Here’s what to expect this week…
Opportunities we’ve spotted, including legal work experience, training contracts, apprenticeships, paralegal roles and alternative legal careers
Our weekly Q&A on what networking is really all about
5 minutes on...everything you missed at the Northern Pupillage Fair
And finally, a career tip and free resource for those interested in criminal law
P.s. Want more from us? You can now find Inclusie Club on TikTok, Instagram and LinkedIn. We're also giving our newsletter and website a refresh so watch this space!
Career opportunities spotted this week 👀
📍 Work experience, insight days & placement opportunities
🎤 1GC Family Law (London)
Are you a student or future barrister looking to develop your advocacy skills? 1GC Family Court are launching their annual mooting competition which is a great chance to develop your legal reasoning, oral advocacy, legal analysis, research and written submissions (you can read our previous newsletter to hear about the benefits of mooting for interview prep).
🔎 DLA Piper (Various)
Curious about life at a global firm? DLA Piper's Discovery Days include an interactive litigation workshop, networking and tips for their vacation scheme, with no academic entry requirements, travel expenses covered and across various locations.
🤝 Kings Chambers (Various)
If you're from a group that's underrepresented at the Bar, this mentoring scheme, run by Kings Chambers and eight other planning, property and public law sets, offers one-to-one sessions with a barrister, a pupillage applications workshop and social events. It's open to undergraduates and postgraduates, and in past years applications have closed in early October, so apply ASAP.
👔 Hay & Kilner (Newcastle)
Something different for those who have secured their first legal role. Hay & Kilner is partnering with WHERK, co-founded by family barrister Rhianna Manani to help women feel confident at work, for this event in October. Expect to also see Dovecote Northumberland, Cafe Filto, Bobbi Brown and Skin & Co, with proceeds supporting Smart Works Newcastle. You can meet, mingle and enjoy an evening with other professionals in a relaxed setting. Book via Eventbrite.
✍️ Bar Council Law Reform Essay Competition (Virtual)
What would you change about the law? The Bar Council wants a persuasive case for reforming English, Welsh or European law in no more than 3,000 words, with a £4,000 first prize. It's open to Bar course students, those holding a pupillage offer and current pupils.
💼 Trainee, Apprenticeship & Pupillage Roles
🏙️ JMW Solicitors (Manchester)
JMW is an award-winning, full-service firm with proud northern roots, and it's now recruiting Trainee Solicitors for its 2027 intake on a hybrid basis. Deadline: 26th October.
📚 Sadler Cross Family Law (Colchester)
Interested in family law and prefer to earn while you qualify? Sadler Cross is recruiting a Graduate Apprentice Solicitor, with work spanning divorce, finances, children and mediation. You will need to be able to travel to their Colchester office daily for this one.
🗒️ Paralegal & Entry Level Roles
⭐ Inclusie's pick of the week ⭐️
🍿 KP Snacks (Slough)
Fancy getting in-house experience with the company behind brands like Hula Hoops, McCoy's and Tyrrells?
KP Snacks is looking for a Legal Assistant to support its Legal team with contract management, governance, legal administration and process improvement, with a particular focus on using technology and AI to make things more efficient.
Previous legal experience is helpful but not essential, so this could be a good option if you're looking to get into generalist in-house legal work. There’s hybrid working on offer, as well as “Dynamic Friday Hours” if you’d like to finish your week early.
💻 Eversheds Sutherland (London/Birmingham)
If AI and legal tech excite you more than drafting, this 21-month Legal Technology Graduate Scheme is a different way into the legal sector, working alongside lawyers on automation and process improvement. It's open to graduates of any discipline.
⚡ Corona Energy (Watford)
Looking to take your first step into in-house legal work? Corona Energy (energy supplier, not the beer company!) is hiring a Legal Assistant to support its General Counsel and Legal Team across commercial contracts, legal research, governance, compliance and data protection. You'll work closely with teams across the business, giving you a chance to see how legal advice fits into the day-to-day running of a major energy supplier. Previous legal administration experience is desirable but not essential.
📄 DAC Beachcroft (Remote)
It’s pretty rare, but this opportunity is fully remote, open to applicants anywhere in England and Wales. It’s a permanent Costs Paralegal role focused on document review. It could be a great way to start building your legal skills with no prior experience required. Apply ASAP.
🛡️ Office of the Public Guardian (Birmingham/Nottingham)
Already have some paralegal experience and want work that protects vulnerable people? At the OPG, an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice, this Senior Paralegal Caseworker role has you managing your own Court of Protection caseload, drafting documents and supporting lawyers on litigation, with work that may count as qualifying work experience for the SQE. Deadline: 8th October.
🗂️ Lanyon Bowdler (Various)
Lanyon Bowdler has two Legal Support Assistant roles in its Dispute Resolution team, one in Hereford and one in Conwy, plus a Commercial Property role in Shrewsbury where some experience would be ideal. They offer routes for progression if you want to move towards qualifying. Apply ASAP.
📰 Brett Wilson LLP (London)
Fancy a career in defamation, privacy or harassment law? This leading media law boutique is hiring a Paralegal/Administrator, where you'd attend court hearings, help draft legal documents, carry out research and even write the firm's legal blogs, alongside day-to-day admin. Some previous experience is required for this one, bbut could be a great step into media law if that’s your passion.
🏘️ Greenhalgh Kerr Solicitors (Wigan)
Greenhalgh Kerr's Local Authority Team supports over 85 councils across England and Wales. They’re recruiting paralegals as their team grows. There isn’t much information on the LinkedIn post; you’ll need to email the team to find out more but it doesn’t state that prior experience is required. No deadline so apply ASAP.
🏡 John Hodge Solicitors (Bristol & North Somerset)
John Hodge is recruiting a Property Legal Assistant to support its established Property team, working directly with the Partner and Head of Department. It's a hands-on role in a firm that prides itself on a welcoming culture and professional development. Apply ASAP.
✒️ Everys Solicitors (Exeter)
Everys is hiring a full-time Private Client Secretary with strong organisational and diary management skills. Previous legal secretarial experience is key, so it's best suited to someone looking for their next step rather than their first.
🧓 Circe Law (Maidenhead/Remote)
Passionate about helping older and vulnerable clients? This multi-award winning private client firm is hiring a Paralegal and is open to varying experience levels, with potential for office, remote and hybrid options, flexible working weeks and monthly coaching sessions. Apply ASAP.
📂 Foot Anstey (Various)
Foot Anstey is hiring a Legal PA for its Commercial Litigation team on a 12-month maternity cover contract and you can choose from five offices to work from. Some prior admin experience is needed, but they encourage applications from anyone with transferable skills. Apply ASAP.
Your questions answered ❓
Q: Everyone keeps talking about legal networking to improve my chances of getting a training contract but I don't really know what that means. Is it just going to open days and talking to different lawyers? Any advice please!
My response: I think this is a great question and it's also not the first time I've been asked it. The word "networking" gets thrown around so much that it stops meaning anything useful.
Networking really just means speaking to people in the legal industry, hopefully to get interesting insights and building genuine professional relationships over time.
What this might look like for an aspiring legal professional:
Open days/law fairs – a good first touchpoint. You might pick up insights into a firm's culture or information you won't find in their marketing material.
LinkedIn – following firms and people you're interested in, commenting thoughtfully on posts or sending a short message after meeting someone ("really enjoyed chatting about X, thanks for the advice").
Informational chats – this sounds scarier than it is. It's just messaging or emailing someone with a specific question about their career journey, or asking if they've got 20 minutes for a coffee or a call. I’d recommend you choose your audience - you're less likely to get a response from the Managing Partner of a 3,000 person law firm, for example, but the worst that happens is they say no or don’t reply.
Events/panels – remember that legal professionals are people too. We like chatting about legal careers, what life is like as a law student, and our own journeys but you may end up talking about sport or something funny you saw on TV last night. It's often those informal chats where you get the most interesting insights and make the best impression.
A few tips for in-person networking:
Try not to be nervous. I used to feel so anxious and out of my depth at networking events. Remember, we all started where you are and can remember how it felt chatting to legal professionals for the first time.
Take a breath and be yourself. I’d always rather chat to someone honest, polite and personable than someone reciting a question they asked ChatGPT to come up with to sound commercially aware!
Some people will be nicer and more helpful than others. Just like any other interaction in life. Don't take it personally if someone seems a bit standoffish.
Go in curious, not transactional. Ask about their experience, or even something non-legal, rather than "can you get me a job."
Keep a simple list. Note down who you've spoken to, which firm or company they're from and what you discussed for future reference.
Quality over quantity. Meeting one person you can genuinely talk to and get real help from beats fifty names with no substance.
Finally, remember that at the end of the day, networking is just talking to people.
✍️ 5 minutes on… what you missed at the Northern Pupillage Fair
Weren’t able to attend the Northern Pupillage Fair or thinking about going next year? We’ve got you covered with some info about the speakers and exhibitors, key takeaways and upcoming deadlines that aspiring barristers should know about.
Huge thank you to one of our readers, Meghana Badanapuram, for putting this together!
The Northern Pupillage Fair, sponsored by Henry Dannell and BPP, was held in Liverpool, just a short walk from Lime Street Station.
Exhibitors ranged from Chambers across the country, the Government Legal Department, law firms and Bar Training Course (BTC) providers. Various community support organisations, such as Citizens Advice, also presented.
Alongside the exhibition, the day featured a series of talks and workshops, beginning with ‘How to Land a Pupillage’ and concluding with a Q&A panel featuring John Dove, co-founder of Speed Mooting.
Understanding the profession and reflecting productively:
My first key takeaway from the Fair was the importance of reflecting on what you understand the profession of a barrister to be and why you would make a good barrister. My favourite session was Caitlin Corrigan’s ‘A Day in The Life of a Junior Barrister’ where I developed a realistic understanding of what the day-to-day role of a barrister entails, with court days being equally important to papers days in Chambers.
Exhibiting Chambers focused on the importance of showing the initiative you’ve taken to deepen your understanding of the profession and in turn, your genuine commitment to the Bar. So, how can you do this? Read Chambers’ insights, attend law fairs and events, engage with access organisations such as Bridging The Bar and, most importantly, network. Speaking candidly with barristers, clerks, and even solicitors can provide valuable insights into the role of a barrister within a case.
Reframing non-legal work experience:
My second key takeaway from the Fair was the importance of reframing non-legal work experience. During the Q&A Panel, the panellists were asked whether having a stronger profile in non-legal work experience could weaken pupillage applications. The panellists, alongside Nigel Jamieson in ‘How to Land a Pupillage’, emphasised that non-legal work experience can instead differentiate you from other candidates, beyond traditional mini-pupillages and marshalling.
Applications, whether it be for pupillage or other legal roles, are a form of written advocacy in themselves. Therefore, what matters more is how you frame your non-legal work experience effectively. By demonstrating how your non-legal experiences have affirmed your commitment to a career at the Bar, and the skills they have equipped you with to succeed, you are advocating for yourself. So, whilst it remains important to prioritise your legal experiences, Nigel reminds you to ‘not overlook the skills and experience you do have to succeed at the Bar. You can show your professionalism and resilience through any experience - not just legal’.
Applying early:
The final piece of actionable advice, which was shared across my conversations with Chambers, was to submit applications well ahead of the deadline. James Leech, who delivered ‘My Journey to the Bar’, highlighted the potential value of submitting mini-pupillage and pupillage applications earlier in the application windows. James explained that barristers are likely reading through a high volume of applications and by applying early, you can ensure your application is considered from the outset and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the opportunity.
Upcoming deadlines and events:
So, you’re all caught up on my key takeaways from the Northern Pupillage Fair - what now?
Those applying for pupillage this year can now set up applicant accounts on the Pupillage Gateway, ahead of vacancies being published on 23rd November.
The Bar Council is hosting a series of webinars surrounding Life at the Bar, from the 12th to 15th October, catered to aspiring barristers at all career stages. This includes the opportunity to hear directly from the Inns of Court about their funding opportunities, which may be useful in supporting your application for scholarship.
Following the webinars is the Bar Council’s Mini-Pupillage Fair, held in London on 17th October. Many of the exhibitors who you may have missed at Speed Mooting’s Northern Pupillage Fair will be present- this is your chance to connect!
Finally, it’s not too early to register your interest in Speed Mooting’s Pupillage Fair 2027, this will give you priority access before general registration opens.
I hope to see you there, and good luck with your applications!
Thank you again to Meghana for putting together this piece. For many aspiring barristers outside London, events like this can make all the difference, and that's exactly why the Northern Pupillage Fair was created.
John Dove, co-founder of Speed Mooting, told the Inclusie Club: "I recognise how difficult it can be for those in the North to travel far and wide for the opportunity to meet chambers and other organisations linked to the Bar.
This is exactly the reason I set up the Northern Pupillage Fair. We are now in our third year and the event continues to grow and improve every year. I am very proud to have created this event for aspiring barristers." Don’t forget to register for 2027!
This week’s career tip
If you're interested in criminal law, I cannot recommend You Do Not Have To Say Anything on BBC Sounds enough. That’s what I’ve been listening to this week after a LinkedIn recommendation from Fiona Anthony! Presented by criminal defence barrister Joanna Hardy-Susskind, this 10-part series follows the criminal justice process from the first allegation to sentencing, with voices from police, prosecutors and defence lawyers along the way.
It shows you the reality of the job rather than the TV version, helps you understand how the different roles fit together, and gives you genuine insight to draw on in applications and interviews.
Try this: After each episode, note one thing that you learned or that surprised you. That could be the start of a strong answer to "Why criminal law?"
That’s all for now. See you next week!
Emma
The careers advice shared in this newsletter is intended as general guidance and should not be treated as formal legal or recruitment advice. I do my best to keep all opportunities and deadlines accurate and up-to-date at the time of writing, but always double-check the employer’s website before applying.