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School of Law and Politics

Paralegal placements

We are committed to providing our students with the skills needed to succeed within the competitive job market.

In order to achieve that, we aim to provide you with a variety of opportunities which will allow you to practically apply the academic theory that you will learn within your classes, outside in the real world.

During the second year of your LLB Law degree, you will have the opportunity to apply for a work placement which will be carried out in the third year of your degree. Placements are currently being offered to Cardiff University Law students by the following firms of solicitors:

  • Hugh James
  • DAC Beachcroft
  • Watkins and Gunn
  • Hennah Haywood
  • NewLaw
  • Newfields Law
  • JCP

You are also permitted to secure your own (minimum 30-week) placements, subject to approval by the School’s placement manager.

Students undertaking the LLB Law with a Professional Placement Year programme spend years one, two and four at the University and year three is spent on placement. The opportunity to apply for placements will be open to you via a competitive application process which aims to replicate the graduate recruitment processes you will encounter after leaving university.

During your placement, you will undertake legal practice as a paralegal and will be performing graduate-level roles.

You will develop key practitioner skills such as case management, legal research and legal writing in addition to generic employability skills such as time management, team working and commercial awareness. Placements provide an excellent networking opportunity and the chance to enhance your CV.

Admission criteria

Students undertaking the LLB Law degree are eligible to apply, together with students undertaking the integrated programmes offered with Politics, Criminology and Welsh.

The application process is determined by the placement provider. The current placement providers all require the submission of a CV and covering letter.  Shortlisted students are interviewed by the placement providers.

Assessment

The placement year will contribute 10% towards the final degree classification.

You will be assessed entirely by coursework comprising a report on practice.

For more information on the placement year, please contact our Placements Team:

Law and Politics placements