Michelle Neale talks to Neil Gibbs who is a Partner at Woodfines Solicitors;
What initially interested you in a career in the legal profession?
I had a personality profile undertaken when I was 14 which indicated a career in law or general management. At that age, law seemed a more interesting option!
How would you summarise a typical days' work in the life of a Solicitor?
There are no typical days for a Commercial Solicitor as you are never sure what your clients will ask you to deal with from one day to the next. Commonly though there will be tight deadlines which can and often do lead to high levels of stress and long working days and weekends. There is though a sense of reward and achievement when those deadlines are met or exceeded.
The law degree is one the fastest growing subjects in terms of popularity in higher education. Over 14,000 students apply annually to study for a law degree. What advice would you give to someone now who is looking to start a career in legal? Top grades in academic studies are a high priority - most employers look for a 2:1 degree or above as well as commercial awareness and excellent interpersonal skills. There is immense competition for training contract places with the top London firms receiving 2,000 applications for around 50 places. Any applicant has to have something extra on their CV due to the numbers qualifying being far in excess of the numbers required. Some applicants opt to take Paralegal positions either to try to prove themselves to the employer or simply for the work experience, but commonly this can be a route for potential trainees to become stuck if they forget the reason they have taken the job in the first place.
The last ten years has seen an increase in the size of the profession as a whole. With over 10,100 law firms across England and Wales the legal sector offers a diverse range of opportunities not only for qualified Solicitors, Legal Secretaries, Paralegals and Legal Executives, but also entry level administration posts, receptionists, accounts and facilities, training, human resources and IT support.
If you would like further information about career opportunities within the legal profession, contact Michelle Neale at n3 Recruitment who would be very happy to assist.
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