As a mature CPE student I had some concerns as to how I would fare when applying for a training contract. Certainly I got the impression at law fairs that some firms only wanted bright-eyed 22 year olds who could be moulded to fit the firm's trainee ideal. And I feared that firms might look at an ex-teacher and wonder why she wanted to go into law, especially in the City.

As it turned out, while I obviously had to explain why law, being a solicitor and the City was the direction I wanted to take, potential employers had no problem with understanding why someone might want to leave teaching. So don't worry too much about justifying a career change, or a late start in law. But do have a sound and positive explanation for why you want to do law.

If you're a mature student, whatever your previous experience and whatever kind of law firm you want to train at, here is my advice for getting a training contract:

· Emphasise your "transferable skills": Transferable skills is perhaps a rather tired phrase, which career advisors may have carelessly thrown at you when you were considering your next move. However, if you can write (on your application form) and talk (at your interview) intelligently and in a focused way about how your previous work experience is relevant to being a solicitor, then your maturity can be a real bonus. How much more useful to be able to reply to that question about "one occasion on which you had to show attention to detail" with an example from a job you've done rather than with a reply about getting the dates right in your History finals. Or illustrate your leadership skills by talking about a project you've managed, rather than by pointing out that you were treasurer of the university hockey club.

· Target the right firms: Look at websites, talk to firms' representatives and law firms, talk to ex-students or friends of friends at various different firms and sound out what attitude they take to mature applicants. Some firms may point blank not be interested in anyone over (say) 25 years, so don't waste time in completing their forms if you can find out beforehand that your application will go straight in the bin. In my intake of 20 trainees, there are quite a few of us in our late twenties and early thirties who have worked in IT, marketing, political research, university lecturing and teaching, as well as those people in their earlier twenties who have come straight from university or spent a year or so travelling or working. Some firms positively value those who have considerable experience of work, and who may bring a more confident and mature attitude to work, as well as experience of getting on with difficult colleagues, and with people at all levels of the firm (although obviously maturity and a previous career is no guarantee of this).

· Emphasise your specialist skills: Consider how your particular career/skills may fit into an area of law. You may want to totally escape your previous career. Alternatively you may find it can give you a head start on getting into a niche area of law (and therefore in getting a training contract). For example, a career in science or engineering may be applicable to various areas of IP, and having worked as a journalist may give you a head start into libel law.

To summarise - make the most of your experience, target firms likely to be receptive to mature applicants and use any specialist knowledge to your best advantage.

, November 2004.