We have an excellent reputation with graduate recruiters
There is an annual Law Careers Fair attended by many legal firms that target the University’s graduates
A University Careers Advisor regularly visits the School to meet with Law students
Employability
A Law degree from the University of Exeter will equip you with a wide range of skills suitable not only for a career as a solicitor or barrister, but also in the wider world of business including finance, administration and commerce. Skills such as assimilation of large amounts of material, writing concise reports and problem solving, which you will develop during your degree, are vital to a range of graduate recruiters including those in government and general management.
Exeter has an excellent reputation with graduate recruiters and our students and graduates compete very successfully in the employment market. The majority of our graduates follow their degree with further study in the law and a training contract with a firm of solicitors, nationally and internationally, or enter a pupilage in a barrister’s chambers.
At Allen & Overy we aim to attract and recruit the brightest graduates, and look for individuals who can demonstrate team working skills, ambition, commitment to a legal career, a proven academic record, and the ability to think analytically and creatively. We believe Exeter law undergraduates offer these skills and qualities and we have recruited many in recent years as vacation students and trainee solicitors. By working with the Careers Service and School of Law, we look forward to meeting many more considering a career in Law.
Caroline Lindner, Graduate Recruitment Manager, Allen & Overy LLP
Skills development
The development of legal, personal and practical skills is an important element of our programmes and contributes significantly to enhancing your employment prospects. Elements of legal research, problem analysis, teamwork, legal writing and reasoning, negotiating, advocacy and other personal and communication skills are incorporated into the programmes of workshops and seminars that are offered throughout the academic year.
For example, as part of the Introduction to Law module you can participate in a variety of practical advocacy exercises and observe professional advocates in real life situation. Advocacy skills are extremely valuable in any field of work, and particularly relevant if you are considering qualifying as a barrister or solicitor-advocate where clear exposition and persuasion are essential.
Other opportunities include the involvement of students at our Cornwall Campus in delivering a project with Penryn College engaging students in discussing legal issues such as police powers of stop and search and debt literacy; and observing police ‘Giving evidence in court’ training days.
Providing a practical element to the course in the form of advocacy
allowed me to experience something other than the study of substantive
law. I really felt like I had achieved something after conquering a fear
and speaking in front of my colleagues.
First Year Law
undergraduate, Cornwall Campus
Team development project
The team development project will involve you working with a group of fellow students to investigate a topic, for example jury trials, through active research. The project is assessed and you will be awarded a mark at the end.
Careers sessions
University careers services at both the Streatham and Cornwall campuses organise a series of presentations relating to career choice and the next steps to achieve this goal.
In addition, a University Careers Adviser regularly visits the School to meet with Law students on a one to one basis and offer personalised advice on career options, including training contracts. The Careers Adviser has links with a very wide network of law advisors and training providers throughout the UK. This support is intended to raise your awareness of application processes and deadlines, and to help ensure you are well placed to pursue your desired career progression opportunities.
Law Careers Fair
We enjoy extremely good relations with members of the legal profession both regionally, nationally and internationally. Every year the Careers and Employment Service holds an annual Law Careers Fair, attended by many legal firms that target the University’s graduates. Free coach transportation is available to Law students based at the Cornwall Campus to travel to the Law Careers Fair on the Streatham Campus.
Legal representatives local to the Cornwall Campus also attend the graduate careers fair 'Meet your Future' at the Cornwall Campus.
The connections with Law Firms and their reception sessions at the beginning of the year were extremely helpful in highlighting aspects of a career in law and also highly motivating.
Second Year Law undergraduate, Streatham Campus
Visits from firms
A number of
firms, both legal and business service, also make private visits and
hold workshops or careers sessions within the School. The visiting firms provide information about firms, sectors and industries, as well as advice regarding areas of personal development such as demonstrating commercial awareness in interviews.
Pro bono work
As an undergraduate student in the School of Law you will have the opportunity to participate in the School’s a pro bono project. Involvement in a project presents you with a fantastic opportunity to gain experience in the law during either the autumn or spring term of your second or third year. You will receive training and evaluation from your ‘employer’ and, together, agree suitable working times to fit around lecture and workshop timetables. Undertaking pro bono work provides an excellent foundation for the Law in Action optional module, which allows you to carry out a research project based on pro bono or work placement experience.
A pro bono Law Clinic exists on the Cornwall Campus providing you with opportunities for work experience and skills development.
Find out more about pro bono and volunteering opportunities.
Work placements
Our Single Honours programmes present you with the opportunity to undertake a work placement as part of the Introduction to Law module in your first year. In the past, students have worked in a law firm, barristers’ chambers, the Criminal Justice Integrated Team, and the Citizens Advice Bureau. We also encourage you to gain placements during your summer vacation.
The work experience module really helped me develop my understanding of law in action and gave me the opportunity to utilise the skills that I am acquiring throughout the course of my degree.
First Year Law undergraduate, Streatham Campus
Personal Development Planning
During your time in the School you will undertake Personal Development Planning (PDP). Being able to talk confidently about the skills you have gained during your time at university will help you when it comes to job interviews in the future. PDP is a good way to make sense of your learning in all aspects of your life, helping you to identify the skills you have developed and those that would benefit from further work. With the support of a web-based resource, you will be encouraged to reflect on your skills, record your achievements and set yourself targets for the future.
Exeter students are highly regarded in the legal employment market, and I undertook several vacation schemes and a mini-pupillage both in London and in the provinces whilst at University. These activities enabled me to build a rich base of experience from which to launch a career in the law.
Wayne Spillett, LLB European (French) /Maîtrise (Master 1)
Currently a competition law solicitor for Vodafone in London
Further support
As an undergraduate in the School of Law you will also be able to access the opportunities and support available to all of the University’s undergraduates, including The Exeter Award and Exeter Leaders Award; find out more through the Careers and your future section of the University’s Undergraduate Study website.
