Hey everyone.
I'm a first-year undergraduate at the University of Aberdeen. My work placements to date have been a week shadowing 2 barristers in the High Courts of London and working in a smaller but notable Highstreet Firm in Belfast specializing in Criminal law, Medical Negligence, Family law, Litigation and Conveyancing.
For some background information, I achieved relatively highly on my GCSEs (888877765) but absolutely screwed up my A Levels (BBD in Maths, Music and Biology. I dropped Chemistry after Year 12 due to it being too much work for me) as my parents wanted me to study medicine and forced me to do the related subjects (albeit Music because I have a diploma in piano etc).
I managed to scrape my way into Aberdeen through clearing and have achieved a comfortable first on all of my first-semester modules as well as just begun working at the local Citizens Advice Bureau.
My problem arises that whilst I have been consistently labelled as "eager" and "proactive," as I am navigating the many avenues that my Law Degree can take me, I already have the impression that pursuing any opportunities in Commercial and Corporate law are at a dead end due to my especially poor A level results and the University I go to (whilst my impression is based on various rankings, Aberdeen is a very prestigious University that has consistently ranked in the top 15 Law Schools in the UK and beaten numerous Russel Groups). In all honesty, I was just grateful to get into University anyway and due to how much work and tears I shed at A Level I find myself feeling more comfortable than my peers. even more so coming from a working-class background and the first in my family to go to University).
However, I feel that even though I feel like I am thriving in my higher academic position, receiving several work-experience opportunities as a first year and that A levels are not representative of my potential, I fear that many competitive and larger firms will simply ignore any valid reasons or strengths I have shown just because of my A level grades. Because of this, I'm unsure whether there is any point in me even beginning to pursue an interest at a Magic/Silver Circle or any BigLaw firm as I would simply be represented by a series of bad grades that didn't go my way due to very nuanced reasons.
That being said, I have found that my skill set lies primarily in the fact that I can work with and talk to absolutely anyone (I have been asked several times why do I not pursue a career in sales instead) and have shown this by previously having volunteered in a severely understaffed hospital ward and grown up around mostly upper-class kids (meaning I've effectively had to adapt to suit anyone's preferences).
This is why even as a first year, I excel in 'networking' and creating lasting impressions on senior Law figures and have also managed to receive a 1-week placement with Dyson's IP department and potentially a placement at Eversheds Sutherland (and also the placements mentioned at the top of my post).
Unfortunately, I feel this key strength of mine is irrelevant to any big city firm and have slowly been saddened at the prospect that I may never work for a notable firm. I have a genuine interest in global commercial affairs but I feel like this doesn't make a difference.
Is there any point in me even looking at this forum, open days or opportunities concerning Corporate Law anymore? What's the point if all of my skills are buried beneath my crap A levels.
I am not looking for any sympathy and apologize if it has come across to anyone that I am looking for it. I thought I had gotten past the pitfalls of being judged for my grades and that thriving in my Law degree would be enough but I am coming to the realization that none of that matters.
I'm a first-year undergraduate at the University of Aberdeen. My work placements to date have been a week shadowing 2 barristers in the High Courts of London and working in a smaller but notable Highstreet Firm in Belfast specializing in Criminal law, Medical Negligence, Family law, Litigation and Conveyancing.
For some background information, I achieved relatively highly on my GCSEs (888877765) but absolutely screwed up my A Levels (BBD in Maths, Music and Biology. I dropped Chemistry after Year 12 due to it being too much work for me) as my parents wanted me to study medicine and forced me to do the related subjects (albeit Music because I have a diploma in piano etc).
I managed to scrape my way into Aberdeen through clearing and have achieved a comfortable first on all of my first-semester modules as well as just begun working at the local Citizens Advice Bureau.
My problem arises that whilst I have been consistently labelled as "eager" and "proactive," as I am navigating the many avenues that my Law Degree can take me, I already have the impression that pursuing any opportunities in Commercial and Corporate law are at a dead end due to my especially poor A level results and the University I go to (whilst my impression is based on various rankings, Aberdeen is a very prestigious University that has consistently ranked in the top 15 Law Schools in the UK and beaten numerous Russel Groups). In all honesty, I was just grateful to get into University anyway and due to how much work and tears I shed at A Level I find myself feeling more comfortable than my peers. even more so coming from a working-class background and the first in my family to go to University).
However, I feel that even though I feel like I am thriving in my higher academic position, receiving several work-experience opportunities as a first year and that A levels are not representative of my potential, I fear that many competitive and larger firms will simply ignore any valid reasons or strengths I have shown just because of my A level grades. Because of this, I'm unsure whether there is any point in me even beginning to pursue an interest at a Magic/Silver Circle or any BigLaw firm as I would simply be represented by a series of bad grades that didn't go my way due to very nuanced reasons.
That being said, I have found that my skill set lies primarily in the fact that I can work with and talk to absolutely anyone (I have been asked several times why do I not pursue a career in sales instead) and have shown this by previously having volunteered in a severely understaffed hospital ward and grown up around mostly upper-class kids (meaning I've effectively had to adapt to suit anyone's preferences).
This is why even as a first year, I excel in 'networking' and creating lasting impressions on senior Law figures and have also managed to receive a 1-week placement with Dyson's IP department and potentially a placement at Eversheds Sutherland (and also the placements mentioned at the top of my post).
Unfortunately, I feel this key strength of mine is irrelevant to any big city firm and have slowly been saddened at the prospect that I may never work for a notable firm. I have a genuine interest in global commercial affairs but I feel like this doesn't make a difference.
Is there any point in me even looking at this forum, open days or opportunities concerning Corporate Law anymore? What's the point if all of my skills are buried beneath my crap A levels.
I am not looking for any sympathy and apologize if it has come across to anyone that I am looking for it. I thought I had gotten past the pitfalls of being judged for my grades and that thriving in my Law degree would be enough but I am coming to the realization that none of that matters.
