How To Secure Legal Work Experience During Covid-19

Covid-19 has really changed how we operate on a daily basis! The pandemic hasn't just affected our social and work lives, but our ability to gain valuable work experience.

As easy as it could be, we can't blame the pandemic for not gaining some work experience to impress prospective employers, chambers or firms. I mean, you could do this, but at the end of the day, you're just cheating yourself.

What can I do to boost my CV during this time?

1. Indeed and Google Search!

You must research online to find out what experience you can build up and Indeed and Google are very good and provide legit adverts.

If you search for terms such as 'legal intern', 'legal' or 'legal internships', you will find results for a lot of adverts for this - especially when you search using google.

Remember to alter this to your location because many of these will become office based once lock down restrictions begin to be lifted so you may be required to commute to that place you apply to. But in the mean time, nearly all of the adverts are for remote only/work from home only basis.

2. Create an account with the 'Free Representation Unit'

The FRU is a charity that provides legal advice, case preparation and advocacy in employment, social security, and some criminal injury compensation tribunal cases. The clients cannot obtain legal support for want of personal means and public funding.

This is BRILLIANT hands on experience in working with clients. You are given training for this role and the current charge is £50. Unfortunately, they are not taking in any bookings for training yet and the site states that they will hopefully do this at the end of 2021.

But you should still register an account and set a reminder for the end of this year to check back and start your process to do this!

3. Apply to become a volunteer at a 'Citizens Advice Bureau'

This is invaluable real world experience with giving advice. Simply google search the closest Citizens Advice to you, call them, ask them whether they are looking for volunteers (they are almost always looking for some!), register your interest and they will train you and there you go!

Volunteering here will let you sharpen the following skills:

- communication

- interviewing

- diagnosis and prioritisation of client issues

- research

- key dates and diary management

- drafting

- advising on merits

- file management

*I have very recently applied for this and I will upload a post about my experience when I begin*

4. Visit individual chambers and firm sites to apply for virtual mini-pupillages

A good place to start is to find out more about the chambers or the firms that practice in the area you are interested in and checking out whether they have virtual mini-pupillages or work experience opportunities.

It's good to have a lot of these, but it's much better for you to obtain these with the chambers or firms practicing the area you are interested in... you can apply what you learnt much better in your career journey AND you appear more focused on your pupillage or training contract application.

Use this link to see the chambers and firms with mini-pupillages and work experiences (please check the direct sites before applying to ensure they are offering these during lockdown)

https://www.chambersstudent.co.uk/

5. Attend online Qualifying Sessions (for students at the bar)

You are required to attend 12 Qualifying Sessions and this requirement did not change with Covid-19. The only change that was that these were taking place online until further notice.

Since these are free, a large majority of them are free of charge!! A lot of them are smaller so they allow you an excellent opportunity to speak to guest speakers and network.

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Sharon Shumbambiri.