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What can I do with my Law degree?

Dr Kay Barbour, Careers Service

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Today’s session

• Where do Edinburgh law graduates go?

• Ideas for where a law degree would be useful

• ‘Any discipline’ jobs

• Getting started on planning your career

• Help from the Careers Service

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Shaping your career path….

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Qualification routes

LLB/Grad LLB

PEAT 1 - Diploma

1 academic yr or p/t over 2

Bridges gap between theory - practice

Entry based on grades in early years LLB

Valid for 5 years

Largely self-funded

PEAT 2 - Traineeship

2 year period of work-based training

First Degree (Scots Law = ‘non-Law’)

Conversion Course (GDL/CPE)

I academic yr

Up to 50% exemption for Scots LLB

Enables p/t or distance learning

LPC – Legal Practice Course

6 m – 1 yr (bespoke by big firms)

Bridges gap between theory - practice

Conversion/LPC funded by firms

Training Contract

2 year period of work-based training

*New SQE in 2021

Scotland England/Wales*

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Return to law later?

Can decide to apply for Diploma/ Conversion at later date.

Degree does not have a validity period, but Diploma does.

N.B. fees may change and there may be more or less

competition for the Diploma/Traineeships

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What do Edinburgh LLB graduates do

(known destinations)?

60-70% further study

20-30% into employment

Low level of still seeking or time out

Other graduate destinations beyond

law include:

LLB Hons – surveyed six months after graduation

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Jobs where a Law degree is useful

Financial work - Accountancy, Banking, Risk, Insurance, Pensions,

Tax

Regulatory work - Health & Safety, FCA, HMRC

Policy & administration - Civil Service, Charities, Think Tanks, HE,

NHS

Legal - libraries, journalism, publishing, research, recruitment

Advisory work - debt, housing, employment, welfare, education

immigration, discrimination (Citizens Advice; Local Authorities)

Applying the law in practice - Police, Probation, Fraud, Social and

Criminal Justice work, Trading Standards

Human Resources work - equality & diversity, employment law,

recruitment & contracts of employment etc…

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Occupations - Legal Services

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More than 50% of all

graduate vacancies

do not ask for a

specific degree discipline

Degree sought: Any degree (MCH)

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Competencies…

…valued by many employers. These include:

research - using a range of sources, including questioning ability to interpret and explain complex information analytical skills; reasoning and critical judgementability to formulate sound arguments; lateral thinking and problem-solving ability to write concisely; confident and persuasive oral communicationattention to detail and the ability to draft formal documents

Perception of law as a ‘tough subject’ but still vital to articulate strengths clearly and state skills you can offer

(Source: Prospects.ac.uk/Options with your subject)

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Summary – options and decisions

Qualification – Lawyer v Alternatives

*Use your subject - applying the law/regulatory work/advisory/social

and criminal justice

*Use your subject indirectly – Civil Service, HR, Finance

*Avoid your subject! - 50% graduate recruiters take any discipline

Next steps?

Do some research and seek employment/experience

Further study? Time out?

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https://mycareerhub.ed.ac.uk

Vacancies (graduate, internships,

part-time)

Employer database

Appointment bookings

Practice interviews

Events, fairs, employer presentations

Information resources

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Source relevant resources

For example,

Charity & development work

Good Moves, Charity Jobs, Third Sector Jobs

Journalism

Hold the Front Page, Public Affairs News

Public sector

My Job Scotland, Local Government Jobs, Jobs

Go Public

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Careers Service

3rd Floor MLB, George Square

9.15-4.45pm, Tues 11-7pm

Varied time slots of 20 mins – book on MCH,

30 mins to 48 hours beforehand

Longer referred appointments if needed

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Info & advice drop in