Is it worth me pursuing a training contract & law career....

hey, I am studying a law degree at the moment at London Southbank University, which if you might not of heard of it is although being a good university IMO is not very prestigeous or renowned so to put it. I am quite interested in a law career but the thing is I'm just wondering how much chance do I really have when I go to a university that is percieved as mediocre given the intense competition in the legal profession?

Its just that attempting to obtaining a training contract takes a lot of time and effort, and I know it is inevitably going to distract me slightly from my studies, and if I have little or minute chance at actually getting a training contract given the institution I am attending then it might actually be better for me to look into other careers that are less competitive and I would have a better chance at getting into....

Anyway I would appreciate any advice you could give me...

Reply 1

chocmonster

1

give it a try....just make sure u do well academically and have lots of extra curriculars! if you don't try, you'll probably regret it...so give it a shot!! :smile:

x

Reply 2

chalks

14

I'm assuming you're in your first year at present and so are not yet at the stage of applying for vacation schemes?

The brutal reality is that the larger law firms receive approx 2500 applications for the 50 to 100 TCs available. The competition is intense.

When faced with that number of applications, the law firms have to undertake some form of filtering process. The first filters are degree level anticipated and University attended. If you're on course for a 2:2 then your chances are enormously limited. Unfortunately, your chances are also limited if you attend a less well known/regarded Uni such as Southbank.

This is not to say it is impossible to get a TC with a largish London law firm. However, I'd suggest you need to be aiming to get a first so your application isn't immediately dismissed. As the previous poster suggested, you should also be filling your time with as many extra-currics as possible including taking positions of responsibility if possible. You need to make yourself stand out of the crowd even more than the average applicant. It sounds unfair, but law firms aren't charities and unfortunately you've got to be pretty special if you don't come from one of their recognised Unis.

Now, this is all predicated on the basis that you're interested in applying to one of the larger law firms. Clearly your chances of a TC improve if you widen your net and look at smaller London firms or firms outside the capital. That's not to say there's no competition for those jobs, but you are likely to have more success.

I'd suggest you blitz the vac scheme process when that comes round again but start giving some serious consideration to the smaller firms rather than the MC firms discussed on this board.

Reply 3

toydestroyer

I work for a top ten firm (not a lawyer) and can basically confirm what chalks said, a training contract with a top ten is almost impossible as you have to have a first and it has to be from a uni that is held in high regard. Where I work they do not give paralegal job to people unless they have a first or 2:1 which kind of says how hard it is.

I can say I do not know of one lawyer who has attended South Bank where I work, its normally Oxbridge, Hull, Durham, Birmingham, Warwick as well as a few others. I am looking at doing my law degree so ask partners about this a lot at the moment and a running theme on how they decide is grade, A level grades, uni attended, extra curricular's (especially pro bono type stuff), personality (and I don't mean happy types, they want serious attitudes and people they think can handel the pressure).

Saying this some of the lawyers have done there TC's at small firms and made a name for themselves somehow and get poached from the big firms. To put it plainly it is not easy and you may have to think of lowering expectations of the kind of firm you wish to work for or if work in law at all, if you do get a TC at a small firm this isn't the be all and end all of your career though its just the start :wink:

Reply 4

Colly

1

toydestroyer

I work for a top ten firm (not a lawyer) and can basically confirm what chalks said, a training contract with a top ten is almost impossible as you have to have a first and it has to be from a uni that is held in high regard.

You may work for a top ten firm but that is simply not true. A 2.i is sufficient for virtually all top law firms

Reply 5

chalks

14

Colly

You may work for a top ten firm but that is simply not true. A 2.i is sufficient for virtually all top law firms

Agreed. Although I have been out of UK grad recruitment for the last couple of years, my understanding has always been that a good 2:1 is sufficient. It can't be otherwise - there just aren't enough candidates with firsts to go around!

Reply 6

Lewisy-boy

11

Indeed, I'd be pretty shocked if many firms only took people with firsts... after all, it's about so much more than academics.

Reply 7

Reema

14

Lewisy-boy

Indeed, I'd be pretty shocked if many firms only took people with firsts... after all, it's about so much more than academics.

Definitely. Not to mention how fine the distinction between a first and a very high 2.1 can be.

To the OP, I would at least give it a shot. You'll never know unless you try, and whilst it's good to not get your hopes too high, I have met people with poor grades from good universities for whom firms have made an exception. It would be unreasonable for them to reject someone from a less reputable university who had, say, top marks along with all the extracurriculars.

Good luck :wink:

.

Reply 8

ryanfraser167

OP

Oh I see, thankyou for your advice everyone, I have a better picture of what to do now, I think I'm going to direct my efforts towards smaller law firms and if neccesary some non legal professions. Just out of interest does anyone know of any good smaller law firms that would be more receptive to my application?

And does anyone have any ideas of good alternative careers that could be undertaken with a law degree? I was thinking of Human Resources, Teaching, Construction management, property and real estate management and agent etc.

Anyway thankyou for your help and tips...

Reply 9

Clubber Lang

15

toydestroyer

(and I don't mean happy types, they want serious attitudes and people they think can handel the pressure).

Damn, when I apply for jobs I always say how laid back and what a laugh I am :biggrin:

Reply 10

Howard

5

Clubber Lang

Damn, when I apply for jobs I always say how laid back and what a laugh I am :biggrin:

Have you ever worn a comedy red nose to an interview?

I did something similar to that once. I was at a meeting with about 10 people (my project manager at the time) and the customer's representitives and I stuck a pencil up each nostril and turned to my project manager (nobody else could see) and said "Chris, I just don't know why nobody will take me seriously" He cracked up so hard he had to make an excuse to leave the meeting.

I have a very laid back approach to work indeed. If I'm asked: "Howard, can I have a word?" I'll typically respiond with "Is it work related?" and if the answer is "yes" I'll respond with "**** off then" Work is not something I take very seriously.

Reply 11

Dimebag

I have a different view to the one usually given, namely that you are more likely to be lucky by widening your net and applying to smaller firms.

Of all the firms I applied to by far the most interviews I got were for the larger firms, the ones that offered the most contracts. Practically all of the smaller firms were straight rejections.

My A levels are pretty poor and my uni is not top tier or anywhere near in league tables.

I reckon (and I'm sure there are plenty of other explanations) that the larger firms can afford to take more chances, have a more thorough recruitment procedure and like to shout about diversity (yes, very cynical). So in that respect, the larger ones are probably the best bet, they were for me.

HOWEVER: I wouldn't write off other possibilities; basically apply to everything. And get amazing first year results!

Is it worth me pursuing a training contract & law career....

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