Are my qualifications attractive enough for applications?

NikolaosLouris

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May 10, 2020
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Greetings!

I hope you are well. I just wanted to ask your help with my recent applications to training contracts and my overall perceived attractiveness to law firms. Do I stand a reasonable chance at a TC? My goal is to work at a firm such as Pinsent Masons.

I have average high school results due to personal illness. AAB-ABB (depending on the scale used to weigh the equivalence (went to a french high school)).

I have a 1:1 (74 overall grade) from Cardiff Met in BA (Hons) Business Studies & Management with Finance. With a 75 in my dissertation which involved heavy research.

I have a Merit from The University of Glasgow in MSc International Banking & Finance. My dissertation topic is on the evolution of due diligence in private equity due to new financial innovations. I'm also doing a research paper on a new valuation model for companies. Finishing in July. A slight chance at finishing with a distinction.

I have completed a summer internship at a well-known bank (at my home country) and recently did a 3-month legal internship/shadowing at a local law firm.

I am currently accepted at the Cardiff School of Law and Politics to undergo my GDL in September.
 
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Jessica Booker

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In many cases it will depend on your high school grades too and whether they equate to certain A-level grades.

For instance, Pinsent Masons ask that you have BBB at A-level.

If you average grades are below this, then you’d need to claim the extenuating circumstances, and typically have some form of way of verifying them.
 

Jessica Booker

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I have an AAB-ABB is that okay?

that’s not average! Yes that is perfectly fine if that’s what your qualifications convert to.

If your background is in finance/management, you’ll probably need a strong rationale for why law, and why commercial law, but plenty of non law students achieve that each cycle.

You’ll probably want to build out your CV with some online internships or open days over the summer if you can
 

NikolaosLouris

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May 10, 2020
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that’s not average! Yes that is perfectly fine if that’s what your qualifications convert to.

If your background is in finance/management, you’ll probably need a strong rationale for why law, and why commercial law, but plenty of non law students achieve that each cycle.

You’ll probably want to build out your CV with some online internships or open days over the summer if you can


Greetings! My main reason is the fact that my background in finance/management will inevitably help me in my areas of (hopefully) practice. Specifically in M&As/PE/Investment and corporate finance. Furthermore, I'm much more passionate about law than I am with finance. I found out by doing internships at both a bank and at a law firm. Since I have the required academic grades in HS, do you feel my undergraduate/postgraduate qualifications/grades and my work experience/volunteering make my applications theoretically good enough for an interview stage?
 

Daniel Boden

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    Greetings! My main reason is the fact that my background in finance/management will inevitably help me in my areas of (hopefully) practice. Specifically in M&As/PE/Investment and corporate finance. Furthermore, I'm much more passionate about law than I am with finance. I found out by doing internships at both a bank and at a law firm. Since I have the required academic grades in HS, do you feel my undergraduate/postgraduate qualifications/grades and my work experience/volunteering make my applications theoretically good enough for an interview stage?
    In a word absolutely! If you are able to explain in your application answers and then later in your interviews how these experiences will help/can help you in a career at a corporate law firm in the UK then you will be in a strong position :)
     

    Jessica Booker

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    Greetings! My main reason is the fact that my background in finance/management will inevitably help me in my areas of (hopefully) practice. Specifically in M&As/PE/Investment and corporate finance. Furthermore, I'm much more passionate about law than I am with finance. I found out by doing internships at both a bank and at a law firm. Since I have the required academic grades in HS, do you feel my undergraduate/postgraduate qualifications/grades and my work experience/volunteering make my applications theoretically good enough for an interview stage?

    Unfortunately it is not as simple as that. A lot of other things will be considered in an application.

    Nothing you have suggested would make me concerned though.
     

    Alice G

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    Greetings! My main reason is the fact that my background in finance/management will inevitably help me in my areas of (hopefully) practice. Specifically in M&As/PE/Investment and corporate finance. Furthermore, I'm much more passionate about law than I am with finance. I found out by doing internships at both a bank and at a law firm. Since I have the required academic grades in HS, do you feel my undergraduate/postgraduate qualifications/grades and my work experience/volunteering make my applications theoretically good enough for an interview stage?
    I agree with what has been said - nothing here sounds worrying at all and provided you meet the minimum requirements there should be no issue at all.
     

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