Original post by erj2018Just to chip in with my two cents' worth, as a recent law graduate from a top university, with experience at various city firms. Your university is obviously a factor, but I generally think the stronger applicants are found in the best universities. On every vacation scheme intake (MC/SC/US), the majority will be Oxbridge, then London/Durham (usually), then places like Warwick/Bristol/Nottingham. Occasionally, you will get someone from a left-field university, such as Kent/Sussex. Your university can carry you to an extent. For example, my marks aren't great, and if I had achieved them at somewhere middling, I doubt that I would have had the interviews that I did.
There are a few firms that will not touch you, regardless of what you achieve at a university like Man Met. These firms are insanely difficult to get into, so even your run of the mill graduate from a RG university has little chance. Law is still relatively elitist, so I do think you should try and get into the best university possible, if only to avoid ever feeling that you're seen as a diversity hire, of some sorts. Some lawyers/trainees are ridiculously snobby and will make assumptions about you based on your university. Even as a qualified associate, some firms will stipulate A-Level requirements and a 2.1 degree from a top university.
However, ORW, you need to realise that there are some firms who value 'recent academic achievements over past achievements, and will look at your application holistically. Some firms, including magic circle, would prefer someone who has excelled at a lower university over someone who has struggled at somewhere like LSE. For example, 73% from somewhere like Brunel/Kent would be more competitive than 60% from LSE, for somewhere like Slaughter and May. You just need to really build up your CV in all aspects, because you really cannot afford to have patchy undergraduate academics from a non-RG university. If you go to somewhere like Man Met and scrape a 2.1, then yes, you'll end up on the scrapheap. However, if you go to Man Met, do very well academically, seek leadership roles/volunteer, you'll have a fighting chance.
Just as an anecdote, I know some who has interviewed for TCs in this cycle at Freshfields, S&M, BLP, Ashurst, and a few others. She has a first class degree from a bottom 30 university, but I think she also has decent A-Levels. Also, there are so many City firms out there, no need to be fixated on magic circle firms.