Articles From the Team

How do I secure an NQ Solicitor job in Birmingham?

So winter is finally behind us (she says holding her breath and praying that there will be no more snow!) and for many that means summer is on its way, time plan those holidays abroad, BBQ season, light nights and Sunday afternoons in the park - all very lovely indeed. For those of us in legal recruitment it also means the start of NQ season.

If you are a trainee solicitor in Birmingham and qualifying in September congratulations! You are nearly there, all the hard work and years of studying have paid off and you will finally be able to call yourself a qualified solicitor. I remember it being a bit of an odd feeling – a mixture of excitement and nerves, that first day as an NQ and wondering whether it would feel different. Helpfully being told by my senior colleagues that the only difference was that I could be sued if I stuffed things up!!!

The great news is that the Birmingham legal market is extremely buoyant at present and we are already recruiting for a number of NQ vacancies across the City. This will only ramp up more after Easter, as firms release their internal job lists and complete their budgets for the next financial year.

So what does this all mean for you? What do you need to do? Well fingers crossed you are in the fortunate position that you really like the firm you have trained at, you know which team you would like to qualify into, they have a role for you and you are only person applying for it – job done….

If that is not the case, do not panic! There is still plenty of time for you to secure the right NQ solicitor role for you and we are here to help.

As specialist legal recruiters, we pride ourselves on being in the know when it comes to NQ season and as preferred suppliers to all major firms in Birmingham we can offer you the most up to date information and advice on your options. We are the only specialist legal recruiters in Birmingham and have the largest dedicated team which means we can offer you a consultative and tailored service. In addition most of our consultant’s come from a legal background so we understand what you are going through and that it can be a stressful time.

The best advice I can give you right now is to get prepared, it is always good to have a plan A and plan B, especially if you don’t currently know if there is going to be a job for you at your firm, for whatever reason, or are not sure if you want to stay there on qualification.

When was the last time you updated your CV or went for an interview? Probably when you applied for a training contract? A lot has happened since then! Think about all the legal experience you have had and how much you have achieved. So if you haven’t already, dig out that CV over the Easter break and start to update it. If you need inspiration check out the careers advice section on our website which even has a proforma NQ CV document - http://www.bcllegal.com/careers-advice/private-practice/newly-qualified-1-year-pqe.

I specialise in placing lawyers into Birmingham's leading commercial firms. Please feel free to call me on 0121 237 5611 or email me at chloematthews@bcllegal.com to discuss new roles.