Pre exams before University / Law
Hello,
I am currently concerned on this topic lately. Basically, I did not manage to complete my A Levels due to personal reasons - (however my 1st year grades were A*AB). I took a gap year and then studied a 60 credit OU Law Module course. I completed this and got accepted into University of York for LLB Law. (12th best for Law in UK).
My plan after University is to join an Inn of Court and complete my Bar Course at ICCA, and then become a barrister after pupillage.
I feel I have a pretty good plan, and did extremely well for myself in terms of the conditions. However, I didn’t even sit my GCSEs as I am the year of covid. I actually got 5-7’s in my mocks but the teachers gave me shocking grades in the real thing (5657753332). The 2 is in GCSE MATHS.
I did try and retake this last year, but I do have dyscalculia and failed it again. It also costed me over £200. I don’t want to take this again because it’s a lot of money, for a lot of risk of it being a fail like the 1st time.
I am really worried that my GCSE maths grade will hold me back in terms of being accepted onto the Gray’s Scholarship, being a member at the Inn, and my ICCA bar course, and pupillage.
Do you think me not having GCSE maths will break my career at the bar, despite having an LLB at a Russell Group University.
Please advise
I am currently concerned on this topic lately. Basically, I did not manage to complete my A Levels due to personal reasons - (however my 1st year grades were A*AB). I took a gap year and then studied a 60 credit OU Law Module course. I completed this and got accepted into University of York for LLB Law. (12th best for Law in UK).
My plan after University is to join an Inn of Court and complete my Bar Course at ICCA, and then become a barrister after pupillage.
I feel I have a pretty good plan, and did extremely well for myself in terms of the conditions. However, I didn’t even sit my GCSEs as I am the year of covid. I actually got 5-7’s in my mocks but the teachers gave me shocking grades in the real thing (5657753332). The 2 is in GCSE MATHS.
I did try and retake this last year, but I do have dyscalculia and failed it again. It also costed me over £200. I don’t want to take this again because it’s a lot of money, for a lot of risk of it being a fail like the 1st time.
I am really worried that my GCSE maths grade will hold me back in terms of being accepted onto the Gray’s Scholarship, being a member at the Inn, and my ICCA bar course, and pupillage.
Do you think me not having GCSE maths will break my career at the bar, despite having an LLB at a Russell Group University.
Please advise
Original post by ewood04
Hello,
I am currently concerned on this topic lately. Basically, I did not manage to complete my A Levels due to personal reasons - (however my 1st year grades were A*AB). I took a gap year and then studied a 60 credit OU Law Module course. I completed this and got accepted into University of York for LLB Law. (12th best for Law in UK).
My plan after University is to join an Inn of Court and complete my Bar Course at ICCA, and then become a barrister after pupillage.
I feel I have a pretty good plan, and did extremely well for myself in terms of the conditions. However, I didn’t even sit my GCSEs as I am the year of covid. I actually got 5-7’s in my mocks but the teachers gave me shocking grades in the real thing (5657753332). The 2 is in GCSE MATHS.
I did try and retake this last year, but I do have dyscalculia and failed it again. It also costed me over £200. I don’t want to take this again because it’s a lot of money, for a lot of risk of it being a fail like the 1st time.
I am really worried that my GCSE maths grade will hold me back in terms of being accepted onto the Gray’s Scholarship, being a member at the Inn, and my ICCA bar course, and pupillage.
Do you think me not having GCSE maths will break my career at the bar, despite having an LLB at a Russell Group University.
Please advise
I am currently concerned on this topic lately. Basically, I did not manage to complete my A Levels due to personal reasons - (however my 1st year grades were A*AB). I took a gap year and then studied a 60 credit OU Law Module course. I completed this and got accepted into University of York for LLB Law. (12th best for Law in UK).
My plan after University is to join an Inn of Court and complete my Bar Course at ICCA, and then become a barrister after pupillage.
I feel I have a pretty good plan, and did extremely well for myself in terms of the conditions. However, I didn’t even sit my GCSEs as I am the year of covid. I actually got 5-7’s in my mocks but the teachers gave me shocking grades in the real thing (5657753332). The 2 is in GCSE MATHS.
I did try and retake this last year, but I do have dyscalculia and failed it again. It also costed me over £200. I don’t want to take this again because it’s a lot of money, for a lot of risk of it being a fail like the 1st time.
I am really worried that my GCSE maths grade will hold me back in terms of being accepted onto the Gray’s Scholarship, being a member at the Inn, and my ICCA bar course, and pupillage.
Do you think me not having GCSE maths will break my career at the bar, despite having an LLB at a Russell Group University.
Please advise
Hi @ewood04
Having gotten a Inn of Court Scholarship, done the BPC and recently obtained pupillage (not started yet of course), I think that your Maths GCSE shouldn't be a problem.
I think the scholarship process may ask for GCSEs if I remember correctly, however, this your Maths is one mark out of many. Also, academics is only one of the aspects that they look at when determining whether to give a scholarship. Lincoln's and Gray's both have a paper sift so if you are worried your grades do not reflect your ability you may be better off applying to Middle or Inner Temple as they interview every candidate meaning you won't be removed from the process before you can truly show your ability. However, I don't think your GCSEs will prevent you from getting through a paper sift on their own.
In terms of being a member of an Inn, your academics have nothing to do with it. So, if you do want to proceed with applying to Gray's this will not have any bearing on the success off your application (I have never known someone to not be successful in applying to the Inn of their choice - it is not a competitive process).
I didn't apply to ICCA so cannot help directly on this point as I know institutions differ. However, Ulaw did not ask for GCSE grades when applying for the course and as long as you have a good undergraduate degree I do not think it will hold you back in your application. Also, there is usually an interview element so you can show your advocacy skills which is the more critical aspect of the application in my opinion. Finally on this point, most sets do not care where your BPC is from so if your Maths GCSE does prevent you from getting into ICCA, then there are many other options, such as Ulaw 🙂
Having just gone through the pupillage process, I was not asked by any of the sets that I applied to for my GCSE grades. Of course, this does change depending on sets, so it is no guarantee that you will not be asked. However, there is a chance to explain mitigating circumstances and I am sure that even if they are interested in GCSEs, the rest of your application, such as grades you have obtained since and your experience in law, will be far more important than whether you have a strong Maths GCSE.
If you have been accepted to study the LLB at a university you are happy with, then I would say just crack on. Obtaining a good undergrad degree will be far more important in succeeding in scholarship and pupillage applications than a GCSE in Maths.
I hope this helps and good luck!
For the bar the majority of students who secure pupillage have a first class degree so I’d focus on your degree and attending mini pupillages.
Is functional maths an option as an alternative to gcse?
What area of law are you aiming for? calculating costs, interest etc are part of role plus barristers are self employed so you’d need to be on top of your accounting and vat.
Is functional maths an option as an alternative to gcse?
What area of law are you aiming for? calculating costs, interest etc are part of role plus barristers are self employed so you’d need to be on top of your accounting and vat.
Original post by Dixiechick1975
For the bar the majority of students who secure pupillage have a first class degree so I’d focus on your degree and attending mini pupillages.
Is functional maths an option as an alternative to gcse?
What area of law are you aiming for? calculating costs, interest etc are part of role plus barristers are self employed so you’d need to be on top of your accounting and vat.
Is functional maths an option as an alternative to gcse?
What area of law are you aiming for? calculating costs, interest etc are part of role plus barristers are self employed so you’d need to be on top of your accounting and vat.
Hi, thanks for your reply. I just recently registered onto do a functional skills in L2 maths, I’m doing the exam in August before university starts. Hopefully I’ll pass this and then crack on to secure that first in my LLB.
I have pretty much a solid year worth of experience as a legal assistant at 2 different law firms, and I can confirm that lawyers usually need to be decent with maths, hence my concerns.
Where I’m currently set on right now, is cases involving CICA, medico-legal and negligence. Personal Injury & Crime pretty much.
☺️
Original post by ewood04
Hello,
I am currently concerned on this topic lately. Basically, I did not manage to complete my A Levels due to personal reasons - (however my 1st year grades were A*AB). I took a gap year and then studied a 60 credit OU Law Module course. I completed this and got accepted into University of York for LLB Law. (12th best for Law in UK).
My plan after University is to join an Inn of Court and complete my Bar Course at ICCA, and then become a barrister after pupillage.
I feel I have a pretty good plan, and did extremely well for myself in terms of the conditions. However, I didn’t even sit my GCSEs as I am the year of covid. I actually got 5-7’s in my mocks but the teachers gave me shocking grades in the real thing (5657753332). The 2 is in GCSE MATHS.
I did try and retake this last year, but I do have dyscalculia and failed it again. It also costed me over £200. I don’t want to take this again because it’s a lot of money, for a lot of risk of it being a fail like the 1st time.
I am really worried that my GCSE maths grade will hold me back in terms of being accepted onto the Gray’s Scholarship, being a member at the Inn, and my ICCA bar course, and pupillage.
Do you think me not having GCSE maths will break my career at the bar, despite having an LLB at a Russell Group University.
Please advise
I am currently concerned on this topic lately. Basically, I did not manage to complete my A Levels due to personal reasons - (however my 1st year grades were A*AB). I took a gap year and then studied a 60 credit OU Law Module course. I completed this and got accepted into University of York for LLB Law. (12th best for Law in UK).
My plan after University is to join an Inn of Court and complete my Bar Course at ICCA, and then become a barrister after pupillage.
I feel I have a pretty good plan, and did extremely well for myself in terms of the conditions. However, I didn’t even sit my GCSEs as I am the year of covid. I actually got 5-7’s in my mocks but the teachers gave me shocking grades in the real thing (5657753332). The 2 is in GCSE MATHS.
I did try and retake this last year, but I do have dyscalculia and failed it again. It also costed me over £200. I don’t want to take this again because it’s a lot of money, for a lot of risk of it being a fail like the 1st time.
I am really worried that my GCSE maths grade will hold me back in terms of being accepted onto the Gray’s Scholarship, being a member at the Inn, and my ICCA bar course, and pupillage.
Do you think me not having GCSE maths will break my career at the bar, despite having an LLB at a Russell Group University.
Please advise
Hello!
I did my bar course at ICCA, obtained an Inn of Court Scholarship and have secured a pupillage to start in October 2024. Realistically, the application processes for all three of the above are holistic. One grade will not make or break your applications. Also as others have said, Chambers usually don't ask for your GCSE's and although some Inns of Court / Bar Court providers might, they focus more on A-Level and University grades as these are a more up to date sign of your competence.
I also think that you have strong mitigating circumstances (note that every application will give you an opportunity to discuss these). You have dyscalculia and completed your GCSE's during the covid-19 lockdown which provides important context to your results.
My advice is to focus more on your degree qualification and your extra-curriculars. Do some mooting / debating at university, join (or run) a society, engage with UO York's legal clinic and complete some mini-pupillages or legal research. Then in your third year or after graduation, try to get a paralegal job. That way, you'll have a strong application for scholarships, the Bar Course and pupillage. Those factors are so much more important than your GCSE grades.
Best of luck with it all, and feel free to ask anything else!
Original post by ewood04
Hello,
I am currently concerned on this topic lately. Basically, I did not manage to complete my A Levels due to personal reasons - (however my 1st year grades were A*AB). I took a gap year and then studied a 60 credit OU Law Module course. I completed this and got accepted into University of York for LLB Law. (12th best for Law in UK).
My plan after University is to join an Inn of Court and complete my Bar Course at ICCA, and then become a barrister after pupillage.
I feel I have a pretty good plan, and did extremely well for myself in terms of the conditions. However, I didn’t even sit my GCSEs as I am the year of covid. I actually got 5-7’s in my mocks but the teachers gave me shocking grades in the real thing (5657753332). The 2 is in GCSE MATHS.
I did try and retake this last year, but I do have dyscalculia and failed it again. It also costed me over £200. I don’t want to take this again because it’s a lot of money, for a lot of risk of it being a fail like the 1st time.
I am really worried that my GCSE maths grade will hold me back in terms of being accepted onto the Gray’s Scholarship, being a member at the Inn, and my ICCA bar course, and pupillage.
Do you think me not having GCSE maths will break my career at the bar, despite having an LLB at a Russell Group University.
Please advise
I am currently concerned on this topic lately. Basically, I did not manage to complete my A Levels due to personal reasons - (however my 1st year grades were A*AB). I took a gap year and then studied a 60 credit OU Law Module course. I completed this and got accepted into University of York for LLB Law. (12th best for Law in UK).
My plan after University is to join an Inn of Court and complete my Bar Course at ICCA, and then become a barrister after pupillage.
I feel I have a pretty good plan, and did extremely well for myself in terms of the conditions. However, I didn’t even sit my GCSEs as I am the year of covid. I actually got 5-7’s in my mocks but the teachers gave me shocking grades in the real thing (5657753332). The 2 is in GCSE MATHS.
I did try and retake this last year, but I do have dyscalculia and failed it again. It also costed me over £200. I don’t want to take this again because it’s a lot of money, for a lot of risk of it being a fail like the 1st time.
I am really worried that my GCSE maths grade will hold me back in terms of being accepted onto the Gray’s Scholarship, being a member at the Inn, and my ICCA bar course, and pupillage.
Do you think me not having GCSE maths will break my career at the bar, despite having an LLB at a Russell Group University.
Please advise
If you can still take a GCSE Maths Qualification or equivalent qualification, I think it could benefit you. You seem like a very able individual and I think it could benefit you.
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