Law, law enforcement and security

Resources to help you explore career options, find jobs and employers, and access specialist advice and support.

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Armed forces

How do I get into it?

Armed Forces

There are a large variety of positions available in the armed forces, from engineering and IT and communications to healthcare and logistics.

Ministry of Defence (MoD)


  • Information on civilian roles within the MoD.

  • Opportunities via the Civil Service Fast Stream, and specific programmes for Commercial, Design, Engineering and Information graduates.

  • Provides services to MoD property, personnel, and installations across the UK.

Prison Service


  • Information on the wide range of roles available.

  • Information on roles within the Scottish service.

Security Services

  • Responsible for protecting the UK against threats to national security. 
  • Operates globally collecting intelligence in support of British government policy.

91¶¶Òõ and Sussex Universities Service Units

Undergraduate students at the Universities of 91¶¶Òõ and Sussex and partner colleges have the opportunity to join the:

  • 91¶¶Òõ and Sussex Universities Royal Naval Unit 
  • 91¶¶Òõ and Sussex Universities Officer Training Corps 
  • 91¶¶Òõ and Sussex Universities Air Squadron. 

Membership of these organisations is only available while studying at the 91¶¶Òõ, Sussex University or partner colleges. Applicants must be 18 years old and citizens of the UK or Commonwealth. Places are limited. Early application is necessary as demand always outstrips supply.

91¶¶Òõ and Sussex Universities Royal Naval Unit

The 91¶¶Òõ and Sussex Universities Royal Naval Unit (URNU) provides an opportunity for you to experience a little of life in the Royal Navy without any commitment to join the armed forces.

Members have the opportunity to go to sea in the warship, HMS RANGER, at the weekends during term and for weeks at a time during the university holidays. HMS RANGER visits towns and cities as close as 91¶¶Òõ and Newhaven and as far afield as Saint Petersburg and Tallinn, with her students taking responsibility for navigating the ship between her ports of call.

The URNU has an active social scene with events ranging from nights out in the costal towns of southern England to receptions at ambassadors’ residences overseas.

For more details email  susurnu@sussex.ac.uk

91¶¶Òõ and Sussex Universities Officer Training Corps

Membership of the Universities Officer Training Corps (UOTC) detachment provides an opportunity to develop your leadership potential, while at the same time developing skills in field craft, orienteering, map reading, skill at arms, abseiling, developing social skills, fitness, sport, rock climbing, night exercises, parachuting, canoeing and many more activities.

Membership is restricted to 50 officer cadets and there is no obligation to join the armed forces on completion of your degrees. However, there are opportunities to join the Regular Army or Territorial Army on completion of your studies, should you be interested.

For more details email UOTC@brighton.ac.uk

91¶¶Òõ and Sussex Universities Air Squadron

The Southampton University Air Squadron (UAS) recruits students from a number of universities including 91¶¶Òõ, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Southampton and Sussex.

Recruits are presented with many exciting opportunities – not only do we offer military flying training, but members can take part in adventurous training and sports including rock climbing, football, sailing, rugby, mountaineering, hockey, mountain biking, ski touring, sky diving and much more. These activities and opportunities are offered with no commitment to join the Royal Air Force after university.

For more details email  UAS@brighton.ac.uk

Emergency services

How do I get into it?

General

  • Prospects
    Graduate careers site with information on:

    Includes an overview of the sector and links to detailed profiles for firefighter, paramedic and police roles.
  • Skills for Justice - Career pathways
    Interactive infographic showing the structure of the justice sector and the place of the Emergency Services within it.

Ambulance Service/Paramedics


  • NHS site with information about various Ambulance Service roles.

Fire Service


  • Detailed breakdown of the recruitment and selection process for firefighters.

Police


  • Routes into a career with BTP.

  • Information on various career paths in the police force.

  • Information on joining the MOD Police.

Jobs and employers

Ambulance service/paramedics


  • Most NHS organisations and those offering NHS services advertise here.

  • Some organisation offering NHS services advertise via their own sites. Browse organisation listings here.

Fire service


  • Services recruit directly according to need. See above for a comprehensive list organised by region. The list does not link to individual service sites.

Police


  • Police officer and support roles across the UK.

  • Search vacancies with BTP.

  • Apply via the MOD site.

Further information

Ambulance services/Paramedics


  • The recognised professional body for paramedics and the ambulance profession in the UK. Student membership available

  • Representing independent ambulance providers who are registered with the Care Quality Commission.
  • National Association of Professional Ambulance Services
    Directory of ambulance services across the UK.

Fire service


  • Strategic body promoting the efficiency of the UK Fire and Rescue Service.

  • An unofficial site giving an insight into the work the Fire Service in the UK.

  • International organisation for fire professionals. Student and graduate membership available.

Police

  • National organisation for women of all ranks and grades within the service.

  • The national police force for the railways providing a policing service to rail operators, their staff and passengers throughout England, Wales and Scotland.
  • National Black Police Association
    The NBPA seeks to highlight issues facing black staff in the Police Service.

  • Staff association for constables, sergeants and inspectors

Law

How do I get into it?

General

  • Prospects
    Graduate careers site with information on:

    Detailed profiles covering a range of careers in the profession.

    An overview of the sector, including information on entry routes.

    Analysis of career options both within and outside the legal profession.
  • Targetjobs
    Graduate careers site with information on:

    Information and advice on career paths for Solicitors and Barristers.

Barrister


  • Information on qualifying as a Barrister and profiles of Barristers and their work.

Solicitor/Lawyer


  • An overview of career specialisms following qualification as a Solicitor.

Other legal professions


  • Advice on training to specialise as a Costs Lawyer.

  • Alternatives to practising as a Barrister or Solicitor.

  • Information on careers as a Chartered Legal Executive Lawyer and Legal Secretary.

  • Information on becoming a Licensed Conveyancer or Probate Practitioner.

Non-Law graduates


  • Advice on routes for non-Law graduates to enter the legal profession.

Jobs and employers


  • Recruitment service for lawyers, law firms and businesses at all levels, across all disciplines and across all sectors.

  • Includes listings of law firms and chambers with reviews.

  • Offers a limited number of paid five month traineeships with two intakes per year.

  • Government scheme offering training contract and pupillage opportunities in the Government Legal Department, HM Revenue and Customs, and the National Crime Agency.

  • Join their mailing list to receive members-only job listings.

  • Law, law graduate and paralegal jobs.

  • Browse vacancies by profession or specialism.

  • The students' guide to the top 100 UK law firms now has a page for discussions on the search for a training contract.

  • Access to all pupillage vacancies in England and Wales.

  • Upload your CV and browse current jobs.

Further information


  • The regulatory and representative body for barristers in England and Wales. Site includes press releases, publications and information on current campaigns.

  • Exists to ensure uniform application of EU law across member states. Site includes a library of publications, access to press releases and more.

  • The principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Includes information on publications, past, present and pending cases, press releases and more.

  • For LPC students, paralegals, trainee solicitors and solicitors up to five years qualified. Features a rolling summary of news and views from the profession.

  • Information service for the legal profession with news and analysis.

  • National, independent charity campaigning for equal access to justice for all members of society.

  • The skills council and standards setting body for the UK justice sector.

Advice from employers

Please enable targeting cookies in order to view this video content on our website, or you can .

took time out from the 2018 Careers Fair to talk about their Pupillage opportunities, what they look for from applicants, and how to make your applications stand out from the crowd.

Graduate stories

Melica
LLB (Hons) Law with Business (2013)

I am employed as a Business Development Executive at based in 91¶¶Òõ. I have been working at Pareto Law since June 2013, a month before my graduation.

Pareto Law is the UK’s largest and most successful sales development and sales enhancement organisation. Pareto have provided leading companies with a unique and effective approach to recruitment, business development and sales training.

During my time at the 91¶¶Òõ studying Law with Business, I initially wanted to become a solicitor in the commercial sector as I enjoyed studying the law and business modules. However, after searching for months and months for work experience placements in law firms, I managed to secure one from a family friend. During this placement, I realised that the law industry wasn’t for me, it didn’t fit with my personality and career aspirations. I wanted a challenge, variety, progression and of course, lots of money!

During my final year at university, I applied for many graduate schemes and got to the second stage only to find that I failed the SHL tests. No organisation would consider my personality and drive, they wanted me to have more experience and straight As in my A-levels. At this point I was worried I was going to be unemployed after graduation. A family friend suggested I contact Pareto Law as her and her sister were placed into successful careers, noting that I could be successful as I have so much to give in terms of personality.

I contacted Pareto Law and was quickly placed into a telephone interview which I passed out of the 8000 applications they receive every month. I attended an undergraduate assessment day two weeks later in April and I was one of the 3% of graduates that were successful. I was also offered the opportunity to interview with Pareto Law themselves.

At this point I wasn’t sure which route to take, considering I had my final exams the following month so I remained open to all opportunities. I received phone calls almost every day about different career opportunities which all seemed fantastic. I was interviewed by Pareto Law a few days after my final exams, was offered a job as a Business Development Executive and I am very happy with the position.

There are two aspects to my job role. I deal with the client side where I book and attend meetings with managing directors and sales directors of other companies at a professional level, explaining more about how Pareto Law can help improve their sales and management teams. The result is that Pareto graduates outperform seasoned professionals in their role. Out-performance saves a company’s time and money and cuts risk because we find the perfect employee through just three interviews with candidates.

The other aspect of my job role is managing the recruitment process. We hold assessment days to find the top 20% of graduates based on their personality and drive to put forward to interview with our clients. I have placed graduates into many companies offering excellent exposure, including blue chip companies in various industries ranging from Johnson & Johnson, Barclaycard, Hewlett-Packard and Glaxo Smith Kline as well as SME's. At Pareto, I can help graduates secure graduate careers with these companies with a degree, a personality and no experience.

I really enjoy my job and without the support from the 91¶¶Òõ I wouldn’t have developed the skills needed to succeed in my career. There is a fantastic progression path for me and other Pareto graduates which we place into our clients’ businesses. Pareto Law really care about the development of our graduates and we are in touch with them all the way, even while they are placed. Once placed, we provide a tailored training programme for every candidate to ensure their progression and the company’s continued success. This is why we have a good relationship with the many clients we work with.

Patent work

How do I get into it?

Patent work is a specialist area of law that protects intellectual property (IP) rights. IP can allow you to own things you create in a similar way to owning physical property (Patent Office).

Patent attorneys need a scientific or technical background; this usually means a science or engineering degree that confers eligibility for both UK and European qualifying examinations (CIPA).


  • In-depth job profiles and case studies.

  • A guide to becoming a Trade Mark Attorney.

  • Information on working for the IPO.

Jobs and employers

  • Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA)

    Includes all vacancies from the CIPA journal as well as online-only jobs.

    Lists firms of chartered patent attorneys as well as some sole practitioners who provide services direct to the public.

  • Search for jobs across the UK.

  • Search opportunities with the IPO.

  • Search for jobs with the EPO.

  • Includes a jobs board and a directory of Patent Attorney employers.

  • WIPO recruits staff from a wide range of backgrounds, and with diverse experience, languages and expertise.

Further information


  • Offers a range of support for trainees and qualified practitioners. Student membership available.

  • Provides a support network for trainee patent attorneys at all levels.

  • Offers online training and news and events for practitioners.

  • Regulatory body for the profession, nationally and internationally. Offers professional development and networking opportunities. Student membership available.

  • The government body responsible for IP rights in the UK.

  • The global forum for IP policy, services, information and co-operation. Offers online information resources, training and seminars.