How to get IN without the leg UP: Tips on entering the legal profession as part of an underrepresented group/s

Hi! I’m Aaliyah Simms, one of the three EDI Officers for BSG. I’m incredibly passionate about widening access to the legal profession for those from all walks of life. As a card-carrying member of the “widening participation access” community, I am excited to share my brutally honest, hard-learnt tips on getting into the legal profession for those at the earlier stages of their careers. Enjoy part 2 of this BSG bite series!

STAGE 2: ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS AND HOW TO GET THERE

• GET MAJORLY METHODICAL

  • Passive, untracked applications may not bring the most success. Do some commercial awareness research once a week on Westlaw or Lexis – you can even sign up for their alerts. Consider getting an easy-to read digest sent to your inbox (see LittleLaw and Non Billable). Sign up for newsletters (for firms’ blogs, universities if relevant, and graduate opportunity pages such as Bright Network) and stash away deadline dates and exciting opportunities. Keep ALL transcripts and any exam results. Make a spreadsheet to track applications. Keep documents or notes of firms you encounter at law fairs you like the look of. Make notes when you do something exciting at work or during study that you may want to rework into your CV. Get an academic reference email and maintain a good relationship. Allocate time to do these things on a calendar so you don’t miss key deadlines. Naturally intelligent people sometimes struggle at various levels of education and their careers when their aptitude no longer copes with the sharp increase of work needed. This typically takes work and a lot of cycles or failed attempts. You are also only one pair of eyes – get a mate, peer, mentor, or professional development service to review your applications or CV.

• EDUCATE – NOT JUST ACADEMICALLY!

  • Entering the profession is complex to understand, let alone if you’re the first in your family to pursue higher education or law. Training contracts, pupillages, vacation scheme cycles, commercial awareness. Never heard of Watson Glaser before today? Well, engage with your University careers service. There are several practice versions of aptitude tests that law firms use as part of their assessment process, alongside details of what to expect at an assessment centre. You can find a brief overview here, and AllAboutLaw has some resources. What does a solicitor or barrister even DO? Mentorship can help with this insight (answer: a surprising amount of admin!). Bright Network is fantastic for locating deadline dates for applications.

• SCHOLARSHIPS

  • Look into your local Law Society, the Law Society (which just launched its 2025 Diversity Access Scheme!), Inns of Court, and higher education providers (such as ULaw and BPP) for any scholarships they have. Also, consider different paths. If you’re struggling to fund your post-grad living expenses, you can study part-time for 2 years while working full-time instead of doing it for a year.

• MENTORING OPPORTUNITIES

  • Mentors can provide invaluable insight and a helpful steer from someone within the profession. Your university careers service may have schemes like this, but other avenues exist, such as Aspiring Solicitors (https://www.aspiringsolicitors.co.uk/as-mentors/) or just reaching out directly. Do not underestimate this – as a mentee, you must work to get the most out of your relationship. Come prepared and professional with things to discuss, review actions taken since your last discussion, and ensure you give them enough insight to provide useful advice (see https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/large-firms/mentoring-101). You may also wish to mentor: if you’ve made it to university, you could inspire someone reluctant that they have what it takes. We must leave the ladder down and continuously help those seeking to enter the profession.

• VAC SCHEMES, INSIGHT DAYS, MINI-PUPILLAGES, UPSKILLING E-PROGRAMMES

  • These can be difficult to attend, especially with the financial burden. Still, in recent years, more and more vacation schemes and insight days have travel reimbursements, are paid, or have hybrid options. For those who work full-time and want to attend, I recommend being fully honest with your employer, as professional conduct is paramount. Try to tailor your applications and utilise virtual insight days, as these online equivalents, as they typically have wider selection processes.

• CAMPAIGN, GET INVOLVED AND HELP OTHERS UP!

  • Feel a deep resentment about entry-level salaries? Unhappy about the attainment gap? Passionate about championing neurodiverse lawyers? Whatever it is that drives YOU, utilise it. Seek out voluntary roles that align with your interests and get involved with campaigning for change – you can set up a grassroots movement or support a charity or organisation that is doing so already! We are the next generation of legal professionals (fingers crossed) – so every voice counts! It also demonstrates character and experience when filling out applications.

• DO NOT WRITE OFF YOUR TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

  • From stacking shelves to retail and hospitality. I learnt conflict de-escalation and negotiation from working the night shift at Dale End McDonald’s in Brum City Centre during my undergrad. You would be surprised at how many law grads leave their respective campuses without practical work experience. No matter where you worked (or volunteered), any work shows drive. Write down what you did in bullet points, and think about what skills you demonstrated through each act – it may surprise you!

• PERSONAL BRANDING

  • Use your story to your advantage. You are special and unique and were drawn to law for a reason. So pitch that whenever you can to give yourself the platform you deserve. This has a time and a place, but there should be no shame in talking about your circumstances, current or former. Posting on LinkedIn can be really hard, and plenty of senior professionals dislike doing so – so you’re not alone! I am not advising that you become a LinkedIn Top Voice (to each their own), BUT it is one of many tools that can be used to show a curated slice of your personality and values in the workplace – even “reacting” to posts and sending connection requests helps to build your presence.

• FIND THE SCHEMES, ORGANISATIONS AND CHARITIES THAT MAY BE ABLE TO ASSIST YOU

  • A few large ones are Aspiring Solicitors, Bridging the Bar, The Law Society, and Local Law Societies Access Schemes. Sometimes, you need to cast your net wider than just legal-based schemes and charities, and these can vary depending on your personal circumstances, such as the Sutton Trust, Leonard Cheshire, and upReach. Bright Network is fantastic for grads. As you want to be a legal professional, your future career will be FULL of research. Take an hour. Make a list of bullet points about your characteristics and social mobility stats, formally known as socioeconomic status (SES) and deprivation. Then start to Google around and see if there are any scholarships, schemes or charities specifically for people like you. Your career network at university may help, even if you’re an alumnus.

I hope these tips will help guide you on your journey to entering the legal profession. Stay tuned for part 3 of this BSG bite series!

By Aaliyah Simms, EDI officer of Birmingham Solicitors’ Group and Indemnity Adviser at the SRA