This post is a little bit of an extension from the last post on work experience, so if you haven't read that then make sure you do!
If you are a student like myself, whether that be A level, University or Post-Grad, June, July and August are usually the best months ever. You would have finished your academic year tired and a little bit overwhelmed, but it wouldn't matter because you had summer to play, go on holiday, earn some extra money, see friends. Unfortunately things look a little different this year, with many courses extending on into the summer and not many opportunities to go on holiday. BUT...it doesn't have to be all doom and gloom. Although it is different, it doesn't mean that we cant make the best of the situation.
So this post is all about how you can capitalise on Covid and make the most out of this 'unprecedented' summer to prepare you for whatever your next steps are.
The main change that we have seen since Covid is people working from home. Since Boris put us on lockdown back in March people have been spending all their time in their homes. So, as people are unable to meet up face to face anymore we see the boom of the internet! This is the golden key to capitalising on Covid.
You might be thinking where is she going with this? We've had internet for years now...We have, but as a result of Covid almost everything has become digital, including some great opportunities for us students. Right lets get into it...
1) Online Mini-Pupillage:
(If you're not sure what a mini-pupillage is or how to get one then go and have a read of my last post on work experience)
As a result of Covid most of the courts in the UK shut. Barristers, like everyone else, were not allowed to leave their homes to go to work. Consequently, everything moved online. Online hearings, trials, applications, case management. So, where you would usually have to travel every day to a chambers to shadow a barrister, you might be able to just pop online from the comfort of your own home and watch a court in action.
I cannot make any promises that all chambers will be welcome and open to having an online mini, but some are! If you already had a mini-pupillage planned and then Covid came and stomped all over it, dont panic, simply email the chambers and enquire as to whether they would be happy to accommodate you shadowing online. Some chambers have already offered this as an alternative to their mini-pupils, so there is no harm in asking.
Alternatively, if you are trying to get in some more work experience over summer this might be a great opportunity to do some from home. Some chambers will display on their website that they are not currently taking mini-pupils, so if that is the case then that's a dead end. However, if other chambers have not explicitly removed the idea of an online mini, there is no harm in asking.
This would be a great chance to learn not only how a court hearing or trial works, but also how the courts are currently adapting to the online move. It is likely that more hearings will be dealt with online moving forward, so now is a great chance to experience what that is like in practice.
2) Advocacy Competitions:
If I didn't rave enough about them in the last post, i'll make sure I do now. Advocacy competitions are some of the best types of experience you can get for the bar. There is nothing more stimulating and engaging than standing up in a 'court' (or mock court) and trying legal advocacy for yourself! It helps build confidence, communication skills, legal research, analysis of facts....and so much more.
Now just because we are all at home does not mean you cant get involved in these. There is a Linkedin page called L&R Virtual Advocacy Competitions which has been founded and organised to provide online advocacy competitions during the pandemic. So far they have held a plea in mitigation competition and a virtual moot containing several rounds. What's better is that L&R have got lots of well established barristers chambers to support and help judge these competitions, which means even more opportunities to network and gain feedback.
They will put a post up to advertise the next competition and then take applications. I understand that there has been lots of interest in these competitions, so you may not always be able to secure a spot, but if you can then great!
Otherwise, you can take this into your own hands...whether or not you are a part of your university or college's law society you can organise and create an online competition like this. My tips would be; 1) find other people who would be interested, 2) put the idea to the existing law society or bar society, 3) see if you can get some local chambers involved to judge, 4) put the word out and organise it! Whilst it is not a simple process, it could be a great project for you to get stuck in to, not to mention the opportunity to network and gain connections with members of the bar!
3) Seminars / Workshops:
Now this is not something I spoke about in my last post because, there isn't often a lot of external seminars and/or workshops available for students. Having said that, since Covid I have seen a huge increase in online seminars targeted at students. Most of these are advertised on LinkedIn. These may be held my barristers chambers, solicitors firms, inns of court, university's.
The majority of the seminars I have seen advertised have been targeted at individuals seeking a career at the bar, so perfect for me and you. Especially if you are looking to secure pupillage in the next year or so, there have been several seminars advertised specifically on pupillage applications and tips. However, there are also some seminars on specific areas of law that the chambers or firm specialises in.
These are a great way to get opinions, tips and advice from people in the career. Although I can't tell you how to find them, I can tell you how to optimise your chances of finding them.
- First of all, get on LinkedIn. It is an amazing platform for making professional connections with individuals in the legal industry, as well as finding opportunities and jobs.
- Secondly, follow some chambers on LinkedIn which you are interested in. If you are specifically interested in one areas of law, then have a look on a platform like Chambers & Partners to find chambers which specialise in that area.
- Thirdly, keep an eye out for seminars/workshops that they might advertise. (I usually start my mornings by getting a cup of tea, doing a bit of exercise and then opening up LinkedIn and scrolling for chambers updates and opportunities)
- Fourthly, connect with other people. By connecting with other students, pupils, professionals, you are likely to increase your exposure to opportunities. Some members of chambers might even be able to tell you of upcoming events online, as I always say... there is no harm in asking.
4) Brush up on your profile:
'Profile' relates two things for me: CV and Social Media. Both of these are great ways to market yourself and improve your employability. If you are lucky enough to have finished your course or degree by now then you may be wondering what to spend time doing. Updating your CV and online profiles is a great little activity, and it doesn't have to take ages. Online profiles? I mean platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn which you use for academic/professional connections and career help.
My top tips for CV's:
- Keep them up to date - Add in what you've done recently, awards, grades etc.
- Make your entries thorough - Don't just put what you did but also what you learnt.
- Make them relevant - Review what your CV looks like and how relevant the entries are to the career you're seeking.
- Keep them concise - No matter how many mini's or competitions you've done, you can get it all on 2 A4 pages, trust me!
My top tips for online profiles:
- Keep it PG - make sure that if an employer looks you up they will not be shocked with the content they see. A nice level to aim for is pictures and information you'd happily show your grandparents.
- Keep it up to date - As usual, add in what you're up to.
- Stay active - There is very little point having a professional profile if you are not active and do not get involved with the online community around you.
SO...that's it from me on how to capitalise on the wonderful world online as a result of Covid. It can feel as if there isn't much to do at the moment, especially if you are in the weird limbo stage between college, uni, job life, but there are ways to make the most of it and hopefully I've given you a little insight.
Try to stay positive, keep yourself motivated and find little bits to keep you going.
Thanks for reading,
Monica x