 0121-303 9991
www.balgps.org.uk

Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)
50 Ludgate Hill, London  EC4M 7EX
Tel: 020 7796 8000
www.cps.gov.uk

Faculty of Advocates
Parliament House, Edinburgh  EH1 1RF
Tel: 0131 226 5071
www.advocates.org.uk

Clerksroom
2 Heron Gate, Hankridge Way, Taunton  TA1 2LR
Tel: 0845 083 3000
www.clerksroom.com

Institute of Barristers' Clerks (IBC)
289-293 High Holborn, London  WC1 7HZ
Tel: 020 7831 7144

Professional Bodies in the Patent Sector

The Centre for International Industrial Property Studies (CEIPI)
CEIPI Section Internationale, Université Robert Schuman, Boîte Postale 68, F-67046, Strasbourg
Tel: +33 (0)388 14 45 92
www.ceipi.edu/gb/sommaire/index.html

Chartered Institute of Patent Agents (CIPA)
95 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1DT
Tel: 020 7405 9450
www.cipa.org.uk

European Patent Office (EPO)
Erhardtstrasse 27, D-80331 Munich, Germany
Tel: +49 89/23990
www.european-patent-office.org

Institute of Patentees and Inventors
PO Box 1301, Kingston on Thames, Surrey KT2 7WT
Tel: 020 8541 4197
www.invent.org.uk

Institute of Professional Representatives (EPI)
PO Box 260112, 80058, Munich, Germany
www.patentepi.com/

Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys
Canterbury House
2 - 6 Sydenham Road
Croydon
Surrey
CR0 9XE
Tel: 020 8686 2052
www.itma.org.uk

Intellectual Property (IP) Institute
36 Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3QB
Tel: 020 7436 3040
www.ip-institute.org.uk/

The UK Patent Office
Concept House, Cardiff Road, Newport, South Wales NP10 8QQ
Tel: 0845 9500 505
www.patent.gov.uk

Events and Careers Fairs

Prospects website has a legal careers fair section

Further Training and Development

Graduates in a non-law degree subject can still qualify as a solicitor or barrister by taking the Common Professional Exam or Graduate Diploma in Law before embarking on the LPC/BVC, although this entails an extra year's study and more expense. These 'conversion courses' prepare non-law graduates for a legal career as they cover the foundations of law, namely contract, tort, criminal law, equity & trusts, EU law, property law and public law.

The Bar Council - training and education.

For a list of law conversion courses click here

www.lawcabs.ac.uk Central Application Board for courses in law

For further training in patent work, trade mark work and mediation, see the list below:

Features: