Top Firms Dreams, Low Grades Reality -

I've just finished my university degree having achieved a 2:1 in anthropology, and now i am looking to do a GDL. I have gone to visit a number of law firms just to get the feel of city firms and I fell in love with Norton Rose Fulbright. Not only are they a global legal practice, but financially i know i will be sorted for the rest of my life. However they look for the consistent top grades. I hated school in A-level therefor i got BCD , i got 2:1 for my first year at university, then i got sucked into my social life which meant my grade drop to a 2;2 in my second year, my final grade was a 2;1. do you think there is any chance for me to make it to NRF if I were to get a first or a 2;1 in my GDL?

Reply 1

thelitking

Have you considered a Masters to compensate?

Reply 2

KBA

Original post by thelitking

Have you considered a Masters to compensate?

No I haven't actually. Do you think that may help?

Reply 3

Huish

extremely unlikely those grades will be good enough even with a masters.

Reply 4

thelitking

Original post by KBA

No I haven't actually. Do you think that may help?

Unless you have a large network of contacts, it seems unlikely your application would be competitive as you already know.
If your social life was the reason you underachieved, than work hard on a masters and get a 1st (preferably).

Take modules that specialise in the type of Law you want to go into and network throughout. NRF would not bin the application of someone who achieved a first, and then it's up to you as a person. Otherwise and on the basis of the information you've given, there is no reason why they would take you over graduates from Oxbridge/Durham/LSE etc

What uni did you go to?

Reply 5

KBA

Original post by thelitking

Brunel University :frown:

Reply 6

Crumpet1

Given the blips on your CV, I would strongly recommend you try to secure a training contract before you invest tens of thousands of pounds in the GDL and LPC. You don't want to put yourself squillions into debt with the possibility that you will never get a TC at all. Remember there are only about 5,000 training contracts per year, and there are 16,000 law graduates plus all the other non-law grads who have done the GDL. In order to be 'sorted for the rest of your life', first of all you must get a TC and qualify, and that is not straightforward.

Reply 7

thelitking

Original post by KBA

Brunel University :frown:

It's not impossible, but it's a long shot. If you did a Masters you could still keep your options open, and even find a less competitive Law firm with a similar culture. Don't give up :tongue:

Reply 8

Huish

On that basis and with the info you have given, I would say you have virtually no chance of getting an interview at a firm like NRF or any other top City firm. Sorry to be blunt - but you asked, and it's always good to set realistic expectations.

Reply 9

liarpoker

What was your 2.1? low, mid, high?

No disrespect to Brunel, but based on your poor A-Levels and your degree choice, a first would have gone some way to showing that you're academically sharp enough for the job/on an upward trajectory.

I wouldn't do the GDL/LPC without a TC..unless you are loaded..