Showing posts with label career in law. Show all posts
Showing posts with label career in law. Show all posts
Monday, 29 November 2010

Barristers Career Advice

Posted by Online Jobs at 11:49

Career job information for job seekers and find good employment job 
 
If you are wondering how to become a Barrister, below are tips and advice on beginning careers in this challenging court work area of the legal profession and where law jobs for barristers could take you.
The Job Description
The role of the barrister is to work with solicitors and to represent the client in court or at tribunals, but there is often no direct contact with the client at all. 80% work on a self-employed basis, working in private practice within the 'Employed Bar'. Duties include:

• Delivery of legal arguments to juries, judges and magistrates.

• Cross examination of defendants and witnesses.

• Consulting with relevant professionals such as accountants or surveyors.

• Studying case notes and liaising with solicitors and clients where appropriate.

• Conducting research of previous similar cases to use as a basis for action.

• Attending meetings with solicitors and offering advice and opinions.
Person Specification
The key personal attributes of a good barrister include:
• Confidence and excellent verbal presentation skills under pressure.
• The ability to take absorb and analyse large amounts of information.
• A strong work ethic, as law is a taxing and highly competitive profession.
• Accurate and good attention to detail.
• Articulate - able to explain complex legal matters clearly and concisely.
• Strong in negotiation and able to argue cases effectively.
• The ability to remain emotionally detached during sensitive cases.
• Comfortable in working under pressure.
• Empathetic and tactful.
• Discretion in dealing with confidential information.
How to become a Barrister
You must complete both academic and vocational stages of training.
The academic stage can be completed in one of two ways:
• Gain a degree in law at 2:2 or above.
• Gain a degree in another subject, followed by either the Common Professional Examination (CPE) or Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PgDL).
Entry requirements for law degrees vary so check with the course provider. Some universities ask you to pass the National Admissions Test for Law (LNAT) before acceptance to a law degree course.
Training and Development
After passing the academic stage, you must pass a vocational stage of to qualify as a barrister, involving the requirments of:
• Membership of one of the four 'Inns of Court'.

• Completion of a 1-year full time (or 2-year part time) Bar Vocational Course (BVC), plus 12 educational qualifying sessions with your Inn. This leads to qualification, known as being ‘Called to Bar’.

• 12 months of ‘Pupillage’ - practical training with an experienced barrister, which usually involves 6 months shadowing and 6 months of supervised practice. Formal training courses in advocacy and advice to counsel are also required and from 2008, you will not be called to the bar without full completion of pupillage.

• A forensic accountancy course, either during pupillage or within the first 3 years of practice.
Throughout your career, you must also receive continuing professional development (CPD) and newly qualified barristers require 42 hours of CPD within the first 3 years of practice.
The Pay
Salaries can vary greatly, but as a rough guide:
Trainees (during pupillage) £10k to £40k per annum.
Barristers employed by the CPS: £22,000 to £55,000 per annum.
Self-employed barristers: £20k to £260k per annum.




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Welfare Officer Career Advice

Posted by Online Jobs at 11:48

Career job information for job seekers and find good employment job 
 
If you are wondering how to become a welfare rights officer, below are tips and advice on training for and beginning careers within the legal profession, as well as law job prospects in the UK.
The Job Description
Welfare rights officers, also known in the voluntary sector as advice workers, provide information and advice on a wide range of topics, including:
social security benefits
disability rights and benefits
housing issues
debt management.
Welfare rights officers can work as generalists (advising clients on any welfare benefit issue), or focus on the issues facing a particular client group, such as those with mental health problems, or HIV, or the elderly.
Their duties are likely to include:
identifying suitable benefits for clients, to maximise their income
explaining the eligibility criteria for a range of benefits
helping people complete benefit applications
putting together letters of appeal with clients
gathering evidence and contacting other professionals in support of a client's case
representing clients at tribunal and in review boards
keeping accurate, thorough and confidential records
visiting people in their home if they are unable to travel to the office
working and negotiating with voluntary and statutory organisations on behalf of clients.
Welfare rights officers will often work with clients face-to-face, over the telephone and by letter or email. This work can be stressful and frustrating but is also very rewarding.
Person Specification
The key personal attributes of good welfare rights officer include:
a working knowledge of the benefits system
the ability to interpret and explain clearly social security legislation
strong verbal communication skills
the ability to communicate clearly and effectively in writing
to be well organised, able to manage a wide and varied caseload
the ability to work well in a team and as an individual
the ability to set priorities and meet deadlines
to be impartial and treat clients in a way which is non-judgemental and without bias.
How to become a welfare rights officer
To work as a welfare rights officer it is essential for you to have relevant knowledge and experience, more than formal qualifications. However, many employers will expect you to have a good standard of education, possibly including GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) in English and maths. Many people working in this area have degree or postgraduate qualifications - relevant subjects include sociology, social policy, law, business administration, and community studies.
A common entry route is to volunteer to work in an advice centre and have relevant training in areas such as:
interview and communication skills for use with clients
social security and disability benefits
debt advice and management strategies
tribunal representation.
As a volunteer you may also be encouraged to achieve NVQ Level 2 in Advice and Guidance Support. When you have volunteered in this field for between one and two years, you may have gained suitable skills and knowledge to apply for a paid position.
You can also gain relevant skills, knowledge and experience by working as an adviser in an appropriate department of your local council or with a Jobcentre Plus, for example.
You may be able to get into this job through an apprenticeship scheme. Funding for apprenticeships is available for 16-24 year olds and some over-25s. To find out more, visit http://www.apprenticeships.org.uk/. For information about apprenticeships in other parts of the UK, see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Criminal record bureau checks will usually be made by your employer.
Training and Development
As a new welfare rights officer you will receive training from your employer, which is usually a combination of in-house training and external courses. You can also work towards vocational qualifications, such as NVQ/SVQ levels 2 to 4 in Advice and Guidance.
Larger organisations often have their own structured training programmes. As a volunteer or paid employee of the Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) you will receive nationally recognised training. Many of the courses offered by CAB are available to external advice workers, specialist case workers and interested members of the public. Check Further Information for contact details.
As a welfare rights officer it is important for you to keep up to date with benefit regulations, legislation and case law, which can be complex and change frequently. Employers may provide on-going training as part of a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme.
The Pay (a rough guide)
Starting salaries for advice workers can be around £18,000 a year.
With experience welfare rights officers can earn around £21,000 to £25,000.
Officers with additional responsibilities can earn around £29,000 a year.
Job Prospects
There are around 1,000 independent advice centres in the UK and approximately 3,000 branches of the Citizens Advice Bureaux. In addition there are about 140 DIAL UK (Disabilities Information and Advice) projects, and a number of other organisations that are part of the Law Centre Federation. Local authorities and national and local charities such as Shelter, Age Concern, Terrence Higgins Trust and the Scottish Low Pay Unit also provide welfare rights services.
As a welfare rights officer you will find opportunities for work with independent advice centres, local authorities, health services, voluntary organisations, law centres, housing associations, and solicitors. You will find most vacancies in larger cities, often in the most deprived areas.

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Private Investigation Career Advice

Posted by Online Jobs at 11:46

Career job information for job seekers and find good employment job 
 
If you are wondering how to become a private investigator, below are tips and advice on training for and beginning careers within the legal profession, as well as law job prospects in the UK.
The Job Description
Private investigators carry out undercover enquiries for their clients (solicitors, insurance companies, councils, private companies and individuals).
As a private investigator, you would ask questions and analyse information to carry out background research. Your work could also include:
surveillance
fraud investigation
missing persons enquiries
investigating insurance claims
presenting legal documents (process serving)
investigating commercial piracy
personnel vetting.
You would typically work alone as a self-employed or freelance investigator. You would use a computer to process detailed reports and maintain your own accounts.
Person Specification
The key personal attributes of good private investigator include:
strong communication skills, both spoken and written
excellent observational skills
strong analytical skills
the self-confidence to present information in court
basic computer skills and a knowledge of the law
honesty and integrity
the ability to work independently
a logical approach to your work
a good level of physical fitness
patience and perseverance.
How to become a private investigator
You do not need to have formal qualifications to start work as a private investigator. However, a good general education and experience in a security related field would be helpful. Business skills are also important because most opportunities in this area involve working as a freelance or self-employed investigator.
The Academy of Professional Investigation (API) runs a BTEC Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Private Investigation, which can be used as a first step into this career. With this qualification you may have an advantage when looking for work experience or paid work with an agency.
The Association of British Investigators (ABI) has details of local private investigators you could contact about gaining experience. The ABI also produces the Process Servers Guide – knowledge of this could increase your chances of finding work presenting and serving legal documents.
The Private Security Industry Act 2001, outlines a system for regulating the sector, which includes private investigators. The Security Industry Authority (SIA) is working towards publishing full details of their plans to license private investigators. Check the SIA website (in Further Information) for details.
A driving licence is usually essential for this work.
Training and Development
Once you are working as a private investigator with an agency, for example, you will usually receive training on the job from your employer. You can support this by working towards qualifications such as NVQ Level 3 in Intelligence Analysis.
There is a range of courses you could do to develop your skills and knowledge in this area, for example:
the Association of British Investigators (ABI) has details of providers offering a 2-day Foundation Course in Investigation, and a 5-day Professional Private Investigator course
the Institute of Professional Investigators (IPI) has details of courses in tracing, and setting up in business
the API BTEC Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Private Investigation can be done before or after you start work in this field.
The Pay (a rough guide)
New private investigators can earn between £10,000 and £12,000 a year.
Experienced and salaried private investigators may earn £14,000 to £20,000.
Self-employed investigators can earn £20,000 to £25,000 a year.
Top salaries in corporate investigation for those with detailed legal knowledge can be £50,000 to £100,000 a year.
Job Prospects
Opportunities for work have increased in this area, and investigators are taking on more work previously done by the police. However, competition for work is still strong.
You will find most job opportunities with investigation agencies. Agencies will usually want you to have experience, which you may be able to gain through part-time or temporary work. Although there is no single regulatory body for this field, you can find a list of agencies who meet the professional standards of the ABI, IPI and WAPI on their websites.


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