Employability and careers

The School of Law and Social Justice Employability Team is here to support you with your employability and extra-curricular needs, including placements, professional mentoring and employability-focused activities.

Career support

Our programmes are designed to empower, engage and make you employable. Hear from our staff about the support we provide and the opportunities that set you up for success.

SLSJ Extra

We encourage you to participate in SLSJ Extra, our series of talks and workshops featuring members from the legal, criminal and voluntary sectors, as well as other leading professionals and reform advocates from the UK and beyond. SLSJ Extra demonstrates how the academic disciplines of law, sociology, social policy and criminology can open doors to a range of fulfilling professions. By participating, you’ll build a strong foundation of extracurricular experience that supports your future career aspirations.

Professional Mentoring Scheme

Our Professional Mentoring Scheme connects you with professionals from a wide range of sectors. The aim is to help you develop the skills, knowledge and personal attributes needed to succeed in your future career.

We recognise that, in addition to gaining a good degree, you also need a broad range of practical, professional and interpersonal skills. This scheme gives you valuable insight into real professional environments and helps you navigate the transition from university to employment.

Your professional mentor may work in research, policymaking, public services, charities, policing, education, local government, the wider third sector, or be someone from the world of business and finance. They will offer invaluable support as you prepare for your career. In previous years, mentors have guided mentees through application processes, offered advice on CVs and interview techniques and introduced them to professional networks. Some have even been able to offer work experience opportunities.

The Professional Mentoring Scheme is open to second and third-year Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology students. You will be invited to apply for the scheme, and successful applicants will then be matched with a mentor for the duration of that academic year.

Work experience opportunities

We are here to help you make the most of work experience opportunities throughout your studies. In your second year, you'll have the option to integrate work experience into your studies. By your third year, you can take advantage of work placements through our Interchange service, which connects you with various voluntary and charitable organisations within the region. You can also gain valuable volunteering experience with support from our Employability & Interchange Coordinators.

Placements

If you’re studying Sociology, Social Policy, or Criminology, we offer placements that allow you to undertake research projects with real impact on both local and national communities. These opportunities continue to grow each year. This year, for example, our research placements include collaborations with organisations such as the National Youth Advocacy Service and The Heseltine Institute.