Professional Guide
In the Legal sector we can mainly find law firms. There are also consulting firms that provide legal services and Alternative Legal Services Providers (ALSPs).
Professional Guide
This guide serves as your roadmap to a successful career, providing the resources and knowledge needed to take proactive steps toward your future.
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In the Legal sector we can mainly find law firms. There are also consulting firms that provide legal services and Alternative Legal Services Providers (ALSPs).
After studying law, graduates have a broad range of career options. These include traditional legal roles (such as pursuing the qualifications required to become a lawyer or attorney in each country) as well as positions as legal advisor or in-house counsel/lawyer within corporate legal departments.
To strengthen their professional profile and broaden their career prospects, law graduates often pursue additional training or specialization, or qualify as Lawyers/Attorneys:
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MAIN PLAYERS
Law firms can be classified by different criteria. Some criteria are:
The best source of information to obtain updated classifications are official rankings, for examples:
Professional career
Lifestyle
The ideal candidate combines the right profile with strong motivation. Key traits include:
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For the second point, take into account the reasons for joining the firm both at the professional level (industries or legal practice areas in which they are strong, deals in which they have been involved, etc) and at the personal level (if you are attracted by and comfortable with the culture, values and environment of the firm).
Additionally, your studies at IE contribute to your profile in all the following aspects. Keep all of them in mind and highlight those that are relevant during the application process when appropriate (application materials, interviews, etc.).
Remember that in order to prepare your CV, you must follow the IE CV template and the instructions that you can find on the Career Development Training (CDT) (blackboard.ie.edu > Courses > Career Development).
Additionally, on the left, you can find relevant tips for tailoring your CV for the Law Sector.
1. Tailor your CV using the keywords and key insights. Use the IE CV that you prepared for the CDT as your base.
2. Upload the tailor CV as a one- page PDF to the Career Portal (Documents tab) so you can use it in your applications.
Here you have different kind of activities through which you can start gaining relevant experience from the beginning of your studies. We highly recommend getting involved in these activities to build an attractive profile for the firms.
Young Corporate Program (YCP)
This program allows selected students to participate in different activities with a specific company during several years of the bachelor. It is open to 1st year single and 2nd year dual degrees. Information will be sent to target students when appropiate.
Some examples of participating firms: Eversheds Sutherland, Linklaters, Clifford Chance, Garrigues, Pérez-Llorca, Uría Menéndez, King & Wood Mallesons, Latham & Watkins, Allen & Overy, Squire Patton Boggs, GV Legal Control and Hogan Lovells.
Virtual Work Experience Programs
Simulations of the work done at leading companies.
For example: The Forage (free resource) - you can participate in simulations of firms such as Latham & Watkins, White & Case, King & Wood Mallesons, and many others. You can access The Forage’s website here.
IE University Labs
They are IE University’s alternative to traditional work placements and provide hands-on, internship-like experience on campus to first and second-year students who wish to start gaining professional practice.
For example: Legal Clinic Lab, Social Impact Lab, etc. (For further info: labs.university@ie.edu).
IE Clubs
Join relevant IE Clubs. Law Society, IE Ethics and Compliance Club, Debate Club (For further information: campus.life@ie.edu).
Competitions and Events
Participate in Competitions and Events. For example: LLB Academic Department usually organizes the “Roman Law Challenge”, the “European Union Law Challenge” and the “Commercial Law Challenge”. They will inform targeted students when appropriate.
Volunteer Work
Collaborating with NGOs / Foundations. Hacesfalta.org, Fundación Lealtad, The Borgen Project, UN Volunteers (online), UNICEF, etc.
What have you done so far and/or do you plan on doing in the upcoming years to enhance your profile?
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In the two images below, you can see examples of opportunities included in the Talent & Careers Weekly Newsletter from past academic years.
Law Firms’ Websites
Law firms centralize their recruitment processes via their websites. Do research and create your list of “target” firms. Apply directly through their websites!
Career Fairs
Talent & Careers Weekly Newsletter
Events, company presentations, internship and job opportunities, search engines. Download the Excel sheet in order to filter opportunities by function, location, starting date, duration, etc.
Please note that in this newsletter you will find legal roles in the legal sector and also in companies of other sectors (legal department of multinational companies).
IE Career Portal
IE CAREER PORTAL IE’s platform where internship and job opportunities are posted. CV adapted to the EU CV template is necessary to apply.
Additional Search Engines
Networking
Attend law-related events to generate relevant contacts. Identify people in your network related to the firms of your interest.
As mentioned before, law firms want to identify talented people who match the firm and have the required skills for the position. Throughout the process you must show:
Preparation is the key to success! Research the company and be updated on recent news in the legal sector.
USUAL STEPS:
Remember that in the Career Development Training (blackboard.ie.edu > Courses > Career Development) you can find webinars and useful resources in order to get ready for these steps of the recruitment process.
Additionally, check out the T&C website for further information on very useful resources for the recruitment process preparation. Also, don’t forget to sign up for our HR Interview Prep workshops and Group Dynamic Simulations. If you find any difficulties with the registration, please email ieu.careers@ie.edu
These links showcase IE Alumni and IE current students thriving in the legal sector. They provide valuable insights into their career journeys and the skills they developed at IE. Enjoy exploring!
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Career Report 2024
Career Report 2024
Career Report 2023
Career Report 2022
Career Report 2021
Career Report 2021
Career Report 2020
Sector Specific Q&A Sessions - Legal Sector: Speak to a specialist about your specific case or query. Sessions take place on the first Tuesday of each month at 11:30–12:30 or 16:00–17:00. No registration required. Link to access Zoom.
From time to time, the session will focus on specific markets (UK, US). Pay attention to the communications you receive from Talent & Careers and to the event section in our newsletters.
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