Help re Trainee/Paralegal

[VPalmer]

Hey everyone,

I have just finished the LPC and as yet have no training contract. Im looking for a job that will hopefully give me the legal experience i need to fill the gap on my CV but i must say i am currently losing the will to live! I really need some advice!

I have been looking at paralegal or legal secretary positions on reed.co.uk but im not having much luck. Is there anywhere else to look that someone can recommend?

Also with the LPC am i over qualified to be applying for legal secretary roles?

Thanks,
Vicki

[skittalie]

Register with legal recruitment agencies, there are loads out there

Legal secretary work will get you a foot in the door at least and it's great if you are short on work experience on your CV. Working as a legal sec won't hurt at any rate and it will make you appreciate your secretary when you have one in the future

[VPalmer]

Thanks for your reply. I would like to work as a Legal secretary but i get the impression that firms do not want an LPC graduate but im going to continue to apply. It can't do any harm!

Do you know of any good legal recruitment agencies? I only really know of reed.co.uk and Hays legal. I have never needed to use agencies before so im a bit in the dark about the whole thing!

Vicki

[carpediem]

You could also try Lawcareers.net which usually has paralegal positions on

Alternatively could could try ringing your local firms and seeing if they'll take u on for a weeks work experience, might be unpaid but could give u experience and or a foot in the door.

[Riablo]

I have had success sending speculative letters for secretarial (same can be said for paralegal) roles.

I now have a training contract at a high street firm having worked as a secretary for 8 months at the same firm, previous to that I worked for another local firm as a secretary following a speculative application.

Both of the firms I have worked for look at CV's they currently hold on file for suitable candidates before advertising or going through a recruitment agency. No point spending extra money if they already have several suitable candidates on file.

It may also be worth saying you would consider temporary summer work to cover other people's holidays.

you are not qualified as a secretary, but providing you can type at a reasonable speed I would think most firms would consider you for the post. However if they are looking for a permanent secretary you may not be their ideal choice as clearly you will be looking to move on.

[ploder]

"Is there anywhere else to look that someone can recommend?"
http://www.michaelpage.co.uk/
I've had a mini telephone interview with someone from Michael Page. They seem proactive (although I haven't got a job yet)

During interviews with high street firms I am finding out that they like someone who has at least one years worth of experience, so if you do get a job as a paralegal/legal secretary I recommend you stick to it for at least a year. This will have the added benefit of allowing you to apply to all those jobs that have a minimum of 1 years experience entry requirement.