Blog: Friday 10th July - Venn Group: Helping Students Discover Legal Careers in the Public Sector

Helping Students Discover Legal Careers in the Public Sector

As Corporate Partners of Lawyers in Local Government, one of Venn Group’s key initiatives is helping students and early-career lawyers discover opportunities they might never have considered. Over the last year, we have run career workshops in partnership with Lincolnshire County Council and the University of Lincoln, and it has been a great reminder of the difference exposure and guidance can make.

Why Public Sector Legal Needs Representation

Law students often lack awareness of the range of career opportunities available within the public sector. They are encouraged to apply for private practice training contracts before they know what the alternatives could be, unaware that local authorities or public sector bodies have legal teams doing meaningful, varied work every day.

“I didn’t even know councils had legal teams!” Isabella Thompson, Trainee Solicitor at Lincolnshire County Council

This was exactly Isabella’s thought before attending the workshops. Now a trainee solicitor at Lincolnshire County Council, she is proof of why we do this work, opening doors to careers students don’t always know exist.

We’ve partnered with Lincolnshire County Council Legal Services for years to help them recruit talented legal professionals, and our career gateway programme takes it a step further by inspiring the next generation of local government lawyers.

What we did in the Workshop

The session had two key elements:

Introduction to Public Sector Law - Leigh Middleton from Lincolnshire County Council explained the different types of legal work councils do and why it matters.

Practical CV and Application Guidance - Students received tailored advice on how to make their applications stand out, along with insights into what local government employers value most during the application and interview process. They also gained practical tips for succeeding in council interviews. Bringing their CVs proved highly effective, as it enabled us to provide personalised, detailed feedback to each student.

Working closely with the Council and Leigh enabled us to design a bespoke workshop that delivered highly targeted, practical guidance to students applying for legal roles in the sector.

The students were engaged and curious, and it was especially rewarding to see those who had never previously considered this path begin to seriously explore a career in public sector law.

 The Success Story

We have now delivered workshops at multiple universities across the country in partnership with our clients, such as Buckinghamshire Council. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Leigh, Lincolnshire County Council, and the University. These workshops have proven to be highly valuable, and we remain committed to supporting their ongoing success.

One of the highlights for me was hearing from Isabella Thompson. She shared:

“The workshop helped me understand local government law and what really matters to employers in that sector. Hearing that if you’re invited to interview, they already think you’re capable of doing the job made me feel like I had a real chance.”

Isabella’s words really sum up why this work matters. With our support and the Council’s guidance, she felt confident enough to take that next step.

Why these Workshops Matter

Workshops like this go beyond recruitment, they demonstrate that our commitment to local government law goes beyond filling jobs, we are committed to strengthening and growing a sustainable talent pipeline. Public sector law offers meaningful, varied work that isn’t always obvious to students. By giving insight, practical guidance, and encouragement, we help students see that these careers are not only possible but highly rewarding.

This partnership allows councils to obtain informed, engaged candidates, and we get to play a part in shaping the future of public sector legal services.

Looking ahead

At Venn Group, we’re committed to helping local authorities find great talent while raising the profile of public sector legal careers. It’s especially rewarding to see someone like Isabella discover a path she hadn’t considered and then go for it with confidence. We’re looking forward to continuing the Career Gateway workshops and helping more aspiring lawyers explore what the public sector has to offer. And a big thank you to Leigh at Lincolnshire County Council, I’m really looking forward to building on the work we’ve started together.

To work with us on your recruitment requirements or a career gateway programme, please contact legallocalgov@venngroup.com