LLM Grades Question

[Throwaway1234]

Hello everyone,

I am currently completing an LLM at a top 3 UK university. I have a first class LLB degree from a top 15 UK university and some relevant legal experience.

I am on track to achieving a merit overall (there’s still a chance it could be a very high pass), but my grades are most likely to be all over the place. Mainly merits with a couple pass marks. Will a merit overall hinder my chances of obtaining a TC at a top City firm? Does GR value my LLM over my LLB since it is more academically harder? Is a pass mark the end of my TC at an international firm dream?

I achieved all firsts in except 1 first year module (69%) and 1 third year module (67%) if that helps

Sorry if this is not clear. It’s been eating my head for the last few days and fuelling my anxiety.

 

[Throwaway1234]

@Jessica Booker

 

[Jessica Booker]

A post-graduate course is rarely valued over an undergraduate course in all honesty. The exception would be if you are doing a niche subject that aligns with a niche firm.

A merit in a postgraduate course is perfectly acceptable and if with other excellent academics is most likely not going to be an issue - there might be some exceptions with firms that really bang on about having exceptional academics. A pass might be more of a concern purely from a "will this person pass the LPC/SQE" thought process.

I would stress you still have a lot of time to get your academic grades up though.

 

[LongSufferingLawGrad]

I have an LLM, with Merit, from a leading London university - and have secured a TC with a major US firm. Full disclosure - I did specialise in financial law, and targeted firms with the best finance and asset management practices. It was noted in both interviews I did with the firm, and gave me some extra, useable knowledge to implement during my vac scheme.

An LLM is something to champion, and earning a Merit is not easy, particularly given the rigour and intensity of the best LLMs. Given you hold a first class degree, a pass on an LLM, won't, in my view, ring any alarm bells.

I don't, of course, have any experience in grad rec, but logically speaking, a postgrad degree is a v. good extra to have, even at a pass level.

 

[LLM2022]

A post-graduate course is rarely valued over an undergraduate course in all honesty. The exception would be if you are doing a niche subject that aligns with a niche firm.

A merit in a postgraduate course is perfectly acceptable and if with other excellent academics is most likely not going to be an issue - there might be some exceptions with firms that really bang on about having exceptional academics. A pass might be more of a concern purely from a "will this person pass the LPC/SQE" thought process.

I would stress you still have a lot of time to get your academic grades up though.

Hi Jessica,

Sorry for jumping in but I am in a similar position. I have recently completed the BCL and was only able to obtain a Merit classification with a 67-68% average. I know it is not a horrendous grade but I do feel somewhat disappointed and was wondering how I should proceed with my TC applications.

For the firms that require stellar academics (which I assume you mean the MC/US firms), I was wondering how much of a concern this would be? If I do get to the interview stage, should I be prepared to explain this dip in my academic performance? I do feel somewhat deflated because it appears that after going through the stress of the BCL and only coming out with a Merit, I have put myself in a worse position than if I had applied straight after my undergrad.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi Jessica,

Sorry for jumping in but I am in a similar position. I have recently completed the BCL and was only able to obtain a Merit classification with a 67-68% average. I know it is not a horrendous grade but I do feel somewhat disappointed and was wondering how I should proceed with my TC applications.

For the firms that require stellar academics (which I assume you mean the MC/US firms), I was wondering how much of a concern this would be? If I do get to the interview stage, should I be prepared to explain this dip in my academic performance? I do feel somewhat deflated because it appears that after going through the stress of the BCL and only coming out with a Merit, I have put myself in a worse position than if I had applied straight after my undergrad.

Any recruiter will consider a 67/68 on the BCL an excellent grade. There is nothing to worry about here.

It isn’t a dip in academic performance - you are studying to a higher level.

You are definitely not in a worse position than before you started the course.