Ralph Said:

17 and need work experience with something involving law... any ideas ?

We Answered:

You have been unsuccessful because at this point you have nothing to offer a firm of solicitors, because you have no qualifications. At 17, concentrate on your A-levels and maybe some extra-curricular activities which demonstrate you have a "well rounded" character. These activities need not be linked directly to your education - it could be a member of a sports club or team, doing voluntary work or something like that, to help jazz-up your UCAS form.

A solicitor must be a graduate, and even the staff there who are not solicitors are likely to be graduates. Perhaps something which could be helpful could be voluntary work where you get to see the law in action, such as working as a Special Constable (when you are 18) or a PCSO, or perhaps for someone like Help The Aged, where you can see other aspects of law in action. When you are a bit older, maybe volunteer for someone like CAB, where you must train for 12 months, and will get to see real legal problems on a daily basis (though CAB cannot advise on criminal matters, and are largely not qualified lawyers).