Work experience in big international law firm OR Paralegalling | HELP

[Deleted member 34842]

Hi everyone,

I really need your help as I am quite confused about what to do.

I am a recent law graduate from an EU country, and I have been offered a two-week placement by an international law firm in my home country in July. Meanwhile, I am in the late stages of securing a paralegal role in a mid-sized firm. Considering both the practical aspect (i.e., paying London rent so I need a job) and the potential long-term benefits (i.e., having something substantial to discuss in training contract applications), I am unsure which option to choose.

Would a two-week placement at an international law firm significantly boost my CV and expand my work opportunities, potentially helping me secure a paralegal job at a larger firm or even with the same firm? Or would this experience only be beneficial when applying for a training contract with the firm?

Should I simply go for the paralegal job at the mid-sized firm?

I appreciate your help. Thank you.

 

[Deleted member 34842]

@Jessica Booker Please, may I have your expert views as I have a maximum of 24 hours to respond to the firm's offer?

Thank you very much! I greatly appreciate it!

 

[CallumJR]

I would go with the two-week placement by the international law firm!

2 weeks gives you enough to discuss in your apps

 

[FM302989]

Two weeks for an unpaid position where you may well be limited to admin is not substantial.

Get to work, if you can, and start building up genuine experience in time, and start seeing what areas you like

 

[hopefulforatc]

Hi everyone,

I really need your help as I am quite confused about what to do.

I am a recent law graduate from an EU country, and I have been offered a two-week placement by an international law firm in my home country in July. Meanwhile, I am in the late stages of securing a paralegal role in a mid-sized firm. Considering both the practical aspect (i.e., paying London rent so I need a job) and the potential long-term benefits (i.e., having something substantial to discuss in training contract applications), I am unsure which option to choose.

Would a two-week placement at an international law firm significantly boost my CV and expand my work opportunities, potentially helping me secure a paralegal job at a larger firm or even with the same firm? Or would this experience only be beneficial when applying for a training contract with the firm?

Should I simply go for the paralegal job at the mid-sized firm?

I appreciate your help. Thank you.

you can do both. either you can take a leave from your paralegal job are start the paralegal job after the placement.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi everyone,

I really need your help as I am quite confused about what to do.

I am a recent law graduate from an EU country, and I have been offered a two-week placement by an international law firm in my home country in July. Meanwhile, I am in the late stages of securing a paralegal role in a mid-sized firm. Considering both the practical aspect (i.e., paying London rent so I need a job) and the potential long-term benefits (i.e., having something substantial to discuss in training contract applications), I am unsure which option to choose.

Would a two-week placement at an international law firm significantly boost my CV and expand my work opportunities, potentially helping me secure a paralegal job at a larger firm or even with the same firm? Or would this experience only be beneficial when applying for a training contract with the firm?

Should I simply go for the paralegal job at the mid-sized firm?

I appreciate your help. Thank you.

Could you not do both? Do the placement and then do the paralegal role?

If not, it sounds like the paralegal role will be a longer term opportunity and therefore will be the better one to seek.

Working in a non U.K. office of an international firm would really be helpful if you wanted to work in that location. It doesn’t necessarily open doors to a TC opportunity in the U.K. with the same firm.

 

[Deleted member 34842]

Could you not do both? Do the placement and then do the paralegal role?

If not, it sounds like the paralegal role will be a longer term opportunity and therefore will be the better one to seek.

Working in a non U.K. office of an international firm would really be helpful if you wanted to work in that location. It doesn’t necessarily open doors to a TC opportunity in the U.K. with the same firm.

Hi Jessica,

I am not sure if I can do both. If I start working now, I will need to take two weeks off in July for the internship. However, I have heard that most firms have a clause that prevents employees from working or gaining work experience at another firm for obvious reasons. I am still not sure if this applies to my situation, as the firm where I am seeking the internship is in the EU but registered in the UK.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica,

I am not sure if I can do both. If I start working now, I will need to take two weeks off in July for the internship. However, I have heard that most firms have a clause that prevents employees from working or gaining work experience at another firm for obvious reasons. I am still not sure if this applies to my situation, as the firm where I am seeking the internship is in the EU but registered in the UK.

July is only a matter of weeks away - you could find that you are able to do the internship before the paralegal job starts.

If you did secure both offers, you could always renege on the one you don’t prefer.

 

[Deleted member 34842]

Unfortunately, I asked them, and they stated they can only hold internships in July and August.

I will see what I can do. Thank you very much, anyway.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Unfortunately, I asked them, and they stated they can only hold internships in July and August.

I will see what I can do. Thank you very much, anyway.

The paralegal job might not start until late July.

I would wait until you see if you get the paralegal offer and then work out what to do - I think you might jump the gun otherwise.