Retaking A Levels - is it worth it?

I'm currently in my second year of a non-law degree (Ancient History) at the University of Reading. When I finish I plan to do a GDL and the LPC. However, during my A level exams I was on codeine for various reasons which obviously affected my performance and ended up getting BBC.

I'm worried that even though I'm on track for a high 2:1, I won't be able to get sponsorship or a training contract. I'm looking mainly at regional firms such as burges salmon as I don't think i'll get a place at city firms. Is it worth, or for that matter possible, to retake an A level to make myself more attractive to law firms?
Thanks.

Reply 1

happyinthehaze

Original post by JoeyVinten

Hi

Well, they often ask you to list all your exam grades anyway and specifically ask if you have re-sat exams so you would have to declare all your A level resits anyway. Firms do have boxes for you to put mitigating circs into - would you say your circs add up to mitigating?

I have to be honest - I don't think the regional thing will make any difference at the big firm level - things are very competitive and loads of grads have excellent A level grades.

that is not to say that you can't succeed - some firms do not have an automatic filter on the A level grades - although many do - taking other aspects into consideration - I know as I do not have good A level grades myself. You just have to rootle out the firms that don't have A level filters - you could also do something else after your degree to get yourself some real world experience to make yourself more employable - you would need Something Else to offer the firms - consistent performance is a big thing in law - remember they don't know you and dont really have much to go on other than A levels and exam results - plus you have to be reasonably smart a lot of the time to be a successful lawyer

I would go and see your careers office and also, can you get to any law fairs? You can approach the recruiters directly and ask them what their policies are.

Reply 2

Medici103

Being on codeine may have already been taken into consideration.

I was diagnosed with a brain tumour prior to my a levels so was on all sorts of medication and had surgery scheduled for four days after my law exams.

I discovered that my college had already done something about mitigating circs. without my knowledge so.

Reply 3

JoMarchBhaer

Firms often ask either for confirmation that the A-levels sat were first attempts, or require you to specify the year that they were taken, which will give away late resits.

Unfortunately I think Law is becoming like Medicine - in practice you need to get the decent A-levels when you're 17 or 18. Was the codeine for a medical condition that would itself be mitigating circumstances and as noted above has not already been allowed for in the grades received?

Reply 4

JoeyVinten

I looked into the codeine thing and apparently I got a small percentage of marks more - so 1 or 2 marks extra. Think next year, the last year of my non-law degree, I'll apply for TCs but at the same time apply for graduate jobs and also to become a para legal. I mean I can't afford to put myself through a GDL and LPC: especially without a guaranteed job at the end of it.

Does anyone know anything about getting a job as a para legal and doing some kind of course while doing this to become a solicitor? Or can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks for all your help.