1) Professional careers and coaching services - mini survey

The national executive of the JLD is seeking members who have used professional careers and coaching services such as the following:

http://www.oxbridgetrainingcontracts.com/
http://getatrainingcontract.com/default.aspx
http://www.trainingcontractsuccess.co.uk/

If you have used these services or something similar, the JLD would like to hear what your experience has been like. Have these services assisted you in securing a contract ? If so, do you feel that the service represents value for money? Or are these organisations exploiting students?

To take part in the survey, please request a copy of the survey form from Nicole Baygan (NNB@heaneywatson.com).

If you have any queries then please contact either Martin Boyle (martin_boyle84@hotmail.com) or Nicole Baygan (NNB@heaneywatson.com).

2) Solicitor Advocates - research on trainees' points of view 

The National JLD have been approached by an LLM student at The City Law School who is writing a research based Master dissertation on solicitor advocates. At present she is interviewing law students and legal professionals about their views and experiences within that branch of the profession. However she would like to extend this to include trainees' point of view. If you are a trainee and would like to assist please email Alice.Zaremba.1@city.ac.uk to request the survey and consent form.

3) Access to the profession

Simon Baker of the JLD executive committee recently met with Lord Justice Vos to discuss the social mobility foundation of which Lord Vos is a trustee http://www.socialmobility.org.uk/trustees/ This meeting arose from earlier discussions in relation to the report Fair Access to the Professions (aka the Milburn report) - http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/227102/fair-access.pdf Lord Vos stated that he was keen to work with the JLD to develop a toolkit which would enable junior lawyers to go into schools and mentor children about a career in the law.

Anyone interested in working with Simon on this is invited to contact him - juniorlawyers@hotmail.com.