Information for students

The Society is committed to supporting new lawyers from when they first consider law as a career, during their studies and traineeship and in the first five years of their working lives. As a law student, we will provide you with help, guidance and advice on your route to qualification.

Getting involved with the work of the Society and the solicitors' profession is a good way build up your CV while still at university - as important as ever due to the competitiveness of the workplace. Taking part in projects and attending events also gives you the chance to meet people from across Scotland who are at different stages in their careers. Building up your network for the future, even this early, is a great idea and will serve you well in the years that follow.

Opt in now to receive New Lawyers' News and updates. In addition, you could:

• sign up to the Student Extra scheme (open to Diploma students and Diploma graduates (not trainees)
• volunteer at our legal study and careers events
• judge in the Donald Dewar Memorial Debating Tournament
• attend continuing professional development (CPD) for new lawyers
• write an article for the Journal, the members' magazine for solicitors
• contact newlawyers@lawscot.org.uk if you want to find out more or get involved in these or any other projects.
• Become a member of the New Lawyers Reference Group.
• Read the latest trainee blog by second year trainee Elika Taghizadeh.
• Listen to our careers podcasts on Studying the LLB ( transcript available), Summer Placement information ( transcript available) and the Traineeship ( transcript available).

The work of the Society

The Society set up a project to engage with new lawyers in 2007 (the New Lawyers' Engagement Strategy) and in late 2010 the Supporting New Lawyers Strategy was developed to follow on form the work undertaken since 2007. The Supporting New Lawyers Strategy includes other examples of how to get involved with the Society and the profession. At the same time, we carried out a national survey of new lawyers to shape the work we do. We will shortly add a sample of survey responses and the action we are taking to continue to improve the services the Society provides for new lawyers to the website.

The Society is also developing a new policy framework for legal education. This will see improvements and changes to the content and delivery of the present LLB degree and Diploma in Legal Practice. There are also changes to the traineeship and the CPD programme for qualified solicitors. If you are currently studying and planning to continue with the route to qualification as a solicitor, it is important that you are aware of these changes. That way, you can make informed decisions and choices as a student. See the Education and Training Policy pages for further details. This new framework will be introduced across Scotland from September 2011.

To make sure you don't miss any important information from the Society, subscribe to our newsletter by contacting Heather McKendrick at E: heathermckendrick@lawscot.org.uk or newlawyers@lawscot.org.uk or telephone 0131 476 8203.