Careers and employability

Many students enter the legal professions while others use the transferable skills gained from our degrees to pursue other opportunities. We aim to offer career support that broadens students' knowledge of the options open to them and encourages students to plan their development to achieve their ambitions. 

Employability & Skills Initiative

We help students build the employability skills that employers value. We run our own programme of workshops and talks on topics including Legal Technology and Mooting. We work with local, national and international Law firms to offer employer presentations and first-hand advice on applications, assessment centres and interviews. 

We also offer practice interviews given by experienced law firm interviewers, many of whom are alumni of our Law School, ranging from partners in global international firms to specialist regional and local firms.

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Additional Support & Opportunities

From the beginning of your course you are encouraged to think seriously about your future after graduation. To maximise your chances of success, the School of Law offers a number of opportunities to develop employability skills, network with employers and volunteer in our pro bono schemes.  

One to One Support

The University's Careers Service offers extensive help to all students during their studies, and for up to 3 years after graduation. Our careers advisers can provide support with career aspirations in law, criminology, business and other sectors.

Through the Careers Service students can

• book one-to-one careers appointments
• receive guidance with CVs, applications and interviews
• attend career-related events
• develop skills
• find job vacancies
• access careers information and resources

Pro Bono

During your studies, you can join our growing number of in-house and partner pro bono schemes, which provide you with the chance to help and advise real clients.

Find out more

Professional Links

We are delighted to have worked closely with major international law firms on a number of initiatives. These include:

• provision of funds and facilities for the School such as our Slaughter and May Moot Court
• sponsorship of courses or modules
• cash prizes
• scholarships for individual student excellence

Our Criminologists also have excellent connections with senior criminal justice professionals across the world including judges, lawyers, academics, local and national government, non-governmental organisations, police and probation services.

We regularly invite national and international researchers as well as expert practitioners from the fields of law, criminology, finance and business to seminars and workshops. We encourage you to attend these sessions because they will broaden your horizons, help you to develop your own networks and allow you to draw even greater benefit from your programme of studies.

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Broaden your horizons

In addition to the support offered by the School, the University runs a number of schemes aimed at preparing you for a successful career.

eMentoring

Students have a chance to network with a professional doing a job that interests them through the Careers Services’ eMentoring scheme. We are fortunate to have the support of many alumni of the School of Law who are passionate about supporting our students and who participate in the scheme. 

A mentor can offer you

• Insight into their job, the skills required and the challenges they face
• Advice on how to gain and present relevant experiences to employers
• Support with CVs , interview tips, networking and getting 'work ready'

 

SURE

Sheffield Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE)

The SURE scheme offers The University of Sheffield's undergraduate students an opportunity to become directly involved in the research activity of the University, take part in "real life" research projects in subject areas that are of special interest, and experience what it's like to work in partnership with academic staff or collaboratively in a research group.

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My SURE placement was genuinely an incredible experience. I was able to work alongside leading academics on a project that could potentially have had a far reaching impact for women.

Laura Robinson

LLB Law 2016

Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)

The HEAR is a nationally recognised electronic record for undergraduates, detailing their academic and extra-curricular achievements at Sheffield from day 1 through to graduation. This means that you can use it to help you review your progress and plan what you want to achieve at university, e.g. with your personal tutor or a Careers Advisor.

Consider taking advantage of opportunities to gain HEAR recognition for activities you undertake outside the curriculum. Extra-curricular activities counted as part of HEAR include:

• Involvement in our internal pro bono schemes (FreeLaw, MJRC, CommLaw & Criminal Justice Initiative)
• Support Through Court involvement
• Student ambassador volunteer
• Employability and Skills Initiative (E&SI)

Find more extra-curricular activities in our online data base. These are correct for 2022/23 and are subject to change.

This is being phased out the new initiative is My Skills