Seeking career advice - lost hope for TC

[aspirationforlaw]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for some general career/prospectus advice.
For the background: I'm foreign so I studied abroad up until my first degree which I did in UK. I got weak grades in secondary school and high school and got a 2:2 in my first undergrad.
However, then I went on to work in the industry I had my degree in and spent a few years working there. It was a good role, as it was a fast-paced environment and it gave me a lot of responsibility.
Then I decided I want to do law instead. I enrolled to do an LLB and finished with a high 2:1. I started my LPC in Sep this year and I'm currently doing well. On top of this I have accounting qualifications I did during my LLB to strengthen my chances in getting a TC.

I keep getting rejected left and right from TC applications at the application stage. I worked on my application writing technique and I had at least some hopes for the most recent application but got rejected again.
I'm losing hope as to whether I should pursue a career as a solicitor. I'm much older than most of my colleagues (I'm going to be 29 in May) and seeing that I keep getting rejected from TC starting in 2-3 years makes me recalibrate my future. Maybe this is the moment for me to finally realise that a career in law is not intended for me?

 

[Maria d'Orey]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for some general career/prospectus advice.
For the background: I'm foreign so I studied abroad up until my first degree which I did in UK. I got weak grades in secondary school and high school and got a 2:2 in my first undergrad.
However, then I went on to work in the industry I had my degree in and spent a few years working there. It was a good role, as it was a fast-paced environment and it gave me a lot of responsibility.
Then I decided I want to do law instead. I enrolled to do an LLB and finished with a high 2:1. I started my LPC in Sep this year and I'm currently doing well. On top of this I have accounting qualifications I did during my LLB to strengthen my chances in getting a TC.

I keep getting rejected left and right from TC applications at the application stage. I worked on my application writing technique and I had at least some hopes for the most recent application but got rejected again.
I'm losing hope as to whether I should pursue a career as a solicitor. I'm much older than most of my colleagues (I'm going to be 29 in May) and seeing that I keep getting rejected from TC starting in 2-3 years makes me recalibrate my future. Maybe this is the moment for me to finally realise that a career in law is not intended for me?

Hi @aspirationforlaw !

Thank you so much for sharing your story and how you're feeling with us - I appreciate that this can be difficult.

I'll start by noting how incredibly amazed I am by your background. As an international student myself, I completely understand how difficult it can be to move to another country and adapting to a new culture, language, and people (usually completely on your own). This, on its own, is something that you should definitely be very proud of, as it shows a lot of ambition and resilience.

Not only that, but your career is genuinely inspiring. Gaining substantial experience in other fields, working hard to improve your grades, and having the courage to change careers are all things that show that you have the drive and the capacity to be an amazing lawyer. Becoming a successful lawyer is so much more than demonstrating technical knowledge - having a strong personality and valuable experiences are just as (if not more) important.

Please don't feel discouraged about the age you will be when you qualify as a solicitor. It is easy to get caught up on the idea that trainees get their training contracts during their LLB and go straight into the LPC and TC. However, this is not the general rule and the truth is that trainees tend to start their TC in their late 20s. It is only natural that career changers will be a bit older than applicants that knew that this is what they wanted from the start. However, I've no doubt that you have unique knowledge and experience that would be an asset to any firm that you choose to apply to!

I 100% understand that it is easier said than done, but I really mean it when I say that law firm applications are all about strategy and leveraging your experiences the right way. There is nothing wrong about your background. In fact, it is one that definitely stands out! This is a tiring process and it is natural to get demotivated, but this is when discipline and dedication kick in. If you know that law is for you, please don't let anyone or anything tell you otherwise.

I would be more than happy to respond to any specific questions that you may have about applications (via private message or here). My number one tip will always be to spend some time reflecting on the kind of firm that you want to work for, because this will instantly make the process much more natural for you.

I really hope that this is helpful.

Wishing you all the best in your journey - I'm sure you'll do great! 🙂

 

[aspirationforlaw]

Hi @Maria d'Orey,

Thank you very very much for your reply, it really does mean a lot to me.
I really did find my passion for law and I am most interested in Banking / Finance / Real Estate law for its complexity and technicality. The firms I chose to apply to specialise in these areas.
I have to admit that It is hard to keep going. I'm still worried about how long it will take me to get a TC. For many reasons, I cannot live on a paralegal's salary (where I live it's 18 - 21k) for the next 3-4 years. I was wondering whether I should just make use of my accounting qualifications but then the thought of foregoing a career in law makes me really sad.
Sorry for what might feel like oversharing, I don't have anyone to share those concerns with and I really value all of the advice given on this forum.

 

[Carli K]

Hey, sorry I’m not sure how qualified I am to give advice but I’m currently completing a grad scheme at a Big4 firm and know of several people who decided to make the transition from audit to law and successfully obtained a training contract whilst working as an accountant. I think there are a lot of transferable skills between the two professions and if anything an accounting background will allow you to bring a different perspective to the firm. So if pay is something you are worried about, I don’t think moving into accountancy/ finance and using your accounting qualifications will put you in a significant disadvantage at all when it comes applying for training contracts.

 

[aspirationforlaw]

Thank you very much @Carli K , for your response. This does indeed help me a lot! I feel much more calm now

 

[Maria d'Orey]

Hi @aspirationforlaw ,

Please don't apologise for your post - you're not "oversharing", this is what we're all here for! 😊

As @Carli K brilliantly put it, the transferrable skills that you would be bringing from your accounting qualification are unique and will certainly give you an insight into certain areas of law that many candidates do not have.

Everyone has their personal strengths, it's all about being able to proudly talk about them and confidently show the firm what you would be bringing to the role. At the end of the day, it's not just about you having to "fit the firm" - the firm should also be a good fit for you, and it's important to keep this in the back of your mind when applying.

Again, please feel free to reach out if you have any specific questions - I'd love to help if I can.

 

[C.A.]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for some general career/prospectus advice.
For the background: I'm foreign so I studied abroad up until my first degree which I did in UK. I got weak grades in secondary school and high school and got a 2:2 in my first undergrad.
However, then I went on to work in the industry I had my degree in and spent a few years working there. It was a good role, as it was a fast-paced environment and it gave me a lot of responsibility.
Then I decided I want to do law instead. I enrolled to do an LLB and finished with a high 2:1. I started my LPC in Sep this year and I'm currently doing well. On top of this I have accounting qualifications I did during my LLB to strengthen my chances in getting a TC.

I keep getting rejected left and right from TC applications at the application stage. I worked on my application writing technique and I had at least some hopes for the most recent application but got rejected again.
I'm losing hope as to whether I should pursue a career as a solicitor. I'm much older than most of my colleagues (I'm going to be 29 in May) and seeing that I keep getting rejected from TC starting in 2-3 years makes me recalibrate my future. Maybe this is the moment for me to finally realise that a career in law is not intended for me?

I graduated from my LLB in 2015 with a 2:1 (after failing my first year and having to resit a module) and then I only got a PASS on my LPC, so I always had that chip-on my shoulder that I would never even be considered at the application stage, so never tried to even apply. But I kept taking on paralegal roles and 3 years later I qualified in my home-country working on deals as legal counsel on various corporate and commercial roles in magic and silver circle firms, and now I actually work for the EU on the most prestigious project being one out of five lawyers. So today, while I write his I am actually turning 30, have yet to qualify in London and working my strategy for my very first VC at a US firm. I will probably be rejected, but you know what, is not the money or the title or the prestige that I have enjoyed all these years. I am a lawyer in practice and I walk everyday in work feeling happy for practicing. This was also my attitude as a paralegal assistant 5 years ago. It's all about doing something you love whether you are a solicitor, a barrister, a fee earner paralegal, or legal counsel. Just keep applying find out where you are lacking (see review videos on applications) and you will get there.

 

[Maria d'Orey]

Hi @C.A. ,

Thank you so much for sharing this - I'm sure it will motivate a lot of people to keep going!

Your background is so interesting and your passion is really admirable. Congratulations on all of these achievements (particularly your positive mindset and resilience!) - and welcome to the forum! 🌟

 

[aspirationforlaw]

Thank you so much for sharing your story @C.A. and @Maria d'Orey for the support! Your replies mean a lot to me, and it gives me some hope.
I might take a break from applying, for now, to refresh and focus on my studies and tackle applications closer to the time. I might take you up on your offer @Maria d'Orey and reach out to you then if that would be ok?