Finding a Traineeship in a Solicitor's Firm

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brenda24

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Hi

I am finding my search for an apprenticeship in a solicitor's firm to be very difficult and disheartening. With the exception of two interviews, neither of which proved successful, I have received nothing but PFOs. I have passed the FE1s and have a 2.1 degree in Psychology. I am working as a legal secretary to gain experience of the field. Any tips? I am exhausted from photocopying and sending off copies of my CV. I sent another 200 letters this morning. I am anxious to enrol in Blackhall this coming September.

I would appreciate any advice. I am currently trawling through the Law Directory and sending letters to Dublin based firms.

Cheers

Brenda
 
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I've read all those posts, yup! Still feel a bit bewildered. I knew it would be difficult but I had at least hoped for more interviews. Many of the firms I've written to haven't even acknowledged my letters. I suppose I just need to persevere with it.
 
Brenda, I feel your pain. I am beginning to think now that it could take another year or two to get one and start on the course. Despite having 7 FE-1s I could seriously consider dropping the whole idea and changing career altogether as I am finding the search more difficult than the exams. Simple fact is that demand far outweighs supply these days. That should be a lesson to us too when it comes to looking for a job after qualifying. All very disheartening right enough.
 
Any chance that where you are working as a legal secretary that they would offer you one, that is unless you want to be in the Dublin area if not there already!
 
Thanks for the replies everyone. No chance of a traineeship where I'm working. They have selected a trainee who will be starting in a couple of weeks. Trafford, I'm inclined to agree about changing direction altogether. The search is soul-destroying!
 
try firms that require you to have all 8 before they'll grant you an interview

these include:

BCM Hanby Wallace
Vincent Beatty

but i'm sure there's plenty of others.
Come up against less competition this way.

Its still tough- a friend worked as a legal exec in a top 5 firm for 11 months after securing all 8 and he still got a PFO for them
sad thing is that many of the larger firms headhunt student still in undergrad so places are tied up for years
 
BTW
Am I correct to assume that a holder of a specifically law focused degree such as a BCL or LLB etc will have an easier time dealing with the FE1's (and possibly find it easier to secure a training contract?) than somebody with a non-legal degree?? Looks like I 'll be starting in UCD this Sept. And help & advise (or regrets?) greatly appreciated!

P.S. Could somebody in the know advise me on trainee salaries. I know about the minimum salaries advised by the Law Society, but how common is it to get slightly more than this, will some offices pay for some or all of the blackhall fees, how much do the top firms pay their trainees, etc. Thanks.
 
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Hi there,

to those people above who are thinking of packing it in! I was feeling exactly the same a few months ago! It really is soul destroying to think that you have put all that work into the FE1s to end up in some sort of career limbo! Anyway, I had a few interviews, came close a couple of times but nothing came of it! Then, out of the blue one of the firms I had applied to first, one of my preferred choices contacted me, interviewed me and now I have my contract! They had held my CV on file for months which goes to show that not every PFO is lying when it says that your CV is being kept on file! Don't give up if you really enjoy it!

I don't have a BCL or a LLB, I had a fair bit of legal experience but the only job I was ever really asked about was working as a Legal Sec! I also know a couple of people who got their contracts by working as a sec in the firm first! Good Look!
 
MIAK, that's encouraging to hear!

Ana, I had an interview with BCM while I was waiting for the results of my first 4 exams, i.e. before I had secured any. They wrote me back a lovely letter saying they were very impressed with me, but people with 4 exams or more took the places. They told me to get back in touch when I was in this position. I didn't, simply because I moved away from living in Dublin and it wasn't practical for me.
 
dats_right said:
Where are the Moderators on this one? Isn't there already a more than comprehensive discussion on this topic?
Click to expand...

You are easily peeved! I had a glance at your rather vast number of prior contributions to the discussion of traineeships- you must have since tired of the topic! Perhaps you should email the moderators to air your grievances. Sincerest apologies for revisiting old ground!
 
Hey, I'm agreeing with you about, but the op musn't have thought the other was comprehensive enough if they started this....:)
 
hi everyone..does anyone know how to go about applying for an apprenticeship? I am ukrainian.
 
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