Law Training Contracts: What are the Alternatives?

sophia032
August 2, 2013

Legal professions and careers are not easy to come by these days. In some instances, it’s not just about the number of jobs posted in the market. The skills and experience required may not match the applicant’s profile, leading to scarcity of options available. For law graduates, this could be disheartening. Fortunately, the evolution of the working environment has led to alternative career options for those seeking law training contracts. And see also our guide to some of the best legal recruiters in addition to the information below:-

Riding the Wave of Change

A few decades ago, the traditional practice of getting a law career required training under a firm while working on cases. Since then, technology has improved exponentially, and thus opened up doors for better understanding of current news and update of acquired knowledge. For lawyers, it’s quite natural to have the ability to pattern their research on accurate information and legal aspects. Combined with the skills obtained from handling legal paperwork, the law graduate can look at other ways of building a career.

Using Acquired Traits to Have an Edge

A consultant from EJ Legal shares some insights on the value of skills acquired from a legal background:

“Commitment, drive and resourcefulness are amongst the keys to success. Exploit any contacts you may have in your intended area of practice or industry sector to make sure you get work experience, vacation placements or any other exposure. Showing that you have done all you can to gain relevant experience in the field will contribute to your cause as you seek to secure a training contract, and if the training contract remains elusive, paralegal experience in your intended specialism will put you in the shop window.

There is no substitute for experience. Additional studies or qualifications may help, but only if they are especially relevant, and gained with a suitably highly regarded institution. Even then, it is important you continue to grow your network of contacts in the market place and seek out any opportunity to gain hands-on experience via one of these contacts in between or in tandem with your studies.”

Alternative Careers

It’s easier to move forward when you have confidence to recognise the skills and talents you have. You should be ready to identify what you can offer to organisations, and mould your strategy into a process of focusing on your strengths and how it can benefit your target company. Here are some careers that can benefit from traits and characteristics commonly displayed by those in legal professions or areas of study.

Wireless Site Acquisition Specialist

At first glance, the technology industry does not seem to be a viable match for legal skills and expertise. However, it should be noted that applications and networks function through sites and connections installed on strategic areas. The land is either owned by the state or federal government, necessitating acquisition of zoning permits and procedural licences before a system is set in place.

As a legal expert, you can assist in research and due diligence of potential locations to set up facilities. You will be in charge with liaison in seeking approval for the project. Applied communications is a steadily growing service industry, and telecoms are always looking for ways to expand coverage. This means that the position is stable since you will be kept busy with loads of tasks.

Online Legal Advisor

If you want to expand your client base, you can also look into marketing your services to the Internet as a whole. You can set up a working website where clients can seek legal advice through online tools. Your legal expertise is a valued commodity nowadays, what with the proliferation of cases involving corporate law. The knowledge you share is intellectual property, and you can monetise it through Internet marketing. You are considered a credible voice on legal subjects, and you can make a business out of it.

The point of this article is not to sway you away from your career objectives. It is understandable that you’ve always dreamed of functioning in full capacity as a lawyer, but circumstances should not hinder you from considering other alternative options for a legal career.