Welcome to LSE Careers
Whatever stage you are at, LSE Careers has a wide range of events and resources to help you progress your career ideas. The Law School has its own Careers Consultant, in Elizabeth Holden, who works with all Law School students (and those other LSE students interested in a legal career) to help them identify the right career route, and how best to approach securing employment after their degree. Throughout the year, she will be organising a programme of careers related events comprising:
- Panels of lawyers from different areas of the profession (from tech law to human rights, sports law to government work) to allow students to gain a better understanding of what each type of role might involve on a day to day basis
- Skills sessions to help students succeed in the highly competitive application and assessment centres involved in all graduate application processes and
- Talks from experienced practitioners to help students understand the basics of some of the more common commercial areas of law (such as running through an M&A or financing deal or the basics or business structures).
In addition, during term time Elizabeth runs regular drop-in sessions in the Law School that are open to all students for short queries or general discussions, and runs a 30-minute weekly conversation on a commercial topic to ensure that you all have the opportunity to talk about live business issues of the day.
For LLM students, Elizabeth is assisted by Doreen Thompson-Addo, who offers ring-fenced (individual) appointments for LLM students during Autumn Term.
To see availability and to book individual appointments with Elizabeth or Doreen, please visit CareerHub. The careers events offered by the Law School can be viewed on the Law School's events page.
Doreen Thompson-Addo / Ladan Mirzadeh Hong
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| Doreen Thompson-Addo |
Elizabeth Holden |
Your starting point
Everyone arrives at LSE with different career ideas and motivations. Some students are at the start of their careers, and some have previous experience. Understanding what stage of career planning you are at, can help you identify the next steps. LSE Careers provides support and works with you, whatever stage you are at.
Early career stage
Not knowing what you want to do after graduating is completely normal. Equally, some may think they have a clear idea and then change their minds at a later date. Careers are not set in stone! When thinking about the right career for you, it’s important to first figure out what’s important to you. Working on understanding your own values and skills will enable you to make a decision that’s based on your needs and wants, rather than those that surround you.
You can explore your motivations and values in a one-to-one appointment with a careers consultant. Careers consultants hold regular weekly office hours at the Law School during Autumn and Winter terms. You might find LSE Careers’ resources on career planning useful.
Some ideas
If you have a few career ideas beyond law or you’d sensibly like to explore your options, there are a wide range of career programmes and events provided by the LSE that focus on different sectors. While Law careers events are spread throughout the year, for others career possibilities less tied to a particular degree offering, the Discover Series also includes International Development, Creative Industries, Social Impact and Public Sector and Policy. You can view the careers events programme on CareerHub. You might also find LSE Careers’ sector guides of interest.
Experienced hire or career changer
Do you have several years of work experience or are you using a law degree from LSE to help with a career shift/change? LSE Careers runs seminars on CVs for experienced hires and seminars on how to make career transitions. You can also discuss your career plans with an LSE careers consultant.
Appointments and events can be booked via CareerHub.
Exploring options and gaining experience
Get to know as much as you can about the areas you're interested in and take time to find out what skills and experience will help you succeed. Find suggestions on how to explore options on LSE Careers’ website.
Once you’ve got a few ideas that you’d like to explore, consider how you can build your professional skills and get the experience you need to succeed. Gaining experience can help you test out how you find the work, and also the workplace and sector itself. The following resources might be helpful:
Implementing your plans
When you’ve found an opportunity you’d like to apply for, consider whether you’d like to take up any of the support LSE Careers offers: