Career development
- evaluate where you are in your career
- develop clear objectives
- plan your goals and how you'll achieve them
On this page you'll find:
Career clinic: book a consultation
Our monthly career clinics offer a free one-to-one consultation with a legal careers coach.
Each 30-minute consultation takes place over the phone or by Zoom for those based overseas (subject to agreement).
The clinics are suitable for:
- paralegals (including those completing qualifying work experience)
- trainee solicitors
- qualified solicitors (including those admitted overseas)
- returners and career changers considering a switch to law
Our coaches can share sector insight and offer objective practical advice and tips on:
- CVs, applications and interviews
- job search strategies
- career planning, including progression or changing direction
- options for trainees approaching qualification
- options for overseas lawyers to work in England and Wales
- how to plan a return to practice after a career break
- how to work more flexibly, including options for a portfolio career
- how to break into law as a career changer
- how to leave practice and change careers
Our coaches are not qualified to:
- offer tax advice, regulatory advice or business consulting services about setting up a firm or working as a freelance lawyer
- advise on applications for practising certificates or professional indemnity insurance
To book your consultation, email careers@lawsociety.org.uk.
Help to progress your career
Returning to law after a career break
Stress and mental health for law professionals
Advice about changing roles
Articles from the Law Society Gazette
Four tips to advance your legal career this year - the best ways to advance your legal career
Moving on from small firms – what salary should I be seeking in a senior solicitor role?
Rerouting a career path – what would be the best way to get into commercial law?
High street or City – is it really that difficult to move on?
Solicitor-advocate or barrister – which should I go for?
I want to move up – should I stay or should I go? Gaining experience to move into a more senior role
Post-prosecution roles – after a senior prosecution role, what are the options if you don't want to go back to private practice?
Why strategic career moves are helping junior lawyers maximise their earning potential – Douglas Scott Recruitment examines how strategic career moves are helping junior lawyers to progress quickly
Recordings
Supporting others and creating a mentally-healthy workplace culture (recorded 1 and 8 July 2022, 90 minutes each)
Career planning for 2021, Q&A with JMC Legal Recruitment (recorded 23 February 2021)
Changing career direction: what are my realistic options? (recorded 20 April 2021)
Changing career direction: options outside of practice (recorded 20 May 2021)
Career vs family? How to successfully balance a career with starting a family (30 minutes)
Changing career direction: hear from those who have successfully changed career (recorded 19 October)
Conversations on returning to the law, working flexibly and fulfilling your career aspirations (recorded 5 October)
Recharge webinars:
- Networking tips for job hunters (recorded 8 June 2022, 90 minutes)
- How to turn your career ideas into action (recorded 28 June 2022, 90 minutes)
Update and refresher in private client law series:
- probate update (recorded 11 November 2022, 2 hours)
- inheritance tax update (recorded 16 November 2022, 2 hours)
- capital gains tax, income tax and stamp duty land tax (recorded 18 November 2022, 2 hours)
- will drafting (recorded 22 November 2022, 2 hours)
- varying disposition of estates (recorded 25 November 2022, 2 hours)
- trust update (recorded 30 November 2022, 2 hours)
- other recent relevant developments in private client law (recorded 2 December 2022, 2 hours)
You can also purchase all seven sessions as a bundle, which involves a 'buy six, get one free' discount.
Guidance on how to work differently
How to work part-time – the long-held view that part-time lawyers lack commitment is changing
How to combine two careers – is it possible to pursue a second vocation alongside the law?
How to change specialism – the daunting prospect of moving practice area or career sector
How to leave work at the door during the pandemic – dealing with a work/life balance while we're working from home
Webinars
Recharge: How to work more flexibly and develop a portfolio career
This webinar is for individuals across all levels of PQE who have hit a career crossroad and are considering how they can work more flexibly by building a portfolio career.
A portfolio career allows you to incorporate multiple jobs instead of the traditional full-time role.
This free webinar with Q&A is aimed at individuals who want advice on how to impress at job interviews. The session is suitable for solicitors across all levels of PQE and will be particularly useful for those planning a return to the profession after a career break.
