Join us for a free crash course in contract law — designed to prepare you for the SQE. This session includes:
📅 Date: 18 June 2025 🕒 Time: 6pm
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Hiya [USER=34872]@SamiyaJ[/USER]Absolutely! There's no shame in looking for non-legal work right now. I did exactly that myself. If it's worth anything, I had never held a paid legal role before getting a vacation scheme. I worked mostly in project management, admin-type roles, and in retail jobs. Most of my legal experience came through pro bono work, which was pretty extensive but none of it was commercial. I think [USER=2672]@Jessica Booker[/USER] could say much more here, but my sense is that graduate recruiters understand how hard it is to get a legal job (especially one that’s paid decently).While work experience is one way to demonstrate a commitment to commercial law, it's definitely not the only way. I think what made the difference for me wasn’t my job experience per se. What mattered more was consistently looking into opportunities related to commercial law: attending open days, law fairs, joining mentorship schemes through Aspiring Solicitors. More importantly, there is no substitute for writing well-researched, tailored applications. This made all the difference to me, even though I had very little experience of working in the City or in commercial law.If your current role is at risk and you’re job hunting anyway, it might be worth also looking into adjacent fields like business development or consultancy (where your interest in law can still be an asset). Good luck with any job search and your applications!
Hiya [USER=34872]@SamiyaJ[/USER]
Absolutely! There's no shame in looking for non-legal work right now. I did exactly that myself. If it's worth anything, I had never held a paid legal role before getting a vacation scheme. I worked mostly in project management, admin-type roles, and in retail jobs. Most of my legal experience came through pro bono work, which was pretty extensive but none of it was commercial. I think [USER=2672]@Jessica Booker[/USER] could say much more here, but my sense is that graduate recruiters understand how hard it is to get a legal job (especially one that’s paid decently).
While work experience is one way to demonstrate a commitment to commercial law, it's definitely not the only way. I think what made the difference for me wasn’t my job experience per se. What mattered more was consistently looking into opportunities related to commercial law: attending open days, law fairs, joining mentorship schemes through Aspiring Solicitors. More importantly, there is no substitute for writing well-researched, tailored applications. This made all the difference to me, even though I had very little experience of working in the City or in commercial law.
If your current role is at risk and you’re job hunting anyway, it might be worth also looking into adjacent fields like business development or consultancy (where your interest in law can still be an asset). Good luck with any job search and your applications!
