Vivianne Gordon-Pullar, Group Chief Compliance Officer at SAP; Simon Entwistle, a Partner at Lewis Sikin LLP; and Cara Robinson, Paralegal at the Attorney General’s Office, gave an inspiring insight into the legal profession and where a law degree can take you.
Students were interested to know what subjects they should study at university. All of our panellists agreed that the office is roughly split 50/50 between those who studied law and those who did not.
Among the fifty percent who did not study Law, there are a range of degrees, from humanities to STEM. At A-level, the panel encouraged students to study at least one essay-based subject but, more importantly, to follow their passions and do it to the best of their ability.
Explaining the difference between solicitors and barristers
While explaining the difference between solicitors and barristers, panellists encouraged those wishing to become barristers to spend at least two years defending those accused of crimes in police stations as this is a good grounding to understand this type of work.
The panellists who recruit graduates told the students that they are looking for skills in different areas such as:
- teamwork
- written and spoken communication
- analytical thinking
- the ability to stay calm under pressure
- a willingness to speak up
- being solution-focused
Most important, the panel said ambitious lawyers should leave their ego at the door. The solution to a problem may lie with someone else, so it is important to consider all views and work together as a team.
The number of vacancies for positions is cyclical
Our panelists stressed the number of vacancies for positions is cyclical. In good times, the economy needs lawyers to negotiate commercial terms as businesses buy and sell each other, whereas in recessions, a greater number of litigators and insolvency lawyers are required.
Most of the learning takes place on the job while dealing with real problems and other people’s emotions. Law may not seem as unemotional as it appears to be. Dealing with corruption where money is misappropriated and stops the countries from spending on hospitals in the developing world, or someone’s divorce, can be stressful.
Lots of routes to being solicitor
In answer to a question about how to set themselves apart, panelists encouraged students to build a profile online, connect with relevant people, study areas which interest them and spend time at a law firm. There are lots of routes to becoming a solicitor, and a new course is being introduced that will allow students from all disciplines to study to become one.
One of the students said, “It was really good to see how many directions a Law degree can take you”.
Our thanks go to Vivianne Gordon-Pullar, Simon Entwistle and Cara Robinson (OE) for sharing their insights into Law with the Epsom community.
