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How law students can make it into the legal profession without doing a training contract
With traditional routes to qualification as a lawyer undergoing a huge shake-up, and new pathways rising in prominence, Legal Cheek wants to know how current students can take advantage of the changes. So we are bringing together a panel of people at the forefront of developments and inviting applications from students to attend — for free — and ask whatever questions they like.
From top legal education decision makers to an English bar graduate who made it to JP Morgan after becoming New York qualified, from City law firm graduate recruitment chiefs to the first solicitor to qualify via the new "paralegal shortcut", the panellists are:
Kate Ace, co-architect of Mayer Brown's new earn-while-you-learn LLB and apprenticeship.
Julie Brannan, head of education and training at the Solicitors Regulation Authority, which next month launches a review of the training framework for trainee solicitors.
Priya Krishan, director of legal education at BARBRI, which runs US law programmes for UK students, and a former in-house lawyer at JP Morgan. Priya qualified as a solicitor as an LPC graduate by completing the New York Bar exam and then doing the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme.
Shaun Lawler, the first LPC graduate to qualify as a solicitor via the "paralegal shortcut" equivalent means route — without doing a training contract.
Caroline Walsh, head of graduate and apprentice recruitment at Clyde & Co.
The event takes place at 6pm on Thursday 3 December at BARBRI International at 33 Finsbury Square, London (within the London campus of the University of Liverpool). The closest Tube is Moorgate.
After the discussion — which will be chaired by Legal Cheek publisher Alex Aldridge — there will be drinks and nibbles and an opportunity for the students selected to attend to chat to the panellists. Apply to attend below.
You'll be asked to submit a CV and two questions for the panel. The CVs of those offered places will be passed on to the graduate recruitment teams of the firms and organisations represented on the panel. Attendees' names will also be entered into a prize drawer to win return flights to New York (subject to terms & conditions), courtesy of event sponsor BARBRI. The lucky winner will be announced at the event.
Students of all levels and law graduates are welcome to apply.