Careers and employability

CEPLER’s annual speaker series welcomes a wide range of esteemed professionals and alumni who offer insights into their working lives and their own careers paths, along with advice on pursuing a career in their field.

From corporate partners in global law firms, to High Court judges, to civil servants, to leading figures in NGOs, our students are exposed to the many and varied opportunities that are available to them upon graduation.

Our speaker programme is grouped into themed weeks, which track the different stages and topics that students will need to consider as they prepare for their future careers. Recent themes include:

• Career Researching and Planning
• International Careers
• Careers in Birmingham
• LawTech
• Diversity in Law
• Making Applications
• Assessment Centres and Interviews

We also invite graduate employers to deliver interactive skills-based sessions, which help students to practice those skills they will need to succeed, in a safe and supported environment and to receive feedback. Skills sessions can include:

• Presentation skills
• Negotiation skills
• Mock interview practice
• Mock assessment centre practice
• Commercial Awareness

Students can tap into a wealth of bespoke careers and advice and support during their time at Birmingham Law School.  Each student is allocated a personal tutor who is a first port of call for careers guidance. The University’s Careers Network’s specialist careers advisers also offer one to one appointments to advise on career options, application strategy and interview technique, and CEPLER runs weekly careers drop-in sessions for students during term time through the Law School’s Skills Academy. 

Work experience not only helps students to determine whether a particular career path might be for them but can be an essential differentiator between applicants for graduate jobs. CEPLER therefore uses its connections with employers to facilitate a number of work experience opportunities each year which are exclusively available to Birmingham Law School students.

We seek to offer bursary support where needed to support students undertaking placements.

Some of our recent placement hosts include:

• Crown Prosecution Service
• Gowling WLG
• No5 Chambers
• Pinsent Masons
• St Philips Chambers

CEPLER is also delighted to extend international work experience opportunities to our students. Recent opportunities have included placements with law firms in St Lucia, Brazil, Singapore and Canada.