Alternative Careers

The knowledge and the transferable skills which students gain during their legal training and BVC course are highly valued commodities in many professions, both legal and non-legal. Many who have not pursued a career as a practising barrister have gone on to use the skills and knowledge they have learnt to pursue diverse careers ranging from politics to teaching. This section sets out some of the more popular alternative careers:

 

 

CAB and law centres provide the public, especially those from disadvantaged sections of society, with direct access to legal advice on their day-to-day legal problems (landlord/tenant disputes, parking fines, etc). The nature of the work makes it both interesting and rewarding. However, cuts to funding mean there are very few paid positions within CAB and law centres and most staff give their time on a voluntary basis.

 

Civil Service   

 

The Civil Service serves the government and is responsible for implementing polices and initiatives over the entire range of governmental work. There are a large number of career opportunities within the Civil Service over several disciplines. Some departments (such as the Home and Foreign Offices and the Lord Chancellor's Department) will have more legal opportunities than others due to the nature of their work. The Civil Service also offers a Fast Stream Development Programme for graduates.

 

 

Paralegals and Legal Executives are legal support staff working in law firms and other legal institutions. Their role varies greatly and will depend largely on factors such the experience of the individual, the areas of law concerned and the size of the firm/organisation. Working as a Paralegal and/or a Legal Executive is an excellent way to gain experience and develop a relationship with a law firm whilst you are applying for pupillage. It is also a demanding and rewarding career in its own right that can offer senior positions with high levels of professional responsibility.

 

 

Legal publishing is a steadily growing area as more legal publishing houses are offering a wider variety of legal reporting services, especially online services which must be updated quickly. This would be an ideal area for anyone interested in moving into media and journalism.

 

Court reporters are shorthand writers who record verbatim court hearings for official transcripts. Whilst it is not necessary to be legally qualified to work as a court reporter, it would certainly be an advantage.