Legal services
Legal services offer intellectually challenging and socially impactful careers, with opportunities spanning private practice, government, and corporate sectors.
Whether pursuing roles as a solicitor or barrister, students develop analytical thinking, advocacy and problem-solving skills that are valued across industries.
Entry into the profession typically involves structured routes such as the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) or Bar training followed by pupillage.
Drive, resilience, and a genuine passion for the legal profession are essential qualities we look for.
Hogan Lovells
Explore opportunites and events
Explore legal sector events, including employer-led events, alumni panels, skills workshops, and networking sessions.
Browse current graduate roles, internships, and placements where language skills are valued—across sectors like education, translation, tourism, business and more.
Gain work experience
Work experience is essential for entering the legal profession, where early exposure helps build insight, confidence and credibility. Structured routes like vacation schemes, mini-pupillages, and paralegal roles are common, and many firms expect applicants to demonstrate sustained interest and relevant experience.
It’s also important to think creatively. Some schemes are highly competitive, so consider alternative ways to build your skills and demonstrate your commitment.
- Apply for vacation schemes, insight days/weeks or mini-pupillages with UK law firms and chambers. These are excellent ways to gain practical experience and are often stepping stones to training contracts or pupillages.
- We advertise many of these opportunities on Careers Connect, and you’ll find key deadlines and advice on LawCareers.Net.
- Explore Prospects for a breakdown of the different types of legal work experience available.
- Join student law societies or take part in mooting competitions to develop advocacy, research and public speaking skills.
- Gain experience through part-time legal roles or volunteering in advice centres, either locally or on campus.
- Sign up to one of the virtual work experiences on Forage. Many law firms have created a virtual experience on Forage and it can help you decide which firms are best for you and it shows commitment to a legal career when listed on your CV.
Non-legal work experience
Non-legal work experience can also be valuable. Firms appreciate transferable skills and commercial awareness.
Explore wider opportunities through our B-Experienced Internship Programme.
Further resources for gaining work experience in the legal sector
It is challenging to secure professional work experience in the legal sector. We would recommend reading the following resources about finding legal work experience:
Explore more on the University of Birmingham Work Experience and Internships page.
You may be eligible to apply for work experience bursaries through The University of Birmingham. For more details visit the internship funding pages.
Graduate and employer insights
If you're aspiring to become a trainee solicitor at Hogan Lovells, we're looking for individuals who are highly motivated to pursue a career in commercial law. We value strong communication and interpersonal skills, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to thrive in a team environment. Drive, resilience, and a genuine passion for the legal profession are essential qualities we look for.
Hogan Lovells
Many of our University of Birmingham graduates have gone on to build exciting careers in the legal sector. Explore their stories for inspiration and consider connecting with them on LinkedIn to learn more about their journeys and professional insights.
Antonia Ridley-Hughes
English Literature and French Studies BA
Trainee lawyer at Ashtons Legal LLP
Read Antonia's Story »
Baljinder Singh Atwal
Law LLB
Senior Lawyer (Commercial) for the West Midlands Police
Read Baljinder's Story »