Disillusioned and confused about securing a training contract

but obviously my ambition is to get a training contract with a big commercial firm in London.

1) How strong was your 2.1? We need more information about your grade breakdown, how many 2.2s? What was your extra curricular like?/leadership roles? If both of these are strong, then the fact that you're not getting interviews has to be down to the way that you fill in your applications. There is an element of luck, but if you have a strong 2.1, good work experience/extras, you should have got a few interviews from 20 applications. Also, what type of firms were you targeting?

2) Judging by the information that you've given, I don't see why not. A*AA and a 2.1 from SOAS is fairly standard. It all depends on what else you have on your applications. You need to share more information about your time at university and what you was involved in.

3) It depends if you can afford to self-fund or not. You need to consider that most firms recruit two years in advance, meaning that if you self-fund the LPC, you may still have a two year wait before starting. If you're in a good job, relatively speaking, I would stick with that for now. You don't want to do the LPC, not get a TC, and be 10k down.

4) No, unless you happen to find a firm which is urgently searching for trainees to start. Having the LPC would be helpful in those circumstances.

5) You'd have to paralegal for a good few years, i'm not sure that you're at the stage yet when you should consider that.

1) it's very hard to say without seeing your application(s). It could easily be your motivation isn't clear or realistic enough, it could be your application isn't well written, it could be that they want to see more work experience or more extra curricular responsibility.

2) why would it be lowering your expectations? Apart from a potentially lower salary, there can be many benefits not going to a large commercial firm in London.

3) I don't think there is a right or wrong approach here - it's very much a personal decision that has to be weighed up against personal circumstances.

4) Reapplying is not necessarily a good idea unless here has been a significant development on your CV. The LPC is rarely seen as a significant development on its own.

5) You could try and secure paralegal work. However if the aim is to secure a TC with the firm, you need to check their approach to paralegals. Most firms have a significant number of paralegals and if they thought it was a good idea they could promote many paralegals to trainees. However, with the exception is some firms whose strategy is to do that, most big commercial firms will convert very few paralegals into trainees. When it does happen, they have to be exceptional paralegals with exposure to work that is similar to trainees. That in itself is often difficult, not necessarily down to the paralegal's performance (although that can often be a barrier too), but due to the nature of the work they receive always being the admin level work with very low levels of responsibility.


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2) why would it be lowering your expectations? Apart from a potentially lower salary, there can be many benefits not going to a large commercial firm in London.


Hi JS-P thanks also for your very helpful reply. I wanted to ask you about this particular point, because I have also felt that there is life outside of these larger firms but I am not so sure about what is out there -

firstly, is there a list out there of these firms?

secondly, how do I go about applying for them? is there a set procedure like with bigger commercial firms, i.e. apply for vac schemes by the end of January and the for TCs by the end of July? Or is the application process vary more from firm to firm?

thirdly, do they support you in gaining the LPC or are you expected to have it when you apply?

sorry to be so much of a bother, its just that I am really not sure with what to do at the moment. any advice much appreciated

Hi MillieXYZ, thanks so much for your answer, it was very helpful. (This is the same person btw, just couldnt get into my old account )

In response to your questions to me:

1. My marks were slightly above average;

Year 1 Legal Systems of Asia and Africa 71
Introduction to Law and Legal Processes 67
Criminal Law 67
Contract Law 62

Year 2 Tort Law 65
Property Law 55
Chinese Law 54
Public Law 47

Year 3 Government and Politics of the Middle East 69
EU / European Human Rights 61
Public International Law 63
Equity 50

2. In terms of what I was involved in at university, to be honest not a lot. I didn't really hold any positions of responsibility with any societies or anything like that - although I was actually employed by the university as an e-learning developer in 3rd year.

3. But in regards to the LPC, would doing the LPC not show the firms "dedication to the proffession" etc.. Basically, what I want to know in regards to the LPC, would it seem like that I am waiting for someone i.e. the firm, the pay for the LPC if I still have not done it 2 years after graduating?

As an alternative, what about smaller firms?, i.e. those outside the magic and silver circles, like smaller london firms with a niche in family law or perhaps regional firms - do they pay for the LPC or would it be better to apply to them with the LPC already completed?

Thanks again

Hi MillieXYZ, thanks so much for your answer, it was very helpful. (This is the same person btw, just couldnt get into my old account )

In response to your questions to me:

1. My marks were slightly above average;

Year 1 Legal Systems of Asia and Africa 71
Introduction to Law and Legal Processes 67
Criminal Law 67
Contract Law 62

Year 2 Tort Law 65
Property Law 55
Chinese Law 54
Public Law 47

Year 3 Government and Politics of the Middle East 69
EU / European Human Rights 61
Public International Law 63
Equity 50

2. In terms of what I was involved in at university, to be honest not a lot. I didn't really hold any positions of responsibility with any societies or anything like that - although I was actually employed by the university as an e-learning developer in 3rd year.

3. But in regards to the LPC, would doing the LPC not show the firms "dedication to the proffession" etc.. Basically, what I want to know in regards to the LPC, would it seem like that I am waiting for someone i.e. the firm, the pay for the LPC if I still have not done it 2 years after graduating?

As an alternative, what about smaller firms?, i.e. those outside the magic and silver circles, like smaller london firms with a niche in family law or perhaps regional firms - do they pay for the LPC or would it be better to apply to them with the LPC already completed?

Thanks again

Your grades aren't consistent but I know a few people who have gone on to get training contracts at city firms with worse and without mitigating circumstances.

I think it might just be the way you write your applications and the fact that you don't have much extra curricular experience. Usually if you've got a lot of those a recruiter might look past the odd slip up in grades.

For this next cycle, I would suggest being proactive and doing some volunteering work (it doesn't have to be law related) and maybe pursuing an interest to build your skill set.

Most importantly, don't be disheartened! Every applicant faces many rejections and all you need is one. Just have a thick skin and think about where you can improve. Another TSR user has set this website up which can help you:

www.tcsmashers.com


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2. Is there any point of going for these big commercial firms in London? Should I lower my ambitions?

3. I graduated a year ago, should I just do the LPC now or as soon as possible whilst working?

4. If I did the LPC and reapplied would that be a benefit? In the eyes of the firms do you gain any advantage by having already done the LPC?