Getting an Apprenticeship-how important is work experience?

MilkTheGroup

I'm a BCL graduate with an LLM looking for an traineeship. I've been on the dole for about 4 months. I recently started working as a legal secretary in an unpaid FAS 9 month placement in a solicitors. Today I recieved a phone call offering me a full-time data entry job. I'm wondering should I quit the placement for short-term monetary gain (the hours of this data entry job are very anti-social, 9 euro an hour and will be mind-numbingly boring) or stick it out so Ill have lengthy legal work experience on my CV.

Please note:

-There is no prospect of a traineeship with the solicitor
-there maybe a full-time paid legal secretary job after the nine months
-I am very worried that I won't be offered another job for a huge amount of time and will remain on the dole if i dont take it which i detest!!

I would welcome any advice from other law grads or trainees out there!!

shaneybaby

MilkTheGroup wrote: »

I'm a BCL graduate with an LLM looking for an traineeship. I've been on the dole for about 4 months. I recently started working as a legal secretary in an unpaid FAS 9 month placement in a solicitors. Today I recieved a phone call offering me a full-time data entry job. I'm wondering should I quit the placement for short-term monetary gain (the hours of this data entry job are very anti-social, 9 euro an hour and will be mind-numbingly boring) or stick it out so Ill have lengthy legal work experience on my CV.

Please note:

-There is no prospect of a traineeship with the solicitor
-there maybe a full-time paid legal secretary job after the nine months
-I am very worried that I won't be offered another job for a huge amount of time and will remain on the dole if i dont take it which i detest!!

I would welcome any advice from other law grads or trainees out there!!

Everyone situation is different but i was offered my apprenticeship solely on the basis of legal work experience with a non-legal firm. No law degree no FE1's but admittedly this was in 2008 so i know things have changed since then. Good luck with whatever decision you make.
S

MilkTheGroup

2008...very different time!!

Thirdfox

Experience is key. More so than getting than college degrees, or class standings, or academic achievements (not to say that these things aren't very important too).

It demonstrates that you have "street smarts" and not just book smarts. The practice of law is very different to what was studied in school. One partner once said to me - basically college was just to make sure you can learn things...we'll reteach you everything once you start.

On the other hand - you need to eat. But perhaps look for a job that you can take put down on your CV as useful experience and not completely just about the money (if possible).

shaneybaby

MilkTheGroup wrote: »

2008...very different time!!

yup that's what i said. Doesn't change that experience matters though.

johnfás

Experience is very important so I would say stick with what you are at. Of course if you really need the money that is a different matter and equally if there is some likelihood of progression in the data entry job. If you don't need the money and there is no likelihood of progression stay where you are.