Interview: Associate Head of the School of Law, Accounting and Finance

Many students find it difficult to secure work experience or even decide which career path to pursue when they leave university.

To explore how careers can develop in unexpected ways, I interviewed Karen Jones, Associate Head of the School of Law, Accounting and Finance at the University of South Wales, to learn how she reached her current position and the steps she took along the way.

What is your current job title and what does it involve?

Karen is the Associate Head of the School of Law, Accounting and Finance. Although she still teaches extensively, her role also involves managing the department and deputising for the Head of School.

She oversees staff, timetabling and equality matters, ensuring the school runs smoothly and that both students and staff are supported. Her position blends academic work with leadership responsibilities, giving her a broad view of how the school operates.

What steps did you take to get to where you are today?

Karen explains that she never expected to enter academia.

From the age of ten, she wanted to be a solicitor. She completed a business law degree in the 1980s, at a time when very few institutions offered the Law Society Finals. Competition was fierce, and many students struggled to secure places.

Determined to qualify, she contacted the College of Law in Guildford every day during the first week of their course, asking to be notified immediately if anyone dropped out. On the seventh day, a space opened and she accepted it.

Like many law graduates, she finished her course without a training contract. She returned home, worked in a pub and wrote countless letters to firms in search of an opportunity.

Her break came unexpectedly when her mother spotted an advert in Marie Claire for temping work with Manpower. Karen called, was told the role was in London, and agreed to start the next day. She packed a rucksack, stayed with friends and soon found herself placed at Davies Arnold Cooper (now DAC Beachcroft) on a two‑week paralegal contract.

Eighteen months later, she was still there. After six months, she applied for a training contract, having built strong relationships within the firm, and was successful. She later qualified as a solicitor.

Her career then took her to a provincial firm in East Anglia before she returned to Wales to work at Morgan Cole in Cardiff.

One day, after a difficult week, she noticed an advert in The Law Society Gazette for a Legal Practice Course director. On impulse, she applied, was offered the job and discovered she loved teaching. She enjoyed working with students, sharing her experiences and staying connected to the law.

She has remained in academia ever since.

Is a career in the legal field everything you thought it would be? Is it more challenging than you ever expected?

Karen describes academia as very different from private practice.

She was initially surprised by how slowly processes moved compared to the commercial pace of law firms. However, she notes that universities are becoming more commercially minded.

Despite the differences, her career is everything she hoped it would be. She enjoys the work, the people and the opportunity to combine law with teaching. She says honestly that she loves her job.

Did you do any work experience?

Karen explains that formal work experience was not widely available when she was at university.

Aside from her temping role, she gained experience by sitting in court and joining friends who had placements, using those opportunities to meet people and observe legal practice.

Employability structures simply did not exist in the same way they do today.

Do you think the market is a lot more competitive now for students to get work experience or do you feel it has always been this way?

She believes the market has always been competitive, but the landscape has changed. More people study law now than twenty years ago, partly due to rising birth rates and increased university attendance.

The profession itself has evolved, with alternative business structures and a growing reliance on paralegals for cost‑effective labour. There are more routes into legal services, but competition remains high.

She emphasises that securing experience has always been difficult, and today’s students face even greater numbers of applicants.

What tips would you give to students who are looking for work experience?

Karen offers clear, practical advice.

Nepotism, she says, is real: if you know someone, or your family knows someone, use that connection. Networking is essential; attend events and courses to meet people and open doors. When writing to firms, avoid sending identical letters. Target each firm, research them and tailor your approach.

She also encourages students to use their lecturers, many of whom have contacts and can suggest places to apply.

Do you have any advice for those who are unsure of which route to take when they leave university?

Karen advises students to spend time in a law firm before committing to further study. There is time after graduation to gain experience, and students can return to the Legal Practice Course later.

She encourages students to try the work before investing £9,000 in a course, ensuring they genuinely enjoy the profession before committing to it.