Recent Law Grad, chance of securing a TC

Hi all,

This is another boring rate my chances thread, sorry to bore you. Well my situation is I achieved ABB for my A-levels and graduated two months ago with a 2:1 (66%) from Oxford Brookes University. I have no legal experience to date, although I have tried and I do find it difficult to secure informal work experience. I am due to start a job as PPI case Handler at the end of this month however. I was wondering what type of things I could do to improve my chances of securing a TC in the upcoming round. I have failed two rounds now, any suggestions will be welcome taking into consideration my situation. Also any idea as to whether securing a TC would be realistic would also be very welcome, I entertain harsh truths.

Cheers

Rather depends on what sort of firm you're aiming for?


Posted from TSR Mobile

You need to get some work experience- PPI case handler is a positive start, but look at more formal placements like vacation schemes or try and weasel some partner shadowing.

Your Alevel grades are a bit of a potential headache as some firms (not all of course) have automatic filters that are often AAB. You're going to have to make sure you avoid those firms as you'd just be wasting your time by applying.

When you say 'mid size commercial firm' are we talking a regional firm or one in the City?

hi there

I would say, you are not going to get a TC unless you get some legal experience. Why don't you do any legal-type voluntary work?

Quite a few firms now take graduates on their vac schemes- I've met a number myself. Just email their HR's to find out their position on this so you don't find you're wasting time on applications.

I think given the ABB you really face an uphill struggle with City firms. Working as a paralegal in the hope of getting a training contract at the end is probably your best bet I think as you just won't stand out compared to all the other applicants for straight training contracts.

If you can get a vac scheme there are usually good odds of getting a job off the back of it. Issue is they are often even more competitive number wise than training contracts so you're going to have to find a way to make yourself stand out. Do you/relatives have any contacts that may be able to help swing you an interview at a firm? It's a sad reality that surprising numbers of people get interviews for such things on the back of who they know still.

Hi all,

This is another boring rate my chances thread, sorry to bore you. Well my situation is I achieved ABB for my A-levels and graduated two months ago with a 2:1 (66%) from Oxford Brookes University. I have no legal experience to date, although I have tried and I do find it difficult to secure informal work experience. I am due to start a job as PPI case Handler at the end of this month however. I was wondering what type of things I could do to improve my chances of securing a TC in the upcoming round. I have failed two rounds now, any suggestions will be welcome taking into consideration my situation. Also any idea as to whether securing a TC would be realistic would also be very welcome, I entertain harsh truths.

Cheers

I think your chances are probably below average to slim for the following reasons.

- Your A-level results, whilst strong compared to the majority of the student population, are probably below the norm for applicants to City firms (whether MC, SC or mid-level).

- Your Uni is not one of the more recognised institutions for Law (although you graduated with a strong result).

- You have no legal experience which suggests to recruiters that either (a) you were unsucessful in your vac scheme applications which sends a particular message or (b) you didn't apply for them which suggests a lack of commitment to this area of the profession.

- You have already been unsuccessful through two rounds of applications. That suggests that firms aren't particularly interested in what you have to sell them. You can improve your position, but I'm afraid I think you're going to struggle to overcome the points above.

The very sad reality is that universities are churning out hundreds, if not thousands, of graduates like you. Good, bright, ambitious potential lawyers with some good A-Level results, good degree results and some indication that they're a well-rounded character. Unfortunately, the City firms are in the driving seat. They can afford to be ridiculously picky given the vast numbers of applicants in front of them, and choose the stand-outs.

Can I ask what it is about commercial law that appeals to you, given that you haven't had any legal work experience? How do you answer the "Why us" questions in the application forms?

Chalks.

How many of those would use a "mid-sized" firm?

I have seen a number of mid size firms who provide services to a range of large corporations. Or maybe I am wrong?

I just wouldn't think a large corporation at the forefront of the economy would use mid-sized firms but I suppose it depends on what you think is a large corporation and what you think is the forefront of the economy ...

How many of those would use a "mid-sized" firm?

Suppose it depends on what we mean by 'mid-sized'. My firm is in the 30s in the UK by turnover but we act for all the big banks in a variety of smaller matters.

Don't get me wrong, they use the bigger/more specialist firms etc for their real legal work, but pass medium/small pieces of litigation and security reviews to smaller firms in order to keep overheads down.


Posted from TSR Mobile

I can see that happening, but that doesn't chime with why the OP said they want to work in mid-sized firms doing commercial work. I guess what I was hinting at was that if the OP is putting that in apps it won't help

I think I'd probably agree with that hint.



Posted from TSR Mobile

I will take that advice on board cheers!