The underrated value of non-legal work experience for aspiring lawyers

For many law students, gaining legal work experience can feel highly competitive and, at times, out of reach. Not everyone is able to secure internships early on, and not everyone knows someone already working in the legal profession. The COVID-19 pandemic also reduced the number of in-person opportunities available, making the process even more challenging.

If you are a law student worried that your experience is not “legal enough”, you are not alone. It can be tempting to think that non-legal work experience is something to omit or downplay on an application, particularly when you are comparing yourself to others. In my experience, however, the opposite is true. Non-legal experience can be incredibly valuable, and often develops the very skills that make better lawyers.

In this article, I share how non-legal experience has shaped my own journey, and offer practical examples of how law students can build and present this experience with confidence.

Before specialising in education law, I gained experience in a range of non-legal roles. At the time, I did not always see how they would connect to a future legal career. Looking back, they have had a positive impact on the way I approach my legal work now. Here are 10 examples of how to make the most of your non-legal experience and develop transferable skills for law:

Volunteering with charities is a meaningful way to give back to the community, grow in empathy and build your client care skills. Pro bono work at legal advice centres, such as Citizens Advice, may count as Qualifying Work Experience under the SRA’s new SQE route.

You could even start your own volunteering project. I started a non-profit mentoring programme for Sikh women aspiring to enter the legal profession. Taking the initiative to solve a problem you feel passionately about can be extremely rewarding. 

Starting a small business or side hustle can be both personally and professionally formative. Running a tutoring business taught me about problem-solving, negotiation, drafting contracts and policies, invoicing, managing client relationships, and balancing multiple responsibilities - all of which translate directly into legal work.

Part-time jobs - for example, in hospitality or retail - can help you to develop your time-management skills, ability to communicate with a diverse range of clients and work under pressure. During my summers, I worked in customer service at my local council. Taking calls about waste and recycling wasn’t always glamorous, but it taught me how to navigate difficult conversations with residents and meet KPIs. 

During my gap year, I lived abroad in China and Hong Kong. I had to adapt to unfamiliar environments, navigate uncertainty and overcome language barriers. This helped me to build resilience, independence and cultural awareness.

Being involved with student societies at university is a great opportunity to learn life skills. My time on a student committee taught me about teamwork and organisation, which are exactly the skills that employers look for.

Starting a blog online can demonstrate sustained interest in a particular practice area. I found it helpful for articulating my thoughts and researching topics to discuss in interviews.

I experimented with careers in government, the civil service and public policy. These work experiences all count. Law does not operate in isolation, and understanding how legal decisions interact with public bodies has been particularly relevant to my current work involving judicial review. 

Podcasts are a convenient way to engage with legal practice areas and hear from experts in the field. They are also easy to fit into your daily routine and commute. For example, our children law team at Russell-Cooke hosted a podcast series called ‘Let’s Talk’, which will give you an insight into what it’s like working in family law. 

• Keep a task log to record what you do. It will help you write your CV and prepare for interviews.
• Be willing to learn and open to trying things outside your comfort zone.
• Put yourself out there and be proactive - networking really does help, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.

Since joining Russell-Cooke, I have been encouraged to draw on my non-legal experience. During the interview process, it felt like there was genuine interest in getting to know me as a person and understanding my journey, which was refreshing. Several colleagues in the education law team have come from non-legal backgrounds, such as teaching, and I believe this diversity of lived experience strengthens our team as a whole.

The main takeaway is that we all bring different stories and skills with us, so don’t underestimate yourself or downplay your experiences, even if they’re not directly related to the legal sector. Every experience is a learning opportunity – it’s all about how you frame it. 

Shannon Dhillon is a legal assistant in the education law team.