Careers

As a student at the Department of Criminology or the Department of Law, you will have access to a wealth of opportunities to support your career aspirations.

BIRKBECK Careers and Enterprise Service

Birkbeck's Careers and Enterprise Service is free and available to all Birkbeck students and recent graduates, to support your career development and enhance your skills. Every student will also receive a copy of Birkbeck Futures' 'A Guide to Careers in Law'.

The Birkbeck Careers and Enterprise team are able to assist in reviewing job/Bar applications, CVs and cover letters and build your confidence with mock interview practice and assessment centre guidance. They also offer career planning advice and guidance, including goal setting, reflecting on career choices and realistic advice on career options.

In recent years, the Careers and Enterprise Service has supported students in gaining internships and places on vacation schemes with organisations including Allen & Overy, Barclays, BCLP and RPC. Students have also been supported to successfully apply for scholarships such as the Access to The Bar Awards (Middle Temple) and the Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship Awards.

ANNUAL EVENTS

Legal Practice Conversations enable students to meet solicitors and barristers, many of whom are Birkbeck alumni, and gain first-hand knowledge into how the law works in practice. Recent speakers include employees from Leigh Day solicitors, the Equality Challenge Unit and Clifford Chance.

Our Criminology Careers Events welcome speakers from a wide range of criminology-related employers, including Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service, the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, Museum of Homelessness, Islington Museum and Cardboard Citizens. 

Take a look at the School of Law's annual events.

SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS

There will also be opportunities to attend commercial and risk awareness seminars, as well as presentations and workshops from organisations including Aspiring Solicitors (commercial awareness and assessments), Government Legal Department, Sheridans and STRIVE (applying for vacation schemes and training contracts). 

There is a Legal Professionals Insight Evening, attended by BCLP, Hardwicke Chambers and the Inner Temple, as well as workshops on preparing for face to face, video and panel interviews and how to maximise recruitment opportunities at law fairs, vacation scheme and other networking events.

Many of our courses have option modules focussed on real-world legal skills. For example ‘Taking a Case to the European Court of Human Rights’ gives students a chance to work on a real case arising from alleged UK violations, taught in collaboration with the AIRE Centre (Advice on Individual Rights in Europe). First year students studying the Legal Systems and Methods module will be able to take advantage of a Meet the Practitioners annual event.

MENTORING

The Mentoring Pathways programme, run by Birkbeck's Alumni Team, offers the opportunity for final-year students and professional mentors to work together. Mentors are drawn from our Birkbeck graduates and corporate partners working in a diverse range of professions and industries. Our students have been mentored by experienced professionals from such organisations as Clifford Chance, Ashurst LLP and Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC).

river house law Clinic

The River House Law Clinic is run by the School of Law, the River House Trust and Hammersmith & Fulham Law Centre. Students are partnered with professionals at the Clinic to provide legal advice for people living with HIV, many of whom still experience unlawful discrimination in work, housing and other areas. In addition, their advice covers immigration, asylum, housing or social welfare issues.

Watch a discussion on the clinic by Dr Kojo Koram, Programme Director of the Law LLB at the Department of Law, who is joined by Rajwinder Sahota and Farah Palekar from the Centre, as well as Louise Evans, an alumna who was recently involved in the clinic.

Release

We have partnered with Release, the national centre of expertise on drugs and drugs law, offering students the opportunity to develop ideas and skills alongside an experienced team of solicitors. Release's legal team provides specialist advice to the public and professionals on issues related to criminal drug laws. It also operates legal outreach surgeries at drug treatment services and homeless day centres around London, advising primarily on welfare benefits, housing and debt issues. Students on the scheme gain the experience of assisting on casework and advising on the helpline following training.

UNiversity of London refugee law clinic

The Refugee Law Clinic, run by University of London, enables students to participate in a pro bono legal advice clinic for refugee clients. Students work on cases alongside volunteer lawyers from commercial law firms and under the direct supervision of the supervising lawyer. They are trained in the relevant law and policy, as well as a range of other areas such as practical skills, ethics and professional responsibilities. 

OPEN DAYS

Open days are held exclusively for Birkbeck students at firms including Hogan Lovells and Field Court Chambers, while places are reserved for Birkbeck students at open days at firms including BCLP.

Take a look at the School of Law's upcoming events.

MOOting

We have a long-running and highly successful mooting programme, run by two Birkbeck alumni who are now practicing barristers.