The Law Industry

A number of job sectors have been hit hard by the 2007-2009 global financial crisis that led to an economic recession in much of Europe

. The industries that quickly come to mind are banking, construction and manufacturing. But law jobs are also up there with those that are still reeling from the impact of the recession. Unfortunately, businesses and individuals under pressure to cut costs during tough times will often turn to their legal costs as one of the first places where they trim the fat.

2009 was a particularly difficult year for law jobs and in the UK with the number of advertised vacancies plunging to just 10% of what was advertised the previous year. According to data from a number of legal jobs agencies, the competition for training jobs shot up with up to three times as many people applying for the positions in 2009 when compared to 2008.

It must be said though that not every area of law was equally affected. Legal services careers specialised in finance and property law bore the major brunt which is consistent with the slump that was experienced by financial services and construction firms. Shipping, insurance, insolvency and employment law careers have experienced minimal if any decline in career opportunities.

As a law trained professional in the UK, you can pursue a law career in the private sector, the government or by practicing in a law firm. Like their counterparts in other developed countries, solicitors and advocates in the UK will regularly work long hours and this is something you must be prepared for.

Law jobs in the UK fall into 4 broad categories and a legal jobs agency will often want you to specify the type of role you are looking for: Solicitors, Legal Executives, Barristers (known as Advocates in Scotland) and Paralegals. Solicitors and Legal Executives advise clients on the best course of action within the confines of the law. Some of the areas they will be most involved in include conveyancing, family law and estate law.

Barristers and Advocates represent their clients in court cases and also provide legal opinions. Paralegals serve as assistants to the other types of lawyers. Usually not fully qualified legal professionals but with some level of training or experience in law matters, they will often handle the administrative work. Paralegals will also perform research to support the Solicitor and Barrister when they are preparing case or contract documents.

Navigating the law jobs landscape in the UK demands that you use the best tools available. With the intense level of competition for legal services jobs, you will be one step ahead of your competition if you know where to find the best and most current jobs in the UK legal services job market. There are many online recruitment agencies that specialise the law industry and can provide candidates with all the information they need, when looking or applying for their legal job.

But aware that Law jobs advertised can vary from entry level positions that require paralegal training and no experience, to executive and management positions that insist on over 10 years work experience in law coupled with an advanced law degree.

by: Emma Kent

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