Need honest opinion on prospects

[b00k]

Hi, I’m a 2nd year going into 3rd year at Durham Uni. I did awful in 1st year (40%) and worked hard to get a 2:1 this year, but because I bombed one of the exams it’s just about a 2:1 (60.3%). I also swapped out a law module to study Korean which saved my average.

In 1st year I did some volunteering in creating a social media campaign and tutoring an A-level student. In 2nd year I worked part-time alongside my studies for a few months and took part in recreational societies regularly just for fun. Over the easter break I was lucky to get paid work experience for a month as a paralegal in a firm that specialises in pensions law, but I’m not interested in a career in pensions after the experience. In third year I’m planning on trying to get a leadership role / actively participate in law and non-law societies whilst trying to get a better grade this year. I’m also planning on continuing Korean to the next stage.

Over the summer I will be planning my dissertation and travelling to Korea for 3 months. Whilst I’m in Korea I plan on finding something to do e.g. volunteering that could give me experience and skills that I can transfer to a career in law and refer to in interviews.

I’d like some advice on what I could realistically pursue in terms of a career as a lawyer, and what next steps I should take. I don’t have any mitigating circumstances to explain my 1st year results, I was just lazy and uncertain of what I wanted to do. Now I am sure that law is something I want to do, but I understand that my credentials aren’t great. I would like to apply for training contracts, would it be possible?

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi, I’m a 2nd year going into 3rd year at Durham Uni. I did awful in 1st year (40%) and worked hard to get a 2:1 this year, but because I bombed one of the exams it’s just about a 2:1 (60.3%). I also swapped out a law module to study Korean which saved my average.

In 1st year I did some volunteering in creating a social media campaign and tutoring an A-level student. In 2nd year I worked part-time alongside my studies for a few months and took part in recreational societies regularly just for fun. Over the easter break I was lucky to get paid work experience for a month as a paralegal in a firm that specialises in pensions law, but I’m not interested in a career in pensions after the experience. In third year I’m planning on trying to get a leadership role / actively participate in law and non-law societies whilst trying to get a better grade this year. I’m also planning on continuing Korean to the next stage.

Over the summer I will be planning my dissertation and travelling to Korea for 3 months. Whilst I’m in Korea I plan on finding something to do e.g. volunteering that could give me experience and skills that I can transfer to a career in law and refer to in interviews.

I’d like some advice on what I could realistically pursue in terms of a career as a lawyer, and what next steps I should take. I don’t have any mitigating circumstances to explain my 1st year results, I was just lazy and uncertain of what I wanted to do. Now I am sure that law is something I want to do, but I understand that my credentials aren’t great. I would like to apply for training contracts, would it be possible?

Any advice would be appreciated.

My advice might be slightly different to what you might expect. I would actually focus more on your academics and maybe step back your extra curricular activity to ensure you can do well in your degree.

If you do well in your final year your degree your first year results become less important. But it’s like a set of scales, you need to counter balance them with good grades and the stronger your final year grades, the more you are counter balancing them.

Rather than me saying what you could achieve (which ultimately still is 99% of entry level legal roles), it would be useful to understand what you are hoping to get into and then I can advise if they might fall into the 1%.

However, even then if stress that there is no one route to obtaining your legal career. It may just mean you come to things slightly later - consider it a bit like someone with strong first year grades has a year of evidence more than you have. You may just need to work at developing your profile for another year or so to demonstrate the skills/evidence needed.

 

[b00k]

My advice might be slightly different to what you might expect. I would actually focus more on your academics and maybe step back your extra curricular activity to ensure you can do well in your degree.

If you do well in your final year your degree your first year results become less important. But it’s like a set of scales, you need to counter balance them with good grades and the stronger your final year grades, the more you are counter balancing them.

Rather than me saying what you could achieve (which ultimately still is 99% of entry level legal roles), it would be useful to understand what you are hoping to get into and then I can advise if they might fall into the 1%.

However, even then if stress that there is no one route to obtaining your legal career. It may just mean you come to things slightly later - consider it a bit like someone with strong first year grades has a year of evidence more than you have. You may just need to work at developing your profile for another year or so to demonstrate the skills/evidence needed.

I understand, that makes sense. Would it be better to wait until next year to apply for a TC, and try out for any vac schemes if autumn if possible? I'm wondering if there is still a chance for me to apply to City firms.

 

[Jessica Booker]

I understand, that makes sense. Would it be better to wait until next year to apply for a TC, and try out for any vac schemes if autumn if possible? I'm wondering if there is still a chance for me to apply to City firms.

If we talk about City firms broadly, then my advice would be to focus on your academics and building up your CV and then apply next year once you have your final year degree results.

Unless you can pick firms that do not assess academics at all (there are a select few out there), then you will struggle given your first year grades ultimately sound like they are capped at 40% and it also sounds like some of your second year grades could be below a 2.1 too. If so, that means the majority of your grades are below a 2.1 and therefore any firm that has a 2.1 requirement are going to think it is too risky to see you.

You could try open days and other careers events to network with firms and to try and build connections with firms you want to apply to, rather than just applying cold. Impressing people in person and then having a stronger profile for next year is likely to put you in a much stronger position.

 

[b00k]

If we talk about City firms broadly, then my advice would be to focus on your academics and building up your CV and then apply next year once you have your final year degree results.

Unless you can pick firms that do not assess academics at all (there are a select few out there), then you will struggle given your first year grades ultimately sound like they are capped at 40% and it also sounds like some of your second year grades could be below a 2.1 too. If so, that means the majority of your grades are below a 2.1 and therefore any firm that has a 2.1 requirement are going to think it is too risky to see you.

You could try open days and other careers events to network with firms and to try and build connections with firms you want to apply to, rather than just applying cold. Impressing people in person and then having a stronger profile for next year is likely to put you in a much stronger position.

Ahh okay, 2 of my modules are below a 2:1 so maybe it would be best to wait another year then.

Do you have any advice for networking and making an impression in person?

 

[AvniD]

Ahh okay, 2 of my modules are below a 2:1 so maybe it would be best to wait another year then.

Do you have any advice for networking and making an impression in person?

Sounds cliché but my best advice for networking is to be yourself. Ask questions you genuinely want to know the answers of, connect with people on common interests and experience and be secure about your perspective and make sure you put it across when interacting with people.

The best networkers I know are energetic, enthusiastic and have the ability to talk to anyone because they're able to be both interested and interesting, and that's what makes them stand out.

Using the term 'networking' takes away from the core, human element of most interactions with people, which is that we all have shared experiences, feelings and opinions, and the ability to recognise this and build upon it will undoubtedly hold you in good stead.

 

[b00k]

Sounds cliché but my best advice for networking is to be yourself. Ask questions you genuinely want to know the answers of, connect with people on common interests and experience and be secure about your perspective and make sure you put it across when interacting with people.

The best networkers I know are energetic, enthusiastic and have the ability to talk to anyone because they're able to be both interested and interesting, and that's what makes them stand out.

Using the term 'networking' takes away from the core, human element of most interactions with people, which is that we all have shared experiences, feelings and opinions, and the ability to recognise this and build upon it will undoubtedly hold you in good stead.

Ahh okay thank you! I agree about your opinion on the term 'networking', as it makes it feel more cold and distant from what it actually is.

Then, would it be best to hold off completely from applying for TCs this time around? I have time to make applications for the upcoming deadlines this year, but would it look worse to apply as I am now and then attempt again next year, or would it not affect my second application next year? I feel pressure to try now because the later I apply the later my TC would start. @Jessica Booker

 

[Jessica Booker]

Ahh okay thank you! I agree about your opinion on the term 'networking', as it makes it feel more cold and distant from what it actually is.

Then, would it be best to hold off completely from applying for TCs this time around? I have time to make applications for the upcoming deadlines this year, but would it look worse to apply as I am now and then attempt again next year, or would it not affect my second application next year? I feel pressure to try now because the later I apply the later my TC would start. @Jessica Booker

You can apply now if you want to but my personal advice would be to wait and put your energies into applying once you have your final degree and third-year results.

Some firms won't let you reapply - so if you do apply to them this summer, it is worthwhile checking their policy on reapplying and weighing up your thoughts on whether to apply now or next year. Others state you can't reapply for 12 months, and so that might stop you applying for internships with them in 2022/23 (which is another route to consider). Many firms don't have such policies though, and so you could apply again. It won't look "worse" to apply a second time, but you will need a significant development in your CV (outside of getting your final degree results).

I think the aspect of time pressure thinking is something to try and get rid of. Most people come to law at a later stage in life (the average age of a trainee is 27 or 28 years old), so this idea that you have to secure a TC while at uni is a really false narrative that too many people hold on to. There is really no rush to secure a TC - waiting another year or so is not going to be detrimental to your career,

 

[b00k]

You can apply now if you want to but my personal advice would be to wait and put your energies into applying once you have your final degree and third-year results.

Some firms won't let you reapply - so if you do apply to them this summer, it is worthwhile checking their policy on reapplying and weighing up your thoughts on whether to apply now or next year. Others state you can't reapply for 12 months, and so that might stop you applying for internships with them in 2022/23 (which is another route to consider). Many firms don't have such policies though, and so you could apply again. It won't look "worse" to apply a second time, but you will need a significant development in your CV (outside of getting your final degree results).

I think the aspect of time pressure thinking is something to try and get rid of. Most people come to law at a later stage in life (the average age of a trainee is 27 or 28 years old), so this idea that you have to secure a TC while at uni is a really false narrative that too many people hold on to. There is really no rush to secure a TC - waiting another year or so is not going to be detrimental to your career,

That makes me feel better then, thank you! Would it be a good time now to apply for internships, or start by applying to open days/networking events and delay that until later as well?

 

[Jessica Booker]

That makes me feel better then, thank you! Would it be a good time now to apply for internships, or start by applying to open days/networking events and delay that until later as well?

Internships are unlikely to open until October/November time anyway, so I would focus on events and open days for the rest of the summer, and then think about which firms you might want to try to apply for vacation schemes for in the late Autumn/Winter.

 

[AvniD]

Ahh okay thank you! I agree about your opinion on the term 'networking', as it makes it feel more cold and distant from what it actually is.

Then, would it be best to hold off completely from applying for TCs this time around? I have time to make applications for the upcoming deadlines this year, but would it look worse to apply as I am now and then attempt again next year, or would it not affect my second application next year? I feel pressure to try now because the later I apply the later my TC would start. @Jessica Booker

Agree with @Jessica Booker. Focusing on making strong, intentional applications that showcase a rounded view of your experiences and personality is a really good idea. This will include a good effort towards improving your grades and attending open days and understanding how law firms work and what lawyers do.

I would also urge you to not worry about timelines at the expense of making good-quality applications. Applying for TCs is a pretty high-pressure, competitive process as it is and you really don't need the added burden of rushing to get one by 2024/2025/2026/20XX. You have to reassure yourself about you undertaking your own journey that needs to take its own time to run and that this is not only completely fine, but also totally acceptable. Just focus on making convincing applications- trust that you can sort out any discrepancies in timelines when the time and need arises.