About the Fair
The University of Sheffield Legal Fair is an information event designed to help students interested in a career in law find out more about the options open to them. Students and recent graduates of any institution and any degree course are welcome to attend.
Over 65 organisations will be present; the exhibitor list will be live on this website shortly, including profiles for each organisation attending.
Before the Fair
The amount of preparation you do prior to attending the fair will depend on how focused you at this point. Make use of the Careers Service Law Careers website which contains a lot of useful information and links to professional bodies.
- If you are in the early stages of thinking about law as a career, find out about the standard routes to qualification. Firms are not impressed by those who roll up and ask very basic questions, so show you have done your homework.
- Not sure whether to specialise as a solicitor or barrister? The best form of research is work experience in a firm or chambers. You should also find out more about the routes to qualification as a solicitor or barrister.
- If you are using the fair to get to know more about a particular firm, do as much research in advance and have an idea of what type and size of firm they are; your discussion can then take you beyond the obvious.
- For the seriously well prepared, have a few copies of your current CV, tailored for law vacancies with you.
At the Fair
Don't panic - take your time to get the measure of the fair. You can view the profiles of every exhibitor on this site in advance of the day - exhibitor list. You will also receive a Fair Guide on arrival - go through it and work out who it would be most useful to talk to.
Visit the Careers Service stand. Staff will be pleased to help you with general enquiries about the Fair and the legal profession.
Check the Programme of Talks. There is something here of interest to everyone.
This is an informal event so you are not expected to dress in your best outfit, but if you look fairly presentable you will probably feel more at ease.
When talking to representatives, make a good first and last impression; firm handshake, good eye contact, even a smile! Be yourself and don't waffle, have some purposeful questions to ask. This is also your chance to get to know a firm you may eventually apply to - it's not all one way; do they seem like the kind of people you could work with.
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