2.2 law undergrad, where do I go from here?

2.2 in undergrad law at a RG uni. This year has not gone well academically, I submitted one of my courseworks late and just didn't work as hard or as much as I should've due to extenuating circumstances.

Anyway, I've applied for LLM at my current uni since I meet the entry requirements and plan to get my head down and work hard at it to achieve a 1st-high 2.1. After that, I want to secure legal employment as a paralegal. Im hoping that will make it easier to get TCs later on. What else can I do to make my CV more employable outside of academics?

I have no legal experience as I have not been able to secure vac scheme work, etc. Could I get some informal experience from the law firms up my high street if I contact them for work experience over the summer?

Also, is it worth doing another research postgrad course after my masters if I can't secure a TC by the end of my masters?

I hope to work part time as a paralegal (intern) atp (unsure if anyone will take me on at the moment/during/after my masters).

What should I do? Any and all advice would be appreciated.

(edited 11 months ago)

Reply 1

katana10000

In my opinion, self-funding a masters after getting a 2:2 is just saddling yourself with additional debt with little appreciable
career benefit, but if there is anyone on this forum who has different experience it would
be helpful to hear as there are a few questions of this type circulating right now.

Reply 2

chalks

I'll share some thoughts: I was a City solicitor for about 25yrs and am now a headhunter. I'm not nearly as close to the trainee recruitment process as I was when I used to post on this forum, but I'd like to think I still have a few insights.

I think this is an opportunity for some really hard, honest self-reflection. I think the short point is that, with a 2:2 from a RG uni and no work experience, your chances of securing a TC with a leading firm will be extremely hard. I agree with Katana that self-funding a masters will have little appreciable benefit. I certainly wouldn't do any further study thereafter.

Some questions:

•

what are your ultimate career aspirations? Small local firm? MC/US firms? Regional/national firms? What type of work?

•

what is leading you down that route, given you have no legal work experience so far? What is driving you to continue down the legal route: are you passionate about the profession (and if so, on what basis), or do you feel that you should continue pursuing this path given your investment to date (watch out for the sunk cost fallacy here)?

•

what were your extenuating circumstances? Be honest with yourself here. Did they really impact on your studies and inability to secure experience? If so, what steps have you taken to seek some form of dispensation?

•

why were you unable to secure any work experience over the last few years? Do you feel that you can make an objective assessment of your career path in the absence of that experience?

•

what else do you have on your CV that might demonstrate that you have skills/experience of interest?

Whether you decide to share your answers on here is a matter for you! The important thing is that you think long and hard about what you do next. Signing-up to further courses of study may simply be kicking the issue down the road, incurring substantial debt without realistically changing your chances of success. But I'm very conscious there may be a multitude of factors which I'm not aware of.

Be honest with yourself. What do you really want to do over the next ten years, rather than what do you think others might expect of you?

Reply 3

Ariag

Original post by chalks

I'll share some thoughts: I was a City solicitor for about 25yrs and am now a headhunter. I'm not nearly as close to the trainee recruitment process as I was when I used to post on this forum, but I'd like to think I still have a few insights.
I think this is an opportunity for some really hard, honest self-reflection. I think the short point is that, with a 2:2 from a RG uni and no work experience, your chances of securing a TC with a leading firm will be extremely hard. I agree with Katana that self-funding a masters will have little appreciable benefit. I certainly wouldn't do any further study thereafter.
Some questions:

•

what are your ultimate career aspirations? Small local firm? MC/US firms? Regional/national firms? What type of work?

•

why were you unable to secure any work experience over the last few years? Do you feel that you can make an objective assessment of your career path in the absence of that experience?

•

what else do you have on your CV that might demonstrate that you have skills/experience of interest?

Whether you decide to share your answers on here is a matter for you! The important thing is that you think long and hard about what you do next. Signing-up to further courses of study may simply be kicking the issue down the road, incurring substantial debt without realistically changing your chances of success. But I'm very conscious there may be a multitude of factors which I'm not aware of.
Be honest with yourself. What do you really want to do over the next ten years, rather than what do you think others might expect of you?

Thank you for your insight. I’m planning to resit 2 modules to boost my overall average to try secure a 2:1 and am currently discussing my options with the uni.

•

In terms of work, I want to settle down and work in my home town at a small local firm or for the Ministry of Justice as a solicitor.

•

I have no legal experience but I have worked retail and admin roles during 6th form and uni. In terms of why I chose law, it was something I thought I wanted but now I’m not too sure. I have been looking at jobs that may be accessible to me as someone with just a law degree (as I’m doubtful that I will be able to secure a TC considering my current situation).

•

In my second year, a family member suddenly passed away and following their death, I struggled to engage with uni (especially as I had prior mental health issues). I had an individual learning plan put in place with extensions granted on coursework but got mediocre grades and failed to secure legal work experience.

•

As for undertaking a masters, I think I would enjoy it now that I am more stable in my circumstances but I am wary of the cost and value of doing so.

•

Having said all of that, you are right. The odds of me securing a TC is low, but I’m hoping that once I complete my masters, I can secure some sort of legal employment to add to my CV and then hopefully secure a TC later on.