5 things to remember when youre hunting down a law graduate job - Debut

5 things to remember when youre hunting down a law graduate job - Debut Its summer and every law student is doing the same thing. Tracking down a law graduate job and wrestling it into submission. We have the utmost confidence in you, law students. No-one out there works harder or is more dedicated to their course (okay, maybe those pesky medicine students). Allow us then to give you some sage advice. The chase to a law graduate job is long and arduous. May these tips ensure that your hunt bears fruit. Looking for a job is a full time job We probably dont need to tell you that looking for a training contract is insanely competitive. To cope with the amount of applications theyre getting every day, firms are often highly selective with what applications they even look at. Unfortunately, non-Oxbridge applicants or those without super-high grades tend to have a tougher time. If thats you, its a good idea to reach out to as many places as you can. Block out an amount of time every day, just to work on your CV and application. Youll be thankful later. Solicitors, secure the position early To all my would-be solicitors out there, take note. Just like we said above, there are a  lot  of you. You dont want to get left in the lurch after doing your Legal Practice Course, only to find that theres nothing waiting for you. If you can, secure a Training Contract first (you can apply up to 2 years in advance). Even better, be sure to do plenty of internships and vacation schemes in the run up to final year and enquire about sponsorship from potential employers if youre worried about those huge fees. Demonstrate your knowledge outside of law It probably hurts you a lot to read that, having read 100 seemingly endless law books but its true. To get a law graduate job, youll need an array of skills. Some youll pick up over the course of a law degree. Some youll need to learn on your own. As well as flaunting your good grades, try to show that you have been working on things like commercial awareness,  emotional intelligence  and people skills. Those intangible traits might just give you the edge. Theres more to life than law firms If you got into law degree, a law graduate job is probably your end goal. Many people you know will likely have solicitor or barrister listed as their dream job. You can do anything you set your mind to, but remember: those arent your only options. You could be a paralegal, a chartered legal executive or a chartered secretary or legal counsel too. And besides, they are plenty of job outside of the legal world that would be a prime fit for a legal graduate. Those include a clerkship in the Houses of Parliament, Civil Service Fast Stream, legal publishing and loads more. Dont give up Having said that, if a law graduate job is your dream: chase it. Law is an all-consuming career that requires true dedication in order to succeed. The fact that youve made it this far shows you have that dedication. Dont get disheartened by rejections and failures. Dont worry if your peers are moving faster than you are. Keep working hard and your break will come. Connect with Debut on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn for more careers insights.