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Probono
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Probono

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What Is ProBono?

Pro bono stands for pro bono public Latin word for “for the public good” meaning free legal services. Lawyers offer pro bono service to help people with legal problems and limited or no funds, or provide legal assistance to organisations involved in social causes such as environmental, consumer, minority, youth, battered women and education organisation and charities.

Wes Craven once said, “Take the first job you can in the industry you want to get into. The job does not matter, getting your foot in the door does.”  This buttresses the fact that every experience is vital.

You may well know, every lawyer needs to have tangible work experience, however, how well can we get our hands on the most relevant experience?

Pro bono helps to improve skills and knowledge at the same time as moves you closer to your dream job. It involves lawyers and students dedicating their free time to voluntarily help people in need of assistance without expecting commercial returns.

Legally, anyone in the legal profession can setup or be a part of a pro bono group. Pro bono has a wide range of service that can be offered so, depending on what you will like to get involved with there is always an option with pro bono.

Benefits Of Pro Bono
  • Pro bono provides an opportunity to learn a new legal skill
  • Explore new career paths e.g., housing, immigration, human rights, debt case adviser etc.
  • Increase your professional contacts
  • Build a relationship with a community member
  • Improves your moral and ability to work with a team

These skills are beneficial in one’s future career.

October 30, 2018 0 comment
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The Legal Job Interview
CareersLawyer's Corner

The Legal Job Interview

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Legal job interviews are different from all the other interviews you have had in your life. Interviewing for legal jobs can be stressful. From anticipating the questions you will be asked to preparing for what to wear. This process can become overwhelming for even the most experienced job seeker.

Interviews are structured conversations, which the recruiter uses when trying to find out if the applicant is most suitable for the role and the organisation. Consequently, recruiters always ask applicants to attend an interview before a job is offered. Depending on your organisations’ preference, there are several means of carrying out an interview. A few common ones are:

  • Technical Interview                    

Technical interviews are hands-on interviews as it may include specific questions relating to knowledge of a particular area of engineering, computing or science or even giving a legal advise scenario, i.e. The emphasis is likely to be upon exploring factual knowledge, such as explain legal scenario etc. This means thorough preparation is needed as technical interviews could include taking tests as well to prove proficiency.

  • Telephone Interview                                                 

It is uncommon for law firms to use this means to examine their applicants. Telephone interviews can be a tough one because you cannot see the interviewer, also, it is important to speak very clearly, confidently, precise and ensure that the call is made in a quiet place. Mind maps work well during this conversation, as it allows your thoughts to be organised clearly and concisely. So, get your hands on a pen and paper as soon as you can for this process could occur at any point as it is always impromptu but is utilised in the early stages of an application process.

  • Panel Interview   

A panel interview is the most common method of legal interview. This process involves a number of recruiters interviewing the applicant together. The Panel may consist of only two people but can constitute as many as four or more because this varies.

The key to winning off this type of interview is to remain as relaxed as possible whilst including all of the panel members in your to questions asked.

A legal interview can be stressful, but they are a necessary evil you have to pass through in order to get the job. Common knowledge requires that you need to research the organisation, the job and be ready to talk about what you can offer, but it is also significant for a real edge to actually practice their interview process.

How can you do this?

  • Interview yourself

If you have an unusual background, be prepared to talk about how it all fits together and leads naturally to the position you are currently applying for. Through this practice process, you are making it easier for your interviewer to put your pieces together by doing this homework preparing your response for them, and you are much more likely to get the job.

  • Practice discussing your weakness

Do not be paranoid about your weaknesses. Is there one bad grade on your transcript? Have an explanation ready for your interviewer by saying:

“Yes, that was a really challenging module, however, I learned a lot. I have actually utilised what I learnt in that module regularly in my current proficiency”.

Your actual answers matter more than the way you explain them i.e. confidently and directly. So, be sure to practice so you are not blindsided by the interviewer’s question.

Also, do not overlook the importance of really thinking through what you are likely to be asked about. So, prepare your answers to every question that pops up in your mind about yourself and the organisation in advance, as you know your background better than anyone else.

  • Consider recording yourself  

Make a video of yourself in an interview scenario. This way you get to see how confident and prepared you are. From this, you can highlight your weaknesses that you will probably need to work on. Precisely the time difference you use to respond to questions, how clearly you speak.

  • Seek assistance from a professional

The best practice is one with an expert practitioner who understands the profession. Therefore, Seek assistance from a legal practitioner who understands the profession, and preferably has conducted legal job interviews personally.

  • Practice a mock interview with friends or family

Your friends and family can be your support system. They will motivate you whilst highlighting your strengths, giving you hints and tips to help you in your interview. It could also be classmates, former co-workers, or even people in the office who might be willing to help you with a quick mock interview.

Few tips on what to Bring to a Legal Job Interview
  • Both Men and women can use a nice portfolio to carry copies of all application documents: transcripts, résumé, etc. it is much more foreseeable that women are most likely to carry a bag.
  • Always bring along copies of your documents! Never assume your interviewer will have them, it is wise to go prepared.
  • Go along with any personal care items you might need: mints, gum, eye drops, touch-up makeup, etc. Do not forget to ask for directions including parking locations, if you are driving.
  • Lastly, be sure to turn off your mobile phone or put it in aeroplane mode before the interview.

 

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October 6, 2018 0 comment
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Kick-Starting Your Legal Career
CareersLawyer's Corner

Kick-Starting Your Legal Career

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Kick-starting your legal career is very imperative when going into the corporate world because not everyone succeeds at first. So, guiding your emotion is important. This will protect you from having a nervous breakdown if you do not succeed in your first attempt. Do not lose hope if this is the case instead; seek insight response like feedback. Feedback is vital as it lets you monitor your own performance by addressing the issues in your application, making you most likely to succeed the next time.

If you want to practice, you need to demonstrate your commitment. This same rule applies in any other corporate role. Work experiences like internships, vacation scheme, shadowing in courts, spending time in a solicitors firm are important in pushing your career forward.

When you decide to make an application for employment, it is a great plan to apply selectively to the organisations you desire.  You need to know the type of organisation that you are applying to get into; if it is what you want and what you intend to gain from working and being a part of the organisation in the long run i.e. are your aspirations achievable there or does it bring you closer to your goal. Your place of work and job responsibility has to have a significant impact on your career goals.

It is often common that one likes the idea of working in the legal sector but is quite unsure as to what sector to get in to. The following suggestions could help you find your niche and kick-start legal career.

  • Lawyer

A lawyer is a general term that covers solicitors, chartered legal executive lawyers (sometimes called CILEx lawyers) and barristers.

  • Solicitor

A solicitor is mostly the first point of contact for any client. A solicitor is a confidential adviser who has direct contact with clients, combining expertise and people skill to provide legal aid and guidance.

If you have a qualified law degree, your next step is to be legally qualified. I.e. attend a law school, or a Legal Practice Course (LPC) depending on your country’s specification. International candidates could try getting their hands on a training contract, which in the long run qualifies you and gets you employed.

However, if your first degree is not in law, you can consider a degree conversion course like a Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) to convert your undergraduate degree. A few of the top international universities offer this course, and it is usually eight months to one-year course depending on the university.

Some universities proceed to let you upgrade your GDL degree to get a graduate LLB degree by taking extra courses. So, be sure to do your research well before getting into it.

After qualification, you can work in-house for an industrial or a commercial organisation, private practice, central or local government and even in court services.

  • Barrister

Hard work, passion and dedication are part of the qualities required for a career at the Bar. Barristers provide specialist legal advice to represent clients in court. However, depending on the barrister’s area of expertise the tasks varies.

Usually, a barrister will advise clients on the law and the strength of their case; hold conferences with clients to discuss their situation and provide legal advice; then represent clients in court by presenting their case, examining witnesses and giving reasons as to why the court should support the case; and negotiate settlements with the other party involved.

  • Barrister’s Clerk

Barrister’s clerk is also known as assistant practice managers’ or practice assistants. Barrister’s clerk is responsible for running the business activities and administration of a barrister’s chambers.

It is essential to be familiar with court procedures and etiquette. With time, the clerk develops expertise in the type of law undertaken by the practice chambers.

A successful barrister’s clerk has a combination of commercial acumen, legal knowledge and strong interpersonal skills. You should not think of this as a route to becoming a barrister.

  • Usher 

An usher is in charge of preparing the courtroom. Ushers also check that everyone is present, calls defendants and witnesses into court.

‘sworn ushers‘  accompany the jury to and from the courtroom. They also pass messages between the jury and to the judge.

Being the first point of contact, an usher needs to have effective communication and people skills. You will also need to be discreet as a lot of the information you will hear is confidential. The ability to follow instructions, an assertive and tactful manner is also important to this role.

  • Chartered Legal Executive

A legal executive as a qualified lawyer will have his own client files. As a fee-earner in private practice, your work is charged directly to the client. This is an important difference between chartered legal executives and other legal support staff.

Only those who have completed the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEx) training programme can use the title of a chartered legal executive.

  • Legal Secretary

It is a legal secretary’s job to ensure the office runs efficiently by providing administrative support to solicitors and legal executives. You could be producing wills and contracts, accompanying solicitors to court or police stations or even dealing with the clients.

The key skills you need to do well in this role is the ability to type accurately and quickly, a good eye for detail and discretion.

The role of the legal secretary is reasonably different from a company secretary

  • Company Secretary

A company secretary is responsible for ensuring that an organisation complies with the standard financial and legal practice whilst maintaining high standards of corporate governance.

The secretary will usually report to the company chairman. One can expect a starting annual salary of about £30,000 (location varies).

The necessary Skills includes; a diplomatic approach to concerns, a good analytical and problem-solving skills, the capability to work with numerical information, and the confidence to provide support to high-profile staff and board members are all necessary for a successful company secretary.

  • Paralegal

A paralegal offers legal services but is not qualified as a solicitor, barrister or chartered legal executive. Customarily, there was no need for formal qualifications to refer to oneself as a paralegal, but employers are now demanding some form of training or qualification in order to be a paralegal.

An understanding of the legal sector is vital a paralegal. Essential skills relevant to this role include; an excellent people skill, networking skills, e a methodical problem solver and the ability to analyse information accurately and effectively.

  • Tax Adviser

A tax adviser requires a compulsory knowledge of tax legislation in order to provide advisory and consultancy services to clients. Furthermore, they ensure taxes are paid in the most efficient way.

  • Licensed Conveyancer

A licensed conveyancer is a property law specialist who works on behalf of clients buying or selling a property. They deal with all legal matters, administration, finance and queries involved in a property transaction. Likewise, this area of work is open to graduates with any degree but to become a licensed conveyancer.

  • Patent Attorney

A patent attorney is specially trained to draft patents. With the knowledge of intellectual property law, patent attorney leads inventors or companies through the process of obtaining a patent. Then, act to enforce inventors’ rights if patents are infringed.

  • Trade-mark Attorney

In-Depth knowledge of trade-mark law and practice is essential in this position. Also, excellent communication skills and commercial awareness are attributes one will need to qualify as a registered trade-mark attorney.

 

October 6, 2018 4 comments
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