Does my education profile help or hinder my chances of getting a commercial law TC?
Hi!
I have a four-year undergraduate degree in History (among top ranking students at my uni) and an MSt in Women's Studies from Oxford (again high ranking). I also have several years of experience in teaching children and adults, as well as leadership involvement with a variety of youth politics/research groups.
Women's Studies is (wrongly) looked down upon by people who would construe education as solely a tool for employment. Although I reject this view on principle, I am hoping to establish a career in commercial law and would like some opinions as to whether my education might be a problem for me since it's not related to law, business, or politics.
Ultimately, I'd love some reassurance that my chances at getting into corporate law are not totally on the floor due to my background in the humanities and being a postgraduate applicant.
Thanks a mil for any feedback,
E
I have a four-year undergraduate degree in History (among top ranking students at my uni) and an MSt in Women's Studies from Oxford (again high ranking). I also have several years of experience in teaching children and adults, as well as leadership involvement with a variety of youth politics/research groups.
Women's Studies is (wrongly) looked down upon by people who would construe education as solely a tool for employment. Although I reject this view on principle, I am hoping to establish a career in commercial law and would like some opinions as to whether my education might be a problem for me since it's not related to law, business, or politics.
Ultimately, I'd love some reassurance that my chances at getting into corporate law are not totally on the floor due to my background in the humanities and being a postgraduate applicant.
Thanks a mil for any feedback,
E
(edited 1 month ago)
Reply 1
Pass the PGDL and you will be a competitive as any law graduate with grades similar to yours.
Original post by Stiffy Byng
Pass the PGDL and you will be a competitive as any law graduate with grades similar to yours.
That's fair enough, but I'd really hope to get a TC before going into debt for the PDGL.
Reply 3
That might be a long shot.
Original post by Stiffy Byng
That might be a long shot.
What major impact does the PDGL make to a profile other than showing a committment to law?
Reply 5
Original post by Stiffy Byng
That might be a long shot.
Based on what? Sorry but you don't need to do the GDL to get a TC. That's absolute rubbish
Reply 6
The market is over subscribed. The OP will be competing against candidates who are already studying law or have already studied law. Even after the introduction of the SQE, at present law firms tend to prefer that candidates who do not have law degrees obtain a PGDL before taking the SQE.
Reply 7
Original post by EliPSS
What major impact does the PDGL make to a profile other than showing a committment to law?
If interviewed by a law firm, you might find yourself disadvantaged if you have not yet studied the law.
Original post by Stiffy Byng
If interviewed by a law firm, you might find yourself disadvantaged if you have not yet studied the law.
Would that be exacerbated by being a postgraduate? I ask because many non-law undergraduates are offered TCs.
Reply 9
Original post by EliPSS
Would that be exacerbated by being a postgraduate? I ask because many non-law undergraduates are offered TCs.
The competition for places at commercial law firms has intensified in the last several years, and it is not quite as standard as it once was for people to be offered training contracts whilst still at university. It is sometimes necessary to apply in more than one recruitment cycle in order to obtain a place. If you can obtain a place before the PGDL, great, but I'd suggest that you be realistic in your expectations, because of the number of applicants chasing each place. Your greater age and employment experience may assist you. Good luck!
(edited 1 month ago)
Original post by Stiffy Byng
The competition for places at commercial law firms has intensified in the last several years, and it is not quite as standard as it once was for people to be offered training contracts whilst still at university. It is sometimes necessary to apply in more than one recruitment cycle in order to obtain a place. If you can obtain a place before the PGDL, great, but I'ds suggest that you be be realistic in your expectations, because of the number of applicants chasing each place. Your greater age and employment experience may assist you. Good luck!
Thank you for the insight. I will give myself a few years of application rounds and look for transferrable experience in management, ngo work, or consulting. Hopefully this will allow me to avoid paying for the PGDL (which is next to impossible for me at the moment).
Reply 11
Could you afford this? Not cheap, but much cheaper than a PGDL.
https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/summer-schools/summer-school/courses/law/ll202
https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/summer-schools/summer-school/fees-and-payment?_gl=1*2ziifn*_up*MQ..*_ga*MjIxMzI4NzU4LjE3NDI0OTM4MTk.*_ga_XYYDKFNK3G*MTc0MjQ5MzgxOC4xLjAuMTc0MjQ5MzgxOC4wLjAuMA..
https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/summer-schools/summer-school/courses/law/ll202
https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/summer-schools/summer-school/fees-and-payment?_gl=1*2ziifn*_up*MQ..*_ga*MjIxMzI4NzU4LjE3NDI0OTM4MTk.*_ga_XYYDKFNK3G*MTc0MjQ5MzgxOC4xLjAuMTc0MjQ5MzgxOC4wLjAuMA..
Original post by Stiffy Byng
Could you afford this? Not cheap, but much cheaper than a PGDL.
https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/summer-schools/summer-school/courses/law/ll202
https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/summer-schools/summer-school/fees-and-payment?_gl=1*2ziifn*_up*MQ..*_ga*MjIxMzI4NzU4LjE3NDI0OTM4MTk.*_ga_XYYDKFNK3G*MTc0MjQ5MzgxOC4xLjAuMTc0MjQ5MzgxOC4wLjAuMA..
https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/summer-schools/summer-school/courses/law/ll202
https://www.lse.ac.uk/study-at-lse/summer-schools/summer-school/fees-and-payment?_gl=1*2ziifn*_up*MQ..*_ga*MjIxMzI4NzU4LjE3NDI0OTM4MTk.*_ga_XYYDKFNK3G*MTc0MjQ5MzgxOC4xLjAuMTc0MjQ5MzgxOC4wLjAuMA..
Thanks so much for the link - I would definitely consider this. Is a summer school going to make a significant application difference though?
Original post by EliPSS
Hi!
I have a four-year undergraduate degree in History (among top ranking students at my uni) and an MSt in Women's Studies from Oxford (again high ranking). I also have several years of experience in teaching children and adults, as well as leadership involvement with a variety of youth politics/research groups.
Women's Studies is (wrongly) looked down upon by people who would construe education as solely a tool for employment. Although I reject this view on principle, I am hoping to establish a career in commercial law and would like some opinions as to whether my education might be a problem for me since it's not related to law, business, or politics.
Ultimately, I'd love some reassurance that my chances at getting into corporate law are not totally on the floor due to my background in the humanities and being a postgraduate applicant.
Thanks a mil for any feedback,
E
I have a four-year undergraduate degree in History (among top ranking students at my uni) and an MSt in Women's Studies from Oxford (again high ranking). I also have several years of experience in teaching children and adults, as well as leadership involvement with a variety of youth politics/research groups.
Women's Studies is (wrongly) looked down upon by people who would construe education as solely a tool for employment. Although I reject this view on principle, I am hoping to establish a career in commercial law and would like some opinions as to whether my education might be a problem for me since it's not related to law, business, or politics.
Ultimately, I'd love some reassurance that my chances at getting into corporate law are not totally on the floor due to my background in the humanities and being a postgraduate applicant.
Thanks a mil for any feedback,
E
Hi,
I'd echo @Stiffy Byng's thoughts on the competitiveness of the market and there are dozens of threads on here about the difficulties of securing TCs with commercial/corporate firms. If you'd like me to expand on that, then I'm happy to do so.
A quick question. What is it about the law that attracts you and, in particular, why are you drawn to corporate/commercial law?
Reply 14
Original post by EliPSS
Thanks so much for the link - I would definitely consider this. Is a summer school going to make a significant application difference though?
That one doesn't look like one of the usual "pay lots of money and stay in an Oxford college" summer schools. It might be useful.
Original post by chalks
Hi,
I'd echo @Stiffy Byng's thoughts on the competitiveness of the market and there are dozens of threads on here about the difficulties of securing TCs with commercial/corporate firms. If you'd like me to expand on that, then I'm happy to do so.
A quick question. What is it about the law that attracts you and, in particular, why are you drawn to corporate/commercial law?
I'd echo @Stiffy Byng's thoughts on the competitiveness of the market and there are dozens of threads on here about the difficulties of securing TCs with commercial/corporate firms. If you'd like me to expand on that, then I'm happy to do so.
A quick question. What is it about the law that attracts you and, in particular, why are you drawn to corporate/commercial law?
I have researched commercial law for a number of years and it's quite clear that law, in the broadest sense, and commerce are at not only at the heart of the professional services sector but also macroeconomics and global politics. I think that it's ideal if you are interested in the world around you and want a job that is constantly changing, analytical, and not locked away in an academic bubble. I don't think any other career would challenge me as much. My background in history and women's studies was a passion pursuit because I love learning for its own sake, but I don't want it for a profession. I did some workshadowing at HSF last year and it basically confirmed my impressions of the job.
Original post by Stiffy Byng
That one doesn't look like one of the usual "pay lots of money and stay in an Oxford college" summer schools. It might be useful.
I've applied during two previous milkrounds to top firms and I've made it to three assessment centres. However, I keep falling down in the business scenario interview. I will focus my efforts on improving performance at this, but I'm just hoping that my increasing graduate status won't come against me for some reason. I don't know whether firms these days are preferring younger students.
I am also considering in the meantime getting work experience in an NGO for LGBT rights - would this be a positive, negative, or neutral addition to the profile? Obviously I will do my best to explain the link between my non-law work and my interest in law.
Reply 17
I don't think that being a few years out of university should be an impediment. The work at the NGO might help, but would probably be neutral in effect. Work in a business might be more useful.
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