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Urgent Advice Needed: GDL Deferral?

Hi all,

I am really desperate for advice at this stage and would like to ask for the opinion of the people in this forum.

I have done my A-levels in Germany with not so impressive 3 Bs and a C. I have a 2.1 in Business Administration from a lower tier university and a distinction in my MSc from a Top 5 university. In addition, I have around 2 years work experience in different fields, such as IT, marketing and management consulting. My language skills include German, English and basic Chinese.

I am really keen to become a solicitor and have already been offered a place at the BPP London. However, all my TC applications were unsuccessful so far (approx. 25) and I don’t think the rest will be any better. I am now thinking of deferring my GDL to next year, because I won’t have the financial means if I can’t find a law firm to sponsor me. The deadline to apply for a deferral is the coming Friday, 31st July.

I would like to ask whether, this is a good idea? Can I expect to get a training contract with my background? I am considering to do the GDL now in the hope that it will increase my chances to get my application through next year. However, I don’t want to waste money and time just to find out that I can’t compete against AAA students and those with law experience.

Any advice/feedback would be appreciated – please be as brutally honest as you can.

Thank you very much.

Reply 1

la sombra del viento

Why wouldnt you get a TC with your background? Do you honestly believe that every solicitor was a student with AAA grades? You dont get lucky due to the economical crisis, law firms are just more picky and fussy when it comes to applications, if u really want to be a solicitor, you will become one; I have it tough too :biggrin:

(Foreign, no legal experience, starting the GDL this year but hoping to volunteer as much as I can, involve in pro bono, and work hard on my language skills; I am aspiring to become a family law solicitor); I only have money for this year, hopefully I will have got the LPC sponsored next year, if not I will think of sth

Reply 2

DaisyEmma

Have you explained your dilemma to BPP? They really focus on helping their students get jobs. They might be able to advise you, or help you with your applications for next year's TCs.

What will you do if you take a year out? Will you be able to spend the year getting relevant work experience?

Reply 3

RandomThoughts

Dear all,

Many thanks for the replies. I have already sent an email to BPP to defer my GDL to 2010. I do not believe that every solicitor has AAA grades, but that was back in the old days where the market wasn't swamped with graduates. Adding the credit crunch to it, the bar has just been raised one level higher. I wish I could be as optimistic as you, but I am really struggling financially and will continue in my current role in order to save up the money. However, I wish you good luck with your GDL, I am sure you will enjoy it :smile:

@Daisy: I did tell BPP that I had to defer my offer due to financial reasons - I received a confirmation from them, but not any advice of some kind. I would really like to get relevant work experience, but I can imagine that even that has become very competitive. I will do some more research and apply in a few months time. Any advice on what I can do in the next year would be really welcome though!

Thanks everyone!

Reply 4

la sombra del viento

Have you applied for any VS? to be honest, I havent even applied for a TC as I know that without any legal experience on my CV wont get one; I have applied for VS, 3 law firms have responded that my appl has got through "selection 1" (whatever this means); keep on applying to law firms (and for VS), do some volunteering at CAB, Law centre; which area of law is of your interest?

Reply 5

RandomThoughts

Hi there,

Many thanks again for your advice.

It may sound stupid, but I am not sure what VS stands for? Is it voluntary service? And does CAB mean Citizens Advice Bureau? I am very interested in Technology and IP as I come from a technical background and have some work experience within the engineering and telecommunications sector. Are there are any (easy) firms you could recommend applying to?

I know you are right that without any legal experience I won't get very far...

Reply 6

DaisyEmma

VS is a vacation scheme - summer holiday structured work experience. Most big law firms run them. To find firms that specialise in certain sectors, you can go to http://www.chambersandpartners.com/ then click the blue UK guide and use the drop-down search boxes that appear at top right.

Reply 7

RandomThoughts

Thank you very much, Daisy, I will look into this as soon as I get back from work!

Reply 8

mickeyfit

Most law firms only offer VC's to people who are likely to take up a TC with them - I certainly wouldn't be applying for a VC with a firm I had no intention of applying for their TC aswell...