Do I need work experience for a law school application?

The legal sector is an extremely competitive occupational area. In addition to the sheer number of law undergraduates each year, graduates from non-law degree courses are able to convert to law. As such, I would highly recommend trying to gain some formal or informal work experience. Legal work experience should be undertaken preferably prior to university and definitely during your studies. This is just one way of convincing recruiters that you have a genuine interest in pursuing a career in this sector.

Work experience provides an opportunity to develop key skills, such as working in a team, networking and working on your interpersonal skills – all relevant to a career in this sector. The core of any experience will focus around shadowing. By going along to a legal firm's premises you are in an excellent position to observe the day-to-day work of the staff and the legal firm in question. You can chat to employees about their roles and areas of legal expertise, the range of activities they undertake and the skills they use. This is an ideal opportunity to develop a network of contacts. Crucially, as well as giving you something to talk about on an application form, this is an ideal opportunity for you to decide whether a career in the legal sector is for you.