Researching employers and individuals

When applying for jobs it's important to know the employer you're applying to well (knowing their competitors can be important too). This can help in writing intelligent and quality applications, and will be useful when it comes to the interview process. The following are suggested ways to research legal employers and specific individuals:

Information published by the firm/chambers

Most firms/chambers will have a website containing information about them, their recruitment processes, their successes and their focus (specific areas of law, or related to internal schemes such as people development, diversity, etc.). These employers will also have promotional materials for you to collect at events they run or careers fairs they attend. 

Some may even appear in careers resources such as TARGETjobs, Times 100, Guardian 300, Lex 100, available for you to pick up for free from Tower 3, Floor 3.

This is the minimum information you should know about an employer.

Speak to employers

This will give you information not available on their website and can be something you refer to in a cover letter or personal statement. Attend:

• Law Fairs - book the LSE Careers Law Fair via LSE CareerHub (takes place each Michaelmas Term)
• Attend the National Pupillage Fair - March 2013, see TARGETjobs
• Employer talks - many advertised on LSE CareerHub
• Open days - see employer websites  
• Work experience with them through vacation schemes and mini pupillages

Advice for law fairs from legal employers

• Approach the stand when it's not that busy and get into a conversation
• Employers are not impressed by students asking "who are you" "what do you do" "what is your deadline" - do your research beyond the website
• Students need to talk to the trainees on the stand, not to the HR staff; this is the way to find out about the culture, atmosphere etc.
• Do not ask the recruiter "what will make me stand out?"; how would they know having only just met you?
• Remember employers are there to ensure students are accurately informed but also to recruit; it is their chance to see whether you come across like a potential lawyer who they could put in front of clients
• Some graduate recruiters ask the trainees to keep a mental note of a student's name when they are talking to them and then jot it down after
• If a student impresses them at a fair they will keep their eye open for their application form but the form still has to be good.
• However, some firms do the same with students who do not impress

Information interviews

If you know someone who works within the profession, speak to them! Similarly, if you don't have existing contacts make some via LinkedIn; LSE alumni working in the law field are particularly good people to approach. Conduct an information interview; ask them how they got in, what experience they gained first, what important trends and news is having an affect on their everyday work, which area of law they work in. All this information can be useful to help you make decisions about your career, and great for an informed application.

Commercial awareness is important in any career, but especially so in law. News stories about employers you are interested in applying to will appear in the national and commercial press and within sector specific publications. See more at  Legal news sources.

Useful resources

• Chambers student guide

  Contains details on practice areas with listings of key players plus information on the top 100 law firms (as employer profiles). Uses anecdotal information to provide an insider's view of different firms and sets. Also includes a search facility for firm

• Inside Buzz

  Browse thousands of quotes from current employees. Your inside look at companies, interviews, salaries and more.

• LawCareers.Net

  This site has details of practice areas by specialisation and vacancies for training contracts, pupillages and paralegal positions. LCN Focus features specific firms and there are interviews with trainees. Copies of firms' brochures are also on this site.

• LawCareers.Net

  This site has details of practice areas by specialisation and vacancies for training contracts, pupillages and paralegal positions. LCN Focus features specific firms and there are interviews with trainees. Copies of firms' brochures are also on this site. Major legal website with some information on human rights issues.

• Lex 100

  Survey carried out with current trainees and newly-qualified solicitors in the top firms giving an insight in what is really like to work there

• LexisNexis UK

  Searchable database by location and specialisation (very specific areas)

• Pupillage Portal

  Lists all of the chambers and their specialisms, type of work that they do, number of pupillages available and how to apply.

• Roll On Friday

  Inside information on law firms - news, views and gossip including salaries.

• Shelfari

  Online list of all the books currrently in stock in the Careers Information Room.

• Solicitors online

  Searchable list of employers authorised to take trainees. This database is searchable by name, location and areas of law (click on More Search Options to enter a second area of law). Good source for high street firms, international firms and in-house.

• The Lawyer

  Within this site you will find various reports on law firms for example: The Lawyer Career Report designed to give lawyers a clear picture of partnership prospects at the 100 largest UK firms and the top 30 international firms in London. Also look at he T Within this site you will find various reports on law firms, for example: The Lawyer Career Report designed to give lawyers a clear picture of partnership prospects at the 100 largest UK firms and the top 30 international firms in London. Also reports on

• The Legal 500

  The online version of the business-to-business guide for solicitors and barristers, covering the 500 top players. You can also access information on In-House Lawyers and international firm.