Jessica Booker
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Graduate Recruitment
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- Aug 1, 2019
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I doubt the firm will offer you the GDL route. It means they will have different trainees doing different training contract structures, and that is not appealing to firms.Hi everyone, I wrote a forum post a few days ago but I just heard back about the second offer so I wanted to ask for advice here!
I was really lucky to have received two offers from US law firms which are very similar and I think I would be happy training at either. However, there is one which has been my dream firm and its areas of expertise/training contract structure match perfectly with my interests/past experience. In other words, one is my clear favourite!
My issue is that this firm will require me to go down the SQE route, but will not require me to do the GDL (instead do a month-long GDL crash course). The 'second favourite' firm will let me do the GDL and LPC.
If I go with my favourite firm, I will have one year to do whatever I want (I will have to find a job as I signed a year-long lease recently in anticipation of the GDL), then do the SQE with a maintenance grant. The second favourite firm will pay for my GDL/LPC and a maintenance grant.
If I go for my favourite firm, I have to forgo a year's worth of paid education and maintenance grant, which does worry me financially as I quit my job to do vacation schemes so I'm currently unemployed with rent to pay! I'm sure I will be able to find another job, but is it silly to still choose this firm even though I have a second firm, which I do like, offering me a lot more financial security? I'm not too fussed about actually doing the GDL, it's more the last-minute change of plans/financing for the next year. Would it also be appropriate to mention my concerns to my favourite firm? The only problem with this is I don't actually know what I would ask for as I can't expect a maintenance grant when I'm not studying, but I guess I could request that I want to do the GDL anyway? I have no idea if this would annoy them but it's a very small trainee intake and they seem quite committed to the people they make offers to.
My head is all over the place so any advice would be really really appreciated!
You could ask them whether you could be considered for any paralegal or admin roles in areas like business development though.
Given the maintenance grant wont be a high amount of money, I’d say there is greater financial security in the SQE option than going through the GDL.