Hi
I was wondering if you could give me some advice.
I am currently a full-time paralegal on furlough. I will be completing my LPC this year, I have studied it part time alongside my job. I was offered a training contract with my firm to start in November but it is incredibly niche and not an area I am interested in at all after 2 years of practice. I took the job initially to get legal experience and help fund my LPC. I have always had an interest in commercial law, have run my own businesses alongside my current paralegal role and took heavily commercial based modules in my LPC and undergrad.
I applied to firms in second and third year undergrad and got final interviews for Walker Morris, Howes Percival, video interview to Mischon and a couple of other places. However, looking back I think I was too young and didn't fully understand or quite grasp commercial awareness. Whilst working and LPC, I was too occupied to apply for other firms but now I wish I had.
I am in a predicament, I do not know whether to leave my role and focus full time this year on vac scheme applications to firms as I feel like I am a much stronger applicant now and further understand why I want to focus on commercial firms. This would mean leaving a TC. However, I feel as if my A Levels -ABC hinder my ability to apply. Realistically how much of a chance would firms like
BCLP, RPC and other big commercials look at my application. I know I can't apply for
Clifford Chance etc as they want AAB only, but would I be wasting my time looking at firms like
Freshfields,
BCLP who say they have no minimum requirements? I do not know how much of a hinderance my A levels are, obviously leaving my TC will be a risk and I am trying to weigh up my options. I got a 2.1 from a russell group and given I pass my last 2 exams, I will get a distinction in my LPC
Thank you so much