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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Asmee DC" data-source="post: 69561" data-attributes="member: 1535">Hello! Firstly, you are very courageous for opening up on this forum and honestly it was a great place to do so because this community is so supportive and welcoming. I'm so sorry you are feeling this way and I can assure you that you are not alone. Plenty of us have gone through this competitive process and it can take a toll on your mental health. Speaking from personal experience, I'm an international student from Canada who had an undergrad degree and came to the UK to do the 2 year LLB for Grads program. With rejections from over 15 law firms in my first year and the fear of my visa expiring, I was terrified that no firm would hire me and I would have to return back to Canada.  I had only secured a vac scheme in the summer after I graduated and later secured a TC, 3 months before my visa was set to expire. Whilst having legal experience is good, it's not the end all be all. Firms are not looking for candidates that know everything about the law. They're looking for passionate people who are open to learning lots of knew things (think about it like a sponge absorbing information and developing your skills as you go). Many of the experiences I've discussed in my interviews are not from legal work. They're either extra-curricular or non-legal work which firms value tbecause of all the transferable skills you have learned and developed. So in terms of what you can do this summer, I would try to apply for internships through your uni at their Careers Hub either legal or non-legal. Go on LinkedIn and find positions that interest you for the summer time! There are many resources such as Aspiring Solicitors which partner with organisations and hold internships over the summer time. Even volunteering is a huge step in gaining experience! I understand that the traditional route is securing a vac scheme and TC before you graduate, but not everyone goes through that same timing which is totally fine! I for one am a mature student who was worried about being so much older than most of the people I was up against. However, that's a myth because the legal industry has so many different kinds of people entering it at different points in their life. There's no right or wrong time to become a qualified solicitor, and the average age of a Trainee is around 26-27 years old anyways! Trust that the time will come for you. Don't give up and keep on gaining experiences in areas you are interested in, including non-legal areas. I hope this helps <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> Feel free to message me if you want to discuss anything else!</blockquote>

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