[amirlad]

I'm going to start my A levels in september, and I have aspirations of reading Law with French at university.

However, I've been told recently of the increasing importance of work experience when applying for popular courses, and Law with a language is one of the most over-subscribed (something like a 9% acceptance rate at oxford).

So are there any successful applicants out there who have completed some good work experience relevant to this? Just the name of the organisation where you worked would be a lot of help. P.s. working throughout the UK/ in Europe wouldn't be an issue during school holidays

Thanks, Amir.

[bramz19]

I'm not sure work experience is the most important thing for a law application. Get a week at a random solicitors firm to show your active interest in law, but grades, interview performance and extra-curricular activities are all far more important than getting work experience. A lack of work experience will probably not be held against you, but deficiencies in any of those three departments certainly will.

[amirlad]

(Original post by bramz19)
I'm not sure work experience is the most important thing for a law application. Get a week at a random solicitors firm to show your active interest in law, but grades, interview performance and extra-curricular activities are all far more important than getting work experience. A lack of work experience will probably not be held against you, but deficiencies in any of those three departments certainly will.

Well through a family member i've got contacts within a few small law firms who would be happy to take me on for a week in the holidays, so you're saying this would satisfy the work experience criterion? I'm worried that because law with a language is so competetive, little things like this would be the difference between an offer and a rejection.

[amirlad]

(Original post by Pandabär)
It's certainly possible, but what is your French like? A few years ago (back when I was thinking of doing law), I spent a month working for a German law firm during my summer holiday.

The main reason I was able to do this was because my German is native-standard, and I was able to discuss complex legal terminology in a foreign language. If I was at GCSE standard, for example, I wouldn't have bothered with the internship, as I wouldn't have understood client meetings, wouldn't have been able to chat with the lawyers, and wouldn't have been able to translate legal documents. I think I would have felt like a bit of an imposition on the firm, tbh...

In short, if your French is up to it- do it. Foreign law firms are great fun, and you'll learn a huge amount.

Well I've not got my GCSE results yet, but My writing and speaking coursework scores are a high A*, so I'm confident of an A* in french overall. From the sounds of it, it doesn't sound like this would be enough

[bramz19]

(Original post by amirlad)
Well through a family member i've got contacts within a few small law firms who would be happy to take me on for a week in the holidays, so you're saying this would satisfy the work experience criterion? I'm worried that because law with a language is so competetive, little things like this would be the difference between an offer and a rejection.

Honestly, work experience is the smallest part of your application. Get a week at a firm, or two if that makes you more secure, and you'll be fine. There will be plenty of people applying with no work experience at all who will be fine. Universities will not expect you to have any knowledge of the law and will not be concerned with the fact that you spent a week making coffee or filing. Get the grades for a respectable set of subjects, write a good personal statement and stock up on a few good extra-curricular activities and you'll be fine. Believe me, work experience is pretty much the most minor aspect of a law application. It's nice, it certainly can't hurt, and it may help in a small way, but I feel like you think it's way more important than it actually is.

[amirlad]

(Original post by bramz19)
Honestly, work experience is the smallest part of your application. Get a week at a firm, or two if that makes you more secure, and you'll be fine. There will be plenty of people applying with no work experience at all who will be fine. Universities will not expect you to have any knowledge of the law and will not be concerned with the fact that you spent a week making coffee or filing. Get the grades for a respectable set of subjects, write a good personal statement and stock up on a few good extra-curricular activities and you'll be fine. Believe me, work experience is pretty much the most minor aspect of a law application. It's nice, it certainly can't hurt, and it may help in a small way, but I feel like you think it's way more important than it actually is.

if you're right, that is definitely a load off my mind. cheers

[bramz19]

(Original post by amirlad)
if you're right, that is definitely a load off my mind. cheers

I had one week at a tiny family law firm. I was fine. Don't worry.

[Dust.]

(Original post by bramz19)
Honestly, work experience is the smallest part of your application. Get a week at a firm, or two if that makes you more secure, and you'll be fine. There will be plenty of people applying with no work experience at all who will be fine. Universities will not expect you to have any knowledge of the law and will not be concerned with the fact that you spent a week making coffee or filing. Get the grades for a respectable set of subjects, write a good personal statement and stock up on a few good extra-curricular activities and you'll be fine. Believe me, work experience is pretty much the most minor aspect of a law application. It's nice, it certainly can't hurt, and it may help in a small way, but I feel like you think it's way more important than it actually is.

You've mentioned extra-curricular activities as important twice. Isn't work experience in the relevant field an extra-curricular activity?

Please elaborate on what you consider an extra curricular activity. Debating? Head Boy-ing? Music?

[xmarilynx]

(Original post by amirlad)
Well I've not got my GCSE results yet, but My writing and speaking coursework scores are a high A*, so I'm confident of an A* in french overall. From the sounds of it, it doesn't sound like this would be enough

I did work experience at a French Law firm at the start of AS, so if you get the chance you should definitely go for it!

[bramz19]

(Original post by Dust.)
You've mentioned extra-curricular activities as important twice. Isn't work experience in the relevant field an extra-curricular activity?

Please elaborate on what you consider an extra curricular activity. Debating? Head Boy-ing? Music?

Not particularly. The activity itself doesn't matter, it's the valuable skills you can demonstrate by saying you did a certain activity, like teamwork or problem solving. It's also a good way of showing you're a well-rounded individual.

[RoryThePeriodical]

Have you thought about applying to write for The Periodical. Basically, we a re a student-run online journalism medium. Our writing and editing team ranges from potential Oxbridge Students for PPE to Masters students in Journalism.

[roh]

(Original post by amirlad)
I'm going to start my A levels in september, and I have aspirations of reading Law with French at university.

However, I've been told recently of the increasing importance of work experience when applying for popular courses, and Law with a language is one of the most over-subscribed (something like a 9% acceptance rate at oxford).

So are there any successful applicants out there who have completed some good work experience relevant to this? Just the name of the organisation where you worked would be a lot of help. P.s. working throughout the UK/ in Europe wouldn't be an issue during school holidays

Thanks, Amir.

I did some work shadowing with an avocat in France but I was lucky and it's by no means an essential, same as it's not for straight law. The guy's lovely though and if you want to contact him on the off chance I can send you the link in a PM.

Also, I don't think our course is generally any more competitive than straight law (though it is, in my opinion, a better course ). Remember that Oxford will have more people applying with 'traditional' A Levels which include languages who may just apply as you still get consideration for the normal Law course and could be pushed up by people applying for the option where you can study abroad in English too. I got to know a few people on the various post offer days I did and we all seemed to be doing fine getting offers, in fact I met one girl who got on Law (European) and not the LLB at the same university.

[amirlad]

(Original post by roh)
I did some work shadowing with an avocat in France but I was lucky and it's by no means an essential, same as it's not for straight law. The guy's lovely though and if you want to contact him on the off chance I can send you the link in a PM.

Also, I don't think our course is generally any more competitive than straight law (though it is, in my opinion, a better course ). Remember that Oxford will have more people applying with 'traditional' A Levels which include languages who may just apply as you still get consideration for the normal Law course and could be pushed up by people applying for the option where you can study abroad in English too. I got to know a few people on the various post offer days I did and we all seemed to be doing fine getting offers, in fact I met one girl who got on Law (European) and not the LLB at the same university.

Thanks for the reply, a lot for me to consider. If you could PM me the avocat's contacts, I would really appreciate it

[amirlad]

(Original post by RoryThePeriodical)
Have you thought about applying to write for The Periodical. Basically, we a re a student-run online journalism medium. Our writing and editing team ranges from potential Oxbridge Students for PPE to Masters students in Journalism.

I already write for the school paper and an intellectual article-based blog run by me and my friends molotovcollective.word.com. But i will keep The Periodical in mind for future reference, if i do decide to apply

[bramz19]

(Original post by RoryThePeriodical)
Have you thought about applying to write for The Periodical. Basically, we a re a student-run online journalism medium. Our writing and editing team ranges from potential Oxbridge Students for PPE to Masters students in Journalism.

Without meaning to hijack the thread, I'd be interested in this.

Being hypercritical, I've found a spelling mistake on the website and the article I just read was a bit meh.

[RoryThePeriodical]

(Original post by bramz19)
Without meaning to hijack the thread, I'd be interested in this.

Being hypercritical, I've found a spelling mistake on the website and the article I just read was a bit meh.

I'm very sorry to hear that you've found a spelling mistake. We are constantly trying to improve the site, so please do let me know were the error is and I'll amend it immediately.

Also, we pride ourselves on our politics and economics articles; hence I would recommend you read some of these.

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With regards to not hijacking this thread, I concur! In order to get work experience I emailed the entirety of the Legal 500 index for the place where I wanted to work. As a result of which I have been able to attain just over three weeks of work experience for this summer.