Features: Ask the law experts

It's difficult to know how to stand out from your peers or what sort of career path paralegalling can offer you. So Prospects asked a panel of sector insiders and students for their thoughts

One myth that the panel were keen to dispel was that law is a recession-proof career. It isn't and it's feeling the strain like many other professions.

'It's not about painting a perfect picture for students. It's going to be difficult and you are going to have to pay more for your degree. But, you can enhance your employability through mini-pupillages, going to recruitment fairs and entering things such as the Inns of Court Moot competitions,' says Faiza Saeed, a student who is aiming for the Bar.

Consider paralegalling

'I think for those people who haven't found a training contract or pupillage, doing paralegal work is an important thing to do while you're searching. Lots of people are at a loss and the best way to earn money and get experience is paralegalling,' says Emma-Jane Sleator-Rollinson, careers and information officer at The Bar Council .

The problem with paralegalling is that the entry requirements and the job demands will differ between firms. Some paralegals will be non-law graduates with no previous experience while others will have done the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). If you successfully get a job you can be doing anything from administration to high-end work such as interviewing clients.

Paralegals are also usually hired to cover busy periods, for example if the firm has a big case on. Therefore positions can be advertised all year round as Paul Kendall, graduate recruitment manager at Cobbetts points out, 'A law firm isn’t going to offer 10 paralegal roles to start in September it's more adhoc than that. So if you're struggling because of a lack of experience it might just be that those firms at that time require a high level of experience but others may not.'

List your interests

As well as your academic achievements and awards your CV needs to include everything that is helping you to gain transferable skills. Whether you are the Young Magician of the Year, a drummer in a band or have a part-time job, you need to list it on your CV.

Law student, Charlotte Felton, volunteers for the national Shih Tzu rescue group and she initially left this off her CV as she didn't think it was relevant. However, since adding it to her CV it has been mentioned by several interviewers. 'In four interviews the question 'tell us about volunteering for the dog rescue' has come up and we've had a bit of a giggle and it has helped me to get work experience.'

It is all about showing that you have the willingness to do more outside of your studies and that there is a person behind the qualifications. Extra-curricular activities are also a great way to demonstrate your time management, team working abilities and initiative.

Listing your sports clubs, hobbies, volunteering and part-time jobs on your CV can also be a good way to get the conversation started with an interviewer and break the ice.

'You never know what the interviewer is going to say. For example, in my spare time I go to a rescue centre and walk dogs because it's something I enjoy doing. If you as the interviewee have something similar on your CV then you have found a way of connecting, which is very important in this industry,' says Paul.

Keep it relevant

You've worked hard and gained good grades in all your modules and so you want to let employers know by listing them all on your application. Don't, unless asked to do so. Do your research and be specific each time.

You should research the firm to find out its specialisms either by looking on the website or talking to people at fairs. Then list the modules that are relevant to the firm, which in some cases will differ with each application.

Telling an employer that you received top marks in your LPC electives of human rights and immigration is pointless if the firm doesn't cover either of these specialisms. This will alert an employer to the fact that maybe you are sending out the same CV to every firm or chambers.