The Student Room Group

Training Contracts 2014

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Reply 40
Original post by Frances99
Good luck!

If anyone is specifically considering applying to regional firms I can do my best to offer my experiences too.


Original post by Paranoid Kid
I'm sure you people are all very up on the game, but if anyone wants advice on being a non-law applicant or applying to regional/national (particularly Bristol) firms, then feel free to PM me.


Thanks everyone. Applying for TC's can be very stressful but it's nice to see how supportive and helpful people can be on here.
Reply 41
Original post by Clip

It got sold to me by the guy that made it. He came to a lecture for hasbeens that were looking to get into law (that's me) and droned on and on about LCN. I got home and tried it, and found it was so much better than the way the guy presented it. Sure, you can just use paper and a diary instead - and the coloured personal spec thing is kind of bogus - but I like it, and the locker is pretty much essential.

I think there are two major gangs of that - the apply4law, and the CVmail one. If you're on both, you should have most bases covered.


I have been using the LCN locker, but am not sure if it's the best option for me, despite it's convenience. I have a couple of certificates of higher education that I am not counting towards my degree, and I can't seem to put them anywhere on the form as extra qualifications. As I only have 2 A levels and 4 AS (since they don't want to know about General Studies) I feel a bit disadvantaged :redface:
Reply 42
How much weight do you think the firms place on individual module marks? I'm maintaining a 2:1 and am predicted a high 2:1/1st for my final year but I have some 2:2s and one 3rd for my module grades so far and I'm worried that they might just take one look at that and put me in the bin!
Reply 43
Original post by alawhisp
I have been using the LCN locker, but am not sure if it's the best option for me, despite it's convenience. I have a couple of certificates of higher education that I am not counting towards my degree, and I can't seem to put them anywhere on the form as extra qualifications. As I only have 2 A levels and 4 AS (since they don't want to know about General Studies) I feel a bit disadvantaged :redface:


?? I suppose they go on as separate entries in the University section.

Don't feel disadvantaged. I have an UCCA points total of 6. Which is equivalent to D,E today. Just like if you are being chased by a lion, you don't have to outrun it, you just have to outrun the other people with you.
Reply 44
Original post by Clip
?? I suppose they go on as separate entries in the University section.

Don't feel disadvantaged. I have an UCCA points total of 6. Which is equivalent to D,E today. Just like if you are being chased by a lion, you don't have to outrun it, you just have to outrun the other people with you.


I'm not entirely sure. There's a section to add another degree (which those qualifications are not) and there's a section to add equivalent A/AS level qualifications. These qualifications are sort of in-between! I think I'll just add them to the A/AS part, and be done with it. The OU grading system is also slightly different, so putting my % score in for my modules isn't going to be totally accurate if they are using the standard Uni scale.. Oh, so complicated :biggrin:
Reply 45
Original post by alawhisp
I'm not entirely sure. There's a section to add another degree (which those qualifications are not) and there's a section to add equivalent A/AS level qualifications. These qualifications are sort of in-between! I think I'll just add them to the A/AS part, and be done with it. The OU grading system is also slightly different, so putting my % score in for my modules isn't going to be totally accurate if they are using the standard Uni scale.. Oh, so complicated :biggrin:


But did you get these Cert HEs for completing a year of University, or as a qualification in their own right?
Reply 46
Original post by Clip
But did you get these Cert HEs for completing a year of University, or as a qualification in their own right?


As qualifications in their own right, I have the official certificates - they are not being counted as modules or units towards my LLB degree :smile: I have one in Legal Studies, one in Social Sciences and I think I might finish working towards one in Business Studies too (I have half the credit for it already), if they are actually considered to have any educational merit.
Reply 47
Original post by Tortious
*Subscribes* :ninja:


Going the filthy solicitor route then? :tongue:
Reply 48
Original post by cej
How much weight do you think the firms place on individual module marks? I'm maintaining a 2:1 and am predicted a high 2:1/1st for my final year but I have some 2:2s and one 3rd for my module grades so far and I'm worried that they might just take one look at that and put me in the bin!


I've been wondering the same thing. I have obtained a 2.1 for my degree and a distinction for my GDL but some of my degree module marks are really bad and I am worrying it is really going to affect my applications!
Reply 49
Hi Ellie and cej,

I achieved a 2.1 from a low ranking uni (around the 70s/80s). I too got a couple of thirds and 2.2s. The bigger firms (magic circle, silver circle, US, large national/regional) will have a mass of applicants with grades that are probably consistently 2.1s and firsts, so this may pose a few problems in your applications to those.

However, smaller firms, who are less likely to have auto filters and who judge your application holistically, may see something in your application that mitigates those lower grades.

After three years of trying I recently got a TC offer from a small regional firm. I was grilled in my interview about my lower grades; one interviewer even called my Trusts mark 'poor'. However I was able to explain my reasons for getting lower grades and tried to swing things back into the positive by pointing out some of my better grades, which were in areas the firm specialise in. You can put a positive spin on these things and I know a lot of people with a few poor grades on their transcript who have been successful.

I am sure you know this and you have read the 2013 threads etc, but just to remind you how tough law is and that there are many excellent candidates who are still hunting. If you want any more advice, please PM me your background and hopefully my (many) years of experience can help you a bit.
Hey, I'm a non-law grad about to start the GDL, applying for vac schemes for either this winter/this Easter (and perhaps next summer) and eventually TCs for 2014.

Mostly interested in MC and SC, with some American ones in there as well.

Graduated from a top 20 uni with a first in History so hopefully all will be well.. a little nervous as I have utterly no legal work experience (hence the VS apps!)

Good luck to everyone on here!
Original post by cej
How much weight do you think the firms place on individual module marks? I'm maintaining a 2:1 and am predicted a high 2:1/1st for my final year but I have some 2:2s and one 3rd for my module grades so far and I'm worried that they might just take one look at that and put me in the bin!


That's one of my major worries. I've got a right range of module marks but in my first year it averaged out to a really high 2:2 and my second year averaged out to a 2:1. I'm hoping that all my extra curriculars will help me out.

I've got no legal work experience either :/ I'm almost wondering why I am bothering...
Reply 52
Original post by lazzyfuzzylou
Graduated from a top 20 uni with a first in History so hopefully all will be well.. a little nervous as I have utterly no legal work experience (hence the VS apps!)

I was in your position - lacking legal work experience - and I managed to secure some vacation scheme interviews (and one vacation scheme). I will say that I had a much greater success rate (in terms of my applications:interview ratio) for training contracts though. Whether that is because I had obtained some legal work experience or got better at completing application forms I can't be certain but definitely get yourself signed up to some open days. You can put them down on your application forms and it shows that you're proactive and doing other things to gain exposure to law firms. I was working full time so open days were a great way of demonstrating my interest in law. If I'd had more annual leave I would have arranged some additional work experience but that wasn't an option in my case.

I'm also a History graduate and I'm starting the GDL this year. :smile:
I’d like to join this thread as well :smile: I am going into my final year of LLB. This summer I applied to some firms, but I don’t feel I made enough research and was not enough committed. Also, I am quite sure that even if I obtained an interview I wouldn’t go past that stage. Therefore I used this summer to gain more commercial awareness, did plenty of reading and I think that I am much more prepared this than last year.
So far I’ve researched firms and their practice areas and made a list. I will try to apply to as many firms as possible for both VS, TCs and Open Days if possible.

Good luck everyone!
Reply 54
I graduated this June (2011), and am currently completing LL.M. Obviously I have not secured a TC yet (as said above, this will be the first summer where I am going for it flat-out, as I have not been available in the UK until this summer). So here is my plan of attack for now:

-I am applying to a FEW (!) VS's for this summer. As said, I am sudying abroad right now for my LL.M, so am only applying to those firms offering phone/no VS interviews. I have not done any VS's at all, and have close to no legal work experience, so I would love to get some on the CV whilst applying for TC's this coming summer.

-After doing these few VS application (planning to be done by early november latest), I will start shortlisting TC firms and applications, getting in ealry applications for those firms already accepting, and continuing to research for those not yet open.

EUGH
Reply 55
I am interested in applying for a training contract, but I do not hold a law degree. My qualifications are:

University of Portsmouth - BA (Hons) European Studies and International Relations - First Class Honours
University College London - MSc Public Policy - Merit Predicted

My German Abitur is way below the equivalent of 340 UCAS points that most law firms ask for unfortunately. I may provide some evidence of mitigating circumstances, but I always think it looks a little suspicious so I am not sure if any law firms would consider my application :frown:
(edited 12 years ago)
Reply 56
Original post by elle23
Hi Ellie and cej,

After three years of trying I recently got a TC offer from a small regional firm. I was grilled in my interview about my lower grades; one interviewer even called my Trusts mark 'poor'. However I was able to explain my reasons for getting lower grades and tried to swing things back into the positive by pointing out some of my better grades, which were in areas the firm specialise in. You can put a positive spin on these things and I know a lot of people with a few poor grades on their transcript who have been successful.


Thank you so much for your reply and congratulations on securing a TC

I’m sure that if I get to any interview stages I am going to be grilled on my degree modules. I know that getting a distinction in my GDL won’t make up for some of my degree modules but I hope that it at least goes some way to showing that I am capable of undertaking a TC! I guess only time will tell.


Original post by polaroid13
I've got no legal work experience either :/ I'm almost wondering why I am bothering...


I know exactly how you are feeling. My only legal experience so far is couple of open days (CMS Cameron McKenna, Mayer Brown) and a 2 day work shadow at a local employment solicitors. I am going to be applying for some VS (and probably some more open days) alongside the TC applications.
Good God! I'm a non-law postgrad, just starting to think about law, how on earth am I supposed to keep up with you seasoned law students and TC applicants? I've got a Masters dissertation to write alongside 20-30 TC apps.. nightmare!
Original post by brownbear88
Good God! I'm a non-law postgrad, just starting to think about law, how on earth am I supposed to keep up with you seasoned law students and TC applicants? I've got a Masters dissertation to write alongside 20-30 TC apps.. nightmare!


Hint: don't do 20-30 apps!
Reply 59
Original post by prettyprettygood
Hint: don't do 20-30 apps!


PRSOM.

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