Starting the LPC without a training contract is not a disaster, says Manchester Metropolitan University School of Law careers adviser Nick Touati – provided you're willing to be flexible

The economic downturn has affected all graduate job markets, including law, and it is wise for students to be flexible and consider a number of routes to securing a training contract.

Although the large corporate/commercial law firms recruit two years in advance, and many mid-sized firms recruit one to two years in advance, it is not uncommon for students to commence the Legal Practice Course (LPC) without a training contract. And we find that many of our students who are in this position have secured a training contract within six months of completing the course. This is often secured via the paralegal route. Many mid-sized and smaller law firms will often recruit an LPC student as a paralegal and see how they perform for six to 12 months before offering a training contract. Sometimes where an individual performs well and clearly fits in with the firm, the training contract offer will come much sooner. These firms will recruit on an ad hoc basis as and when a vacancy arises and will not advertise far in advance. Some firms do not even advertise, instead preferring to recruit from speculative applications.

Paralegals assist solicitors with a variety of matters, including legal research, drafting, the preparation of briefing notes, taking client statements, analysing client files to identify key documents, and more administrative matters such as database entry and the indexing and pagination of trial bundles. This can represent invaluable experience for a new entrant to the profession. And time spent working as a paralegal can reduce the amount of time spent in a training contract under the SRA's 'time to count' regulations.

Given the competitive nature of the market, LLB students need to think ahead and consider how they can develop the legal work experience sections of their CVs. The vacation placement schemes offered by the large firms are well publicised. However, students should also consider how, during their undergraduate studies, they can find other methods of securing a foot in the door. It would be wise to approach smaller and mid-sized firms for a period of unpaid work experience during the holidays, usually for one to two weeks. This can sometimes lead to the offer of occasional or part-time paid work which could be accommodated alongside LLB studies. Where an undergraduate successfully builds a good relationship with a firm they might be offered a definite paralegal or trainee solicitor position for when they complete the LPC. Volunteering with organisations such as the Citizen's Advice Bureau or law centres can also be valuable – and many firms of solicitors like to see this experience when considering training contract applications.

Students who commence the LPC without a training contract need to view the job market flexibly. They should also consider sub-paralegal, administrative positions as a way into the profession. Although it might seem disappointing for an LPC graduate to consider working as a receptionist, for example, I have come across instances of students being offered training contracts within a matter of months having secured this initial 'in'. Firms realise that an LPC graduate working in this position will still be applying for training contracts elsewhere. And where an individual can prove that they fit well with the team and demonstrate their worth as a staff member, the firm will not want to lose them. A local sole practitioner once remarked to me when placing a vacancy for a legal assistant that he would indicate in the job advertisement that a training contract would be offered after six months. But he admitted that, in reality, if the successful applicant proved effective this offer would come within four weeks, as he would be terrified of losing a good member of staff to another firm. So if you haven't got training contract, you shouldn't despair as there are still opportunities out there for those who keep plugging away.

Nick Touati is careers adviser at Manchester Metropolitan University School of Law and chair of the AGCAS Legal Profession Task Group.

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