LawQWE

We’re thrilled to launch our Life in the Law 2025 research and we want to invite you to take part. 👉 Survey for individuals working in the legal sector: https://lnkd.in/ecbQJXGS 👉 Survey for organisations, including law firms, chambers and in-house legal departments: https://lnkd.in/eM3neY3k The surveys are anonymous, take 10 to 15 minutes to complete, and are open to anyone working in the legal sector in the UK, Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man. Life in the Law 2025 is an important opportunity to find solutions to improve mental health and wellbeing in the legal sector. 📢 The research will help us understand why people in our sector may be experiencing poor mental health and what practical steps organisations and individuals can take to prevent this. 📢 By sharing your experiences, you’re contributing to building a more supportive and healthier working environment for the future. The surveys close on Friday 21 March, and the findings, along with evidence-based recommendations on the practical steps organisations and individuals can take to support mental health in the workplace, will be shared in October 2025. 🙏 Please take part and ask your colleagues to do the same. Your voice adds strength to the findings. The research isn’t just about data. It’s about people in our sector: their experiences, challenges, and successes. Your insights - whether as an individual navigating the challenges of legal work or as part of an organisation striving to support colleagues - are vital. The surveys are confidential, which means your answers will remain anonymous. Your participation is crucial to the development of practical, evidence-based recommendations that will lead to improvements in working practices to better support mental health. An easy way to help is by spreading the word. Simply like and share this post. There are also resources on the LawCare website: https://lnkd.in/eGXcgntz Each of us can play a part in building a healthier future in law. Join us in making a difference by taking part in the surveys today. If you have any questions about Life in the Law 2025 have a look at our FAQs: https://lnkd.in/eeq-r9Ke #LifeInTheLaw2025 #MentalHealthMatters #YourVoiceMatters #LegalSector #LegalProfession #Lawyer

Securing a training contract with no prior legal experience…🤷🏻♀️ I’ve gained quite a few new followers recently, mainly from my posts about becoming a trainee solicitor! I know how overwhelming it can be to secure a training contract, and how worrying it feels to think that your non-legal work experience will not be enough to obtain one. Prior to working in a law firm and securing my training contract, I worked in a range of different roles, from waitressing to retail. Although these were not the jobs I saw myself in long term and not directly relevant to law, I know now how useful they were for my own development and the transferable skills they have given me now I am a trainee solicitor. So, for everyone working towards securing a training contract, remember this: every role you’ve ever had builds skills that are invaluable in the legal profession. During my journey to becoming a trainee solicitor, I learned that no experience is ever wasted. Whether you’ve worked in retail, hospitality, customer service, or any other role, you’ve already been developing skills that will set you apart in your legal career. Here’s why: ✨Client Interaction: Serving customers in retail or hospitality is the perfect training ground for developing client-facing skills. Active listening, patience, and professionalism under pressure are qualities every solicitor needs. ✨Problem-Solving: When you’ve had to resolve complaints or troubleshoot on the spot, you’re practicing the kind of lateral thinking required to advise clients and tackle complex legal issues. ✨Time Management: Balancing shifts, deadlines, or high-demand environments mirrors the prioritisation and organisation needed in a busy law firm. ✨Teamwork: In every job, collaboration is key - just like it is during your training contract when working on cases or transactions with colleagues across different departments. The legal profession is about understanding people, solving problems, and managing challenges effectively - all of which you’re already doing in your current or previous roles. So, if you’re working in a job that feels worlds away from law right now, know this: you’re building the foundation for your future success. When the time comes, draw on those experiences in interviews, applications, and, ultimately, your training contract! What’s one skill from your current or past roles that you’ve found invaluable on your legal journey? Let’s share and inspire others! #traineesolicitor #legalcareer #transferableskills #trainingcontract #aspiringsolicitor

📢 Attention Aspiring Social Welfare Lawyers! Stagnation in professional growth as a social welfare solicitor is a common concern, but the Social Welfare Solicitors’ Qualification Fund (SWSQF) seeks to change that. Our current candidate application round has been extended, and is running from 27 November to 1pm on 23 December 2024. As a collaborative initiative between the City of London Law Society (CLLS) , BARBRI SQE Prep, and Young Legal Aid Lawyers YLAL, #SWSQF offers significant benefits. The funding covers both the SQE prep courses and the first sit of SQE1 and SQE2 assessments. With anticipated provision for around 30 candidates, please be aware that applicant numbers are expected to be significantly higher. Applications are encouraged if: ✅ you are an aspiring solicitor working in social welfare law for organisations serving disadvantaged communities *and* ✅ the clear majority of your work is within social welfare law *and* ✅ you intend to stay within the field for at least two years after qualification *and* ✅ you have the full support of your current employer. Participating in this programme enhances your career, strengthens your employer's service quality, enhances client advocacy, and contributes positively to societal access to justice. For detailed application information, visit: https://lnkd.in/eifir3HX Any questions, please contact me or Patrick McCann #FreeSQE #LegalAid #ProfessionalGrowth #AccessToJustice

📢 Exploring Career Opportunities in Law? Join Our Free Webinar! To my contacts and colleagues in the world of legal education and training: please may I ask you to forward, to those in your networks exploring career options in law, details of this free webinar hosted by Association of Costs Lawyers Training Registration details here: https://shorturl.at/6fBTR This session is designed to introduce the pathway to becoming a Costs Lawyer and would be particularly beneficial for: ✨ Costs draftspeople ✨ Paralegals considering their next career move ✨ Law students and graduates seeking a qualification route ✨ Individuals contemplating a career change into law Qualifying as a Costs Lawyer offers an opportunity to have a specialised legal career. While many Costs Lawyers hold a law degree, it is not a mandatory prerequisite. The course takes two years, plus two years of qualifying experience. There are exemptions available for previous degree level legal academic and professional qualifications against the Costs Lawyer Professional Qualification which may reduce the overall study time. I'm happy to be approached directly or have my details passed onto to anyone who would like to have a chat as to what is involved in qualifying. Feel free to share this with anyone who might find it relevant.

14 Sources for Commercial Awareness (for aspiring solicitors & professionals) 1. LittleLaw  2. Watson's Daily 3. Commercial Law Academy 4. Financial Times 5. Legal 500 6. Non-Billable 7. The Lawyer 8. The Law Society Gazette 9. AllAboutLaw 10. The Lawyer Portal 11. ZipLaw 12. Reuters 13. Legally Speaking Podcast ™️ 14. Retail Economics 👉🏻 Repost and tag someone that needs this. Feel free to add any I missed below.

In Pro Bono Week we turn our attention to a parallel focus - Legal Aid - and the lawyers with a social justice focus in this fascinating and worthwhile aspect of the law. Listen now to the Reimagine Law podcast where our trainee solicitor and Justice First Fellow Myriam Naoual and Deborah Acquaah, manager of the Justice First Fellowship within The Legal Education Foundation - discuss rebalancing power to confront injustice, addressing systemic failures and securing rights for those who cannot speak for themselves. Head to 28:53 for a fascinating insight into the project that Myriam is undertaking on behalf of Family Rights Group, on early legal representation for young parents who are care experienced themselves, when their children are involved with children’s services. It’s a must listen for anyone wanting to go about working on social justice and the law. https://ow.ly/n7mO50TZMaf

Pro Bono Week 2024 is here! 🎉 We're so excited to see all the incredible events that are happening this week - there's something for everyone, so do head over to the events calendar at probonoweek.org.uk/events to see what's in store. 🌟 You can also keep up with all the Pro Bono Week action online with the hashtags #ProBonoWeek and #WeDoProBono 🌟 We're ready to be inspired by case studies, intrigued by initiatives, and above all we're eager to thank those who make pro bono possible and to explore both familiar and new ways of making sure everyone has access to justice ⚖️ What are you looking forward to this week?