You’ll notice in the many, many, many applications you fill in throughout your time studying law that almost all are interested in your work experience and history, both legal and non-legal. Now, instead of listing a skeletal work history with your duties and responsibilities, whether relevant or not, you really need to tailor your answer to display transferable skills you can bring to the role you’re applying for from the experience that you have.
For example – I work as a team leader part time, what I would be looking to highlight within my explanation of the role would be: leadership, communication, interpersonal skills, teamwork, adaptable, calm under pressure…
In essence there are many different skills that make a good solicitor/barrister, and you just need to find examples of your responsibilities, or experience at work to demonstrate that you have what they are looking for.
Many of us that work part time alongside uni, or over the holidays in a customer service environment, which almost immediately shows transferable skills: communication, interpersonal skills, and maybe even teamwork.
Whereas in technical/administrative roles the skills may be organisation, time management, communication, eye for detail, self-motivated (particularly important in barristers as you will be self employed and need to have the determination to succeed).
No work experience?
Even if you don’t have work experience to show skills, you can demonstrate these skills through your studies and events that you have attended.
University experience
Even if you haven’t had to work alongside your studies, you can use university to demonstrate some of these: time management, analytical, teamwork, leadership, communication, interpersonal skills. It is simply a matter of finding examples – use groupwork assessments to show teamwork, and if you in any way took a leading role within the team, use it to show leadership. Communication can be shown through presentations, and again group work could also act as an example.
Networking events have the potential to be an excellent example of interpersonal skills; by building a rapport with various individuals, listening to them and learning about them. You want to show active listening, empathy and an ability to connect with people.
Volunteering
Doesn’t matter what field you volunteer in, you’re almost guaranteed to find useful skills – and if you have taken on a more administrative role within an organisation then this could be experience that has developed your eye for detail/analytical skills, time management, organisation…
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