Should I take a gap year to get into a better university for Law?

I’m honestly having a crisis right now. Long story short i’m to start my law course at Keele University in September but at A Levels I got ABB and I know how competitive law is so I fear Keele won’t give me the same opportunities a Russell Group would give me. Essentially I’m considering taking a gap year to apply to Uni of Birmingham others Unis of this sort.

However the contextual offer (which I’d receive) for most Russell Groups are AAB for law so i’m a grade lower than the requirement.

Does anyone know if I take a gap year and get law experience etc, they’d consider me more? I’ve already spoke to them and they said they can’t guarantee me anything so I’m really on the fence especially as they said the entry requirements are subject to change every year.

Can Keele give me decent opportunities? I get that I have to network for myself but it’s not exactly the same as I’ve heard some law firms won’t even consider my application as soon as they see “Keele.”

I would greatly appreciate some guidance! x

Reply 1

Stiffy Byng

Many law firms consider applications for training contracts without disclosure of the applicant's university. Law firms hire individuals, not universities.

Better is the enemy of good, says Montesquieu.

Reply 2

Stiffy Byng

Crosby, Stills, and Nash say "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with."

(edited 3 months ago)

Reply 3

sana.mo

Original post by Stiffy Byng

Thank you so much for the reassurance. So you reckon I won’t be missing out on any opportunities?

Reply 4

favourite-parake

Original post by sana.mo

I’m honestly having a crisis right now. Long story short i’m to start my law course at Keele University in September but at A Levels I got ABB and I know how competitive law is so I fear Keele won’t give me the same opportunities a Russell Group would give me. Essentially I’m considering taking a gap year to apply to Uni of Birmingham others Unis of this sort.
However the contextual offer (which I’d receive) for most Russell Groups are AAB for law so i’m a grade lower than the requirement.
Does anyone know if I take a gap year and get law experience etc, they’d consider me more? I’ve already spoke to them and they said they can’t guarantee me anything so I’m really on the fence especially as they said the entry requirements are subject to change every year.
Can Keele give me decent opportunities? I get that I have to network for myself but it’s not exactly the same as I’ve heard some law firms won’t even consider my application as soon as they see “Keele.”
I would greatly appreciate some guidance! x

Take a gap year get some work experience once your in the world of work, showing that you have work experience will lift a massive burden of your shoulders and in addition most employers will be more concerned with work experience rather than where you graduated from.

Reply 5

sana.mo

Original post by favourite-parake

i didn’t do law at a level so i’m actually not very familiar with law other than my interest in it. will this be a problem when i try to get experience?

Reply 6

Stiffy Byng

Original post by sana.mo

Thank you so much for the reassurance. So you reckon I won’t be missing out on any opportunities?

I cannot predict what opportunities you may or may not have, but your individual qualities as an applicant should matter more than the name of your university.

The effect on a person's career of going to university A as opposed to university Z is that university A may be able to make the person a more competitive candidate for a job than university Z, because A has better staff, more resources, and a stronger student cohort than Z. Employers are biased in favour of ability, and there may (not must) be a correlation between university attended and ability.

But A level grades and university admission are not a one-shot determiner of life chances. Many people do not display their best qualities at A level, but do so later.

Reply 7

Stiffy Byng

Original post by sana.mo

i didn’t do law at a level so i’m actually not very familiar with law other than my interest in it. will this be a problem when i try to get experience?

You can seek work experience while studying. You wll become familiar with the law as you study it. Most law students have not taken A Level law.

There are various vacation schemes and internships on offer. Participating in the law society at your university may open up some opportunities.

(edited 3 months ago)

Reply 8

McGinger

You do not need to do Law work experience in a gap year.
And Keele will be fine.

Reply 9

favourite-parake

Original post by sana.mo

i didn’t do law at a level so i’m actually not very familiar with law other than my interest in it. will this be a problem when i try to get experience?

There are lots of work in law that is specifically catered to people with no work experience applying to these types of work like apprenticing at a law firm will be no problem even if your unfamiliar with the law. I would also check in with law related jobs with nearby councils as recently a lot of councils are expanding their work force, it would be a fairly well paid job with lots of benefits if you manage to find a entry level law job there. If you need more advice websites like https://www.thelawyerportal.com/free-guides/ have got all the information relating to anything law.