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Maddie Smith

April 25th, 2018

Next steps with an LLM

1 comment | 1 shares

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Maddie Smith

April 25th, 2018

Next steps with an LLM

1 comment | 1 shares

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

You’ve (almost) got your LLM, the finish line is in sight. But what are your options once you’ve graduated – where do you go next? What do you do next? Well, there are a vast range of options worth considering. Obviously these will vary depending on the jurisdiction in which you have qualified as a lawyer and right to work/visa regulations in your target country.

So what are your choices?

  1. Joining or re-joining a law firm either as a trainee or as a lateral hire experienced lawyer, is an obvious route enabling you to specialise in a specific area of interest or progress more quickly. Information on qualification routes in the UK can be found via the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) or for Registered European or Registered Foreign Lawyers.
  2. Similarly, if you want to become a barrister you will need to qualify and gain a pupillage in a barristers’ chambers. This is a highly competitive area as there are only around 500 pupillages offered each year. Information on becoming a barrister can be found via the Bar Council and the Bar Standards Board.
  3. If you are interested in an “In-house” role why not explore large corporates, NGOs, charities or public sector bodies? Some of these organisations run legal trainee schemes and many welcome experienced lawyers to their own in-house legal teams as an alternative to using external legal firms.
  4. In the public sector, the Government Legal Service and Crown Prosecution Service in the UK accept applications from UK, EEA and Commonwealth nationals.
  5. More specifically, if Public International Law is your area of interest, there is some good advice on pages 16 and17 of the Careers Information for LLM Students booklet, and you may want to consider the UN, World Trade Organisation, World Bank, International Committee of the Red Cross or the International Courts as potential future employers.
  6. Alternatively, if you want to move into Research & Academia, refer to the seminar that was delivered on 14th November 2017 in conjunction with the PhD Academy, and to the information on the Careers website about.
  7. So what other options are available to you?
  • Other Law Roles: There is increasing demand for Paralegals, Legal Executives and Licenced Conveyancers, whilst experience can be gained as a Legal Assistant, through volunteering or internships

Click here for examples of non-legal work experience.

  • Non-Law Roles in a law context: Barristers Clerk, Family Mediator, Witness Care Officer, Police, Probation Service
  • Non-Law roles with legal content: Trading Standards/ Immigration Officer, Tax Inspector, HR Advisor, Social worker
  • Non-Law work: Civil Service roles, Teacher, Journalist, Political Advisor

If you cannot find direct legal experience then look at finding work in areas related to the practice area that you wish to pursue.

Don’t forget, we’re here to offer you help, support and advice both during your time at LSE and five years after you graduate. Book your appointment on CareerHub.

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About the author

Maddie Smith

Careers Consultant, LSE Careers

Posted In: Careers Advice | Law and legal services | Postgraduate Taught

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