Woah! I thought for sure you were one of those people who mean BBB when they say they got crap A-levels! I’m even more inspired now by your journey, you rock!
I actually watch this.. like one every few days i almost know it word by word.. for this very reason for inspiration. The way she actually speaks just says. Confident and Bold. And i too am inspired by her so so much
Thank you for the insight! I have the same a level grades as you with a 2:1 in law and lots of work experience! I'm so glad that I have found you on TH-cam as now I believe that my goals can be achieved!
thank you so much, it was this video I watched that Inspired me! I wanted to go into a career as a solicitor but was put off because of my a level grades which were also CDE & i really believed I didn’t have a chance, I now graduated with a 2:1 LLB & distinction in LLM and now currently doing the LPC!
This has reassured me so much! After struggling with anxiety throughout A-levels and semester 1 of my law degree.. I really thought my underperformance and anxiety would have defined my future and my career. Whilst beginning the recovery and healing process in semester, I think I would state mitigating circumstances as I could use it to reflect on my progression and describe how I have overcome these struggles. After all, that is a skill in itself both personally and professionally
Okay but you’re a literal queen? You got those grades & you totally flipped it around and now you work for this amazing firm! An inspiration. I just finished 1st year of my LLB and tbh I’ve been feeling so tired and demotivated but this has reenergised me. You’re amazing!
Tolani So glad and thank you!! Resilience is absolutely key in law as it’s really easy to let all the work and pressure get you down but there is light at the end of the tunnel honestly! Keep going and stay strong! Xx
I was in the exact same position a year ago. I wanted to be a vet and got 2 conditional offers from vets schools but got BDD in my alevels so I turned to law instead. This video has been soooo helpful! Thank you so much!
Ugh, thank you for having poor grades. I've got aDDE. I had a hard time adjusting to a new country in a private school with unqualified teachers. In fact, I was one of the very few that actually even passed. I know I'm competent despite my poor A level grades, and I've done very well in my studies since then (a first and a merit respectively). However, seeing people with bad grades of Bs and one random C, or basically anything not A, it's really scary. Thank you for giving me some hope.
just wanted to say a huge thank you for posting this because it was very encouraging! i received my A Level results a few weeks ago and our results are actually v similar so i found it quite relatable :") you've really given me the extra boost i needed to continue working on my local uni essays (there's an aptitude-based admission scheme which- hopefully!- grants me a slightly better chance at law school based on my community service and leadership experience) rather than giving up on local apps entirely in favour of the one offer i've gotten from overseas thus far, so thank you once again for the motivation! love from singapore
Thankyou with this, I had a gap year planned so I never went to my teachers to ask for my predicted grades to be raised so I met requirements for applications. Because of this and covid situation my results were lower than expected and I am now looking at foundation courses at the University of law. This video had given me a direction to go in
Great video! Tip for anyone using mitigating circumstances, especially for a levels - make sure you say how you've overcome those and worked hard to go on and get good university grades!
I'm currently in between my undergrad and beginning the GDL in September and I absolutely love your videos - you really are providing some invaluable insight, so thank you!
Thank god for this video I did horrendously bad at the same A-levels you did, Biology, Chemistry, Psychics and Maths you've given me so much hope for my own future
this video was recommended to me right at the right time 🥺 I’m applying to do the LPC and my weak area is definitely my lack of legal experience so I’m definitely going to be using your tips to put myself out there, thank you sm! ♥️
This is so inspiring! I'm a final year student doing my degree, and many training contracts advertise A level requirements very high (e.g at least 3 B's or A's) I got A*BD, and always felt pretty hopeless that the one D grade is going to go against me.
You are so pretty! And thanks so much for this vid, I didn't finish my a levels and I'm about to do an access course , and am thinking about law in the future, this was so helpful!
Your attitude is fab! I’m struggling so much with applying for TC’s. Average GCSE’s and average A levels (BBC) but a 1st class LLB degree, 2 years working with a Tier 1 clinical negligence law firm and I have struggled a lot this year to even get past the assessment stage. My top 2 firms have postponed their assessments (fingers crossed that they like my application) but I haven’t been successful with the others. Not sure if it’s my ‘poor’ A levels or the actual application itself (which I usually spend an entire day on!). Starting to lose hope over here!
No don’t give up hope! Have you had any help with your apps or anyone to look over them? If you can’t work out what’s missing, it’s a good idea to have someone look over it. Having a mentor might be a good idea, check out Grow Mentors and sign up if you think it’s for you. Also don’t forget the system is changing and you will no longer need a TC if you do the SQE route which might be favourable given you have already done your 2 years QWE. You may well be able to sit both exams in one year and be qualified by mid 2022! Watch my SQE playlist for more info on this route and I also interviewed the Director of programmes at BARBRI on Monday regarding the prep courses and this is now uploaded on my IGTV @CWolfe_LAB and is really really informative.
You're such a good role model to aspiring solicitors! Do you have any tips on networking events? What you should talk about? How to begin a conversation? Thanks!
Your story is really inspiring and encouraging. I would definitely want to know you more! Thank you for sharing. I am from healthcare, I am looking into the feasiblity for myself to start a new journey in the legal profession.
Hello!! So when you mentioned that there was a certain weight attached to academics, did you you mean with regards to A Levels or just academics in general. For example, if I have a CCC in A levels but a 2:1 in undergrad and a 1st in LLM, would the subsequent improvements help mitigate the poor A level grades ? Really sorry for the long message but I’m really hoping if you could help, thank you !!
i know that no one will see this comment. i’m applying to go to a russel group uni but my teachers are refusinh to give me AAB (i’m currently predicted BCC) and i’m literally crying rn. i’m scared that if i go to a simple uni i won’t get a contract with future law firms. i’m really upset and stressed. someone help :((
It's fine if you don't get in to your desired university. Aim for different Universities that all have great law department. Work experience is your best shot. While doing your 3 years at University try your hardest to do as much volunteer work as you can, experience is everything
Great video, just had a question. What writing style would you recommend for the Employment History section in the application form? For example, where it asks for a brief description of duties, usually 150 words, should this be bullet pointed or written long-form like a regular application question?
Hi Sam-sorry I have only just seen this. Bullet points all the way with a short word count and try and start each point with an active verb like “managing”, “organising”, “creating” etc
Im in year 10 ive always wanted to be a judge when i was a kid so oviously to be a judge i need to be a lawyer lol my main objective in this journey is going to be that i get a slot in cliffard chance although there are only 90 trainees they take a year
Hi I am a third year university student with seriously poor A - levels but I have a lot of experience. Currently I am on an industrial placement with the top recruitment company that allows me to gain very valuable in-house legal experience. My academic performance picked up in university and am predicted to graduate with a first next year. I am currently averaging a very high 2:1. I want to apply for vat schemes but I am scared my A-level grades will not allow me to gain a place. Please can I get some advise.
I know how you feel. You need to identify some firms that you would like to apply to and then check either on their website or directly with grad recruitment whether they will consider your application with your grades. That way you won’t end up wasting your time!
Hi! I just wanted to ask if there is any advice you'd give about actual conversion courses themselves? I've done extensive research on them (to begin in 2020 as I'm a second year Literature and modern languages student now) but I can't seem to find much "personal" advice that isn't statistical. I am dead set on doing one but there's obviously a lot to think about (finance, workload, location, etc.) and I was wondering if you had any tips for non-law students x
Hi :-) Do you know what type of law you want to go into? If you want to work for a large commercial firm then it can sometimes be worth applying for a training contract first because then quite a few of them will 1) tell you which provider they prefer... and 2) give you funding for the cost of the course + maintenance grant. Also, try and get some legal experience (e.g. vac schemes) to make sure you want to do the GDL. I studied law for undergrad but I met some non-law students on a vac scheme who realised law wasn't for them. At the same time, I have non-law friends from that scheme who loved it and will now be training with me at the same firm! :-)
G F yeah I was definitely planning on applying for a training contract before the course itself - it makes a lot of sense. I have some legal experience and plan to get some more over the next two summers before I start my conversion course. Yeah that’s the only thing, so far I’ve really enjoyed my experience and though limited it has been very useful! I just don’t have anybody I know in the field that could give some advice so am worried about getting something wrong. Thank you for your tips!!
Hey - thanks for the comment. I loved my conversion course, although it was really intensive. It also created a good talking point at interviews as I had another academic string to my bow having done something other than law. Cost is obviously an issue and its definitely a good idea to try and secure a TC before you do it as it then takes a lot of the risk out of it. Of course, that is quite hard to do as you are applying from a non-law environment at the moment but be sure to send off some applications this year anyway even just to get some practice. If you are going to do it, I would recommend doing it at one of the major providers e.g. ULaw or BPP because the exposure and opportunities available there are usually the very best and you will get lots of help and support. Good Luck!
Hi, thanks for the great informative video. How do you find out which firms are more focused on academics and grades and the other firms who allow competency results bring your average up? Thanks!
Hi Jack, the best thing to do is choose the firms that you actually want to apply to and then look at their grade requirements. To my knowledge, there isn’t an easy way to sift through firms by requirements but, in any event, you shouldn’t be choosing the firm on that basis (and you will likely fail to get through if you are!) Generally, if the firms have lower grade requirements then they are more focussed on the other factors which allows you to pull your average up but the best way to find out is to get to some law fairs and ask the recruiters. They will generally give you a straight answer. Hope that helps!
I'm normally starting my GDL at ULaw in September. I don't have any legal experience. I do have a lot of volunteer work with charities and a UN internship with a focus on immigration. At Uni, (studied in the United States) I studied Sociology. I'm worried that I don't really know what type of law could suit my experiences. I am interested in corporate/commercial/international law but there are so many firms out there and i'm not sure if the experiences I have are relevant ? do they help with that at Ulaw, and also do they help you find the right firms to apply to in that regards ? Thanks xx
Hiya, thanks for your message. The Careers team at ULaw we’re amazing when I was there and they really helped me to choose the right firms and complete my applications. Law fairs are also a great way to find out more about all the different types of firm. Legal cheek have a virtual one coming up which should be good. Good luck!
I actually wasn’t asked about my grades so I never really had to account for them to be honest. I didn’t use the mitigating circumstances box either. There is a standardised application process so there is no difference between departments.
This video was so insightful & amazing to see how your career path was formed! I’ve just finished my Law LLB degree & looking to go for a training contract - would love to get your advice as an active solicitor and content creator 😄
Great video! Do law firms place a lot of significance on the modules you take? I’m doing a law degree and not sure whether I should take the ‘easier’ (but non-commercial) modules to obtain a higher overall mark or the harder commercial ones which may then lower my final grade. I get that a lot of it depends on your interests when it comes to module choices but some modules at my uni (KCL) have higher average results which may be due to assessment patterns etc.
Not really in my experience...don’t forget that many students do the GDL where you have very little choice over the modules so generally it isn’t too much of an issue. However, if you choose all private client modules and then say in your app that want to do corporate/commercial law that might raise a few eyebrows! I would recommend a mix of modules if you’re not set yet on what you want to do as that is a sensible way forward and easy to explain at interview
If you still got a 2:1 for your degree but had one module you had to resit which meant you were capped, would explaining debilitating mental health challenges in mitigating circumstances be seen as being unreliable? Even if every other module was 1sts and 2:1s? I am 7 years into my career - have lead a large team as well in that time - which is exactly what my degree was in. Would they really think you are unreliable because of a tough period 10-11 years prior? I understand they like consistency but surely your 19 year old self cannot compare to you in your 30s.
I actually only applied to IM the second time around as it was the only firm I really wanted and was within reach academically. Always start with the firms your passionate about and then look within those for the attainable ones. Don’t shop on grade requirements!
A very inspiring video by an amazing energetic lovely individual. You should make a website to assist people like us who wish to start this journey. Defiantly here to stay, I am.
Hi I just got accepted into a top 150 worldwide law school and top 30 in the UK. I didn’t do very well in my A Levels - similar to yours. Do you believe I can get into a medium sized law firm and secure a contract.
GDL year is a pretty intense year. If you are doing it full time, you will be in classes four full days per week and then studying/prepping on the fifth day so it will be tough! Not impossible and you may be able to some ad hoc days but probably not loads...
I was lucky in that I went to Uni pre-top up fees and the GDL was much cheaper then so my education cost about a quarter of what it would now and I was able to fund privately. There student finance options I believe but you are best enquiring with the specific provider e.g your uni, BPP, uni of law etc to find out more
This helped me so much 😭 I mean I do a btec and a level law so idk if my application will give me a even less advantage then you did, and i feel like I won’t be able to achieve a training course because of the btec but you gave me some hope. Thankyou so much. This video help more then you would ever know.
Hi, have a look at Inside Sherpa who are currently offering some virtual work experience programmes. This might be a good place for you to start. Thanks 😊
Law and Broader had to leave school early due to illness so don't have any GCSEs. I have got functional skills maths and English since and some other level 2 qualifications. Doing llb through open university as no entry requirements
Hi I had a question I am in third year I will graduate with a low 2:1 and I got 3Bs at a level but I don’t have any legal work experience I’m unsure of whether to take a a gap year to get some legal work experience or apply for masters to start in September and then do lpc because I do not have any training contracts
Work experience is definitely a key part of getting a job in law but I think you can do this whilst studying without the need to take a year out or do an extra year Masters. A few days shadowing or a couple of weeks in the holidays is all you really need so I wouldn’t delay a whole year just for that reason. It can take several years to secure a legal employment so best to start as soon as you can!
This has some inaccuracies? 1) few law firms focus much on your 'A' levels so it doesnt really matter how you perform for 'A' levels in your TC application. What matters are your grades in law school. 'A' level grades are mostly relevant only in applying for a law school, thereafter it is pretty much useless except in some of the top law firms. Even then these top law firms refer mostly to your law school grades, instead of 'A' level grades attained more than 5 years ago if you have a graduate degree in law. 2) your views on the "mitigating" factors are wayyyy too cynical. It depends on how you explain how you have grown from your experiences. When you talked about weakness, you sounded really unkind which I think reflects some of your core beliefs, not anyone else's. 3) congrats on getting a TC but many small firms do offer TCs to law students who dont as perform as well in school. Most law graduates can get a TC if they really want to. The firm of course might not be as well reputed. What matters more and differentiates students is the kind of firm you get a TC in, whether it's a big or international well reputed firm. Overall congrats! But I would say it is inaccurate to overstate the importance of 'A' levels in applying for a TC, as you seem to have done here and in your video title.
Woah! I thought for sure you were one of those people who mean BBB when they say they got crap A-levels! I’m even more inspired now by your journey, you rock!
Haha thank you!!
I actually watch this.. like one every few days i almost know it word by word.. for this very reason for inspiration. The way she actually speaks just says. Confident and Bold. And i too am inspired by her so so much
Thank you for the insight! I have the same a level grades as you with a 2:1 in law and lots of work experience! I'm so glad that I have found you on TH-cam as now I believe that my goals can be achieved!
Happy to be of service! 😘
thank you so much, it was this video I watched that Inspired me! I wanted to go into a career as a solicitor but was put off because of my a level grades which were also CDE & i really believed I didn’t have a chance, I now graduated with a 2:1 LLB & distinction in LLM and now currently doing the LPC!
Congratulations! So glad you were inspired by this and best of luck with the rest of your career!
Very brave of you to divulge the grades you weren’t happy with but it’s good to see that hard work and dedication can get you where you want to be.
This has reassured me so much! After struggling with anxiety throughout A-levels and semester 1 of my law degree.. I really thought my underperformance and anxiety would have defined my future and my career. Whilst beginning the recovery and healing process in semester, I think I would state mitigating circumstances as I could use it to reflect on my progression and describe how I have overcome these struggles. After all, that is a skill in itself both personally and professionally
Keep at it and stay positive! Thanks for watching 🧡
Okay but you’re a literal queen? You got those grades & you totally flipped it around and now you work for this amazing firm! An inspiration. I just finished 1st year of my LLB and tbh I’ve been feeling so tired and demotivated but this has reenergised me. You’re amazing!
Tolani So glad and thank you!! Resilience is absolutely key in law as it’s really easy to let all the work and pressure get you down but there is light at the end of the tunnel honestly! Keep going and stay strong! Xx
Law and Broader Thanks a bunch- I wish you well and even more prosperity further into your career!
I was in the exact same position a year ago. I wanted to be a vet and got 2 conditional offers from vets schools but got BDD in my alevels so I turned to law instead. This video has been soooo helpful! Thank you so much!
How funny!! Obviously there is some subliminal link between vets and lawyers!
Ugh, thank you for having poor grades. I've got aDDE. I had a hard time adjusting to a new country in a private school with unqualified teachers. In fact, I was one of the very few that actually even passed. I know I'm competent despite my poor A level grades, and I've done very well in my studies since then (a first and a merit respectively). However, seeing people with bad grades of Bs and one random C, or basically anything not A, it's really scary. Thank you for giving me some hope.
Thank you for watching and good luck!
just wanted to say a huge thank you for posting this because it was very encouraging! i received my A Level results a few weeks ago and our results are actually v similar so i found it quite relatable :")
you've really given me the extra boost i needed to continue working on my local uni essays (there's an aptitude-based admission scheme which- hopefully!- grants me a slightly better chance at law school based on my community service and leadership experience) rather than giving up on local apps entirely in favour of the one offer i've gotten from overseas thus far, so thank you once again for the motivation!
love from singapore
Thank you and good luck!!
It’s not the end! Jiayou 💪🏻
Thankyou with this, I had a gap year planned so I never went to my teachers to ask for my predicted grades to be raised so I met requirements for applications. Because of this and covid situation my results were lower than expected and I am now looking at foundation courses at the University of law. This video had given me a direction to go in
Glad it’s helped. It’s not easy trying to get a job in law with less than perfect emails but it can be done!
Great video! Tip for anyone using mitigating circumstances, especially for a levels - make sure you say how you've overcome those and worked hard to go on and get good university grades!
I'm currently in between my undergrad and beginning the GDL in September and I absolutely love your videos - you really are providing some invaluable insight, so thank you!
Thanks for watching!
Thank god for this video I did horrendously bad at the same A-levels you did, Biology, Chemistry, Psychics and Maths you've given me so much hope for my own future
I wasn't in traditional education either for my GCSEs and went through what you did at you're A-levels I could cry I felt I was so dumb and idiotic
I’ve been there! Stay positive, it’s not a fun journey but it is possible!
this is so motivating, Chrissie! thanks for making this video!
this video was recommended to me right at the right time 🥺 I’m applying to do the LPC and my weak area is definitely my lack of legal experience so I’m definitely going to be using your tips to put myself out there, thank you sm! ♥️
This is so inspiring! I'm a final year student doing my degree, and many training contracts advertise A level requirements very high (e.g at least 3 B's or A's) I got A*BD, and always felt pretty hopeless that the one D grade is going to go against me.
Hopefully this has shown that this isn’t the case!
You are so pretty! And thanks so much for this vid, I didn't finish my a levels and I'm about to do an access course , and am thinking about law in the future, this was so helpful!
Glad you enjoyed it and yes access courses are great!
This video is so informative and has made me feel so much better about the situation I’m in. Thank you so much!!
Thanks so much for watching!
this video gives me so much hope thank you!
So glad!!
Your attitude is fab!
I’m struggling so much with applying for TC’s. Average GCSE’s and average A levels (BBC) but a 1st class LLB degree, 2 years working with a Tier 1 clinical negligence law firm and I have struggled a lot this year to even get past the assessment stage. My top 2 firms have postponed their assessments (fingers crossed that they like my application) but I haven’t been successful with the others. Not sure if it’s my ‘poor’ A levels or the actual application itself (which I usually spend an entire day on!). Starting to lose hope over here!
Hii for alevels cie board if we have a bad aslevel grade in like a D/E so wht grade do we need in A2 level exams for a C or B grade overall??
No don’t give up hope! Have you had any help with your apps or anyone to look over them? If you can’t work out what’s missing, it’s a good idea to have someone look over it. Having a mentor might be a good idea, check out Grow Mentors and sign up if you think it’s for you. Also don’t forget the system is changing and you will no longer need a TC if you do the SQE route which might be favourable given you have already done your 2 years QWE. You may well be able to sit both exams in one year and be qualified by mid 2022! Watch my SQE playlist for more info on this route and I also interviewed the Director of programmes at BARBRI on Monday regarding the prep courses and this is now uploaded on my IGTV @CWolfe_LAB and is really really informative.
Oh gosh you would need to ask your teacher I think as I did my A levels nearly 20 years ago so I think the process is quite different now! Sorry! 😩
You're such a good role model to aspiring solicitors! Do you have any tips on networking events? What you should talk about? How to begin a conversation? Thanks!
Thank you so much and try this one!! th-cam.com/video/Wegu-1YoACs/w-d-xo.html
I absolutely LOVE this!
Thanks so much for watching!
Your story is really inspiring and encouraging. I would definitely want to know you more! Thank you for sharing. I am from healthcare, I am looking into the feasiblity for myself to start a new journey in the legal profession.
Always demand for healthcare professionals in medical negligence!
Hello!! So when you mentioned that there was a certain weight attached to academics, did you you mean with regards to A Levels or just academics in general. For example, if I have a CCC in A levels but a 2:1 in undergrad and a 1st in LLM, would the subsequent improvements help mitigate the poor A level grades ?
Really sorry for the long message but I’m really hoping if you could help, thank you !!
You are an inspiration, LAB. Long live you!
Thank you!
Haha I got BBB and Birmingham was my first choice! Didn’t get in for Law so ended up going to Kent!
Mik KO are Birmingham lenient on results day ?
Yikes, give up
How did you get to Kent??
Very insightful and helpful video, keep it up! :)
Love this!! My grades aren’t grade at the moment and this has motivated to work hard and keep going with my law!! Thank you❤️
Stay strong! You will get there!
i know that no one will see this comment. i’m applying to go to a russel group uni but my teachers are refusinh to give me AAB (i’m currently predicted BCC) and i’m literally crying rn. i’m scared that if i go to a simple uni i won’t get a contract with future law firms. i’m really upset and stressed. someone help :((
It's fine if you don't get in to your desired university. Aim for different Universities that all have great law department. Work experience is your best shot. While doing your 3 years at University try your hardest to do as much volunteer work as you can, experience is everything
You gave me hope. Thank you.
That's what I'm here for!
This is absolutely inspiring❤️
Great video, just had a question. What writing style would you recommend for the Employment History section in the application form? For example, where it asks for a brief description of duties, usually 150 words, should this be bullet pointed or written long-form like a regular application question?
Hi Sam-sorry I have only just seen this. Bullet points all the way with a short word count and try and start each point with an active verb like “managing”, “organising”, “creating” etc
This was incredibly helpful. Many thanks!!!
Thanks for watching!
Im in year 10 ive always wanted to be a judge when i was a kid so oviously to be a judge i need to be a lawyer lol my main objective in this journey is going to be that i get a slot in cliffard chance although there are only 90 trainees they take a year
Im also not the brightest kid but im going to try till i make it inshallah
Make sure you watch my video with Jim Tindal in the Co-LAB playlist. He is a Judge with a very interesting journey!
Hi I am a third year university student with seriously poor A - levels but I have a lot of experience. Currently I am on an industrial placement with the top recruitment company that allows me to gain very valuable in-house legal experience. My academic performance picked up in university and am predicted to graduate with a first next year. I am currently averaging a very high 2:1. I want to apply for vat schemes but I am scared my A-level grades will not allow me to gain a place. Please can I get some advise.
I know how you feel. You need to identify some firms that you would like to apply to and then check either on their website or directly with grad recruitment whether they will consider your application with your grades. That way you won’t end up wasting your time!
Hi! I just wanted to ask if there is any advice you'd give about actual conversion courses themselves? I've done extensive research on them (to begin in 2020 as I'm a second year Literature and modern languages student now) but I can't seem to find much "personal" advice that isn't statistical. I am dead set on doing one but there's obviously a lot to think about (finance, workload, location, etc.) and I was wondering if you had any tips for non-law students x
Hi :-) Do you know what type of law you want to go into? If you want to work for a large commercial firm then it can sometimes be worth applying for a training contract first because then quite a few of them will 1) tell you which provider they prefer... and 2) give you funding for the cost of the course + maintenance grant.
Also, try and get some legal experience (e.g. vac schemes) to make sure you want to do the GDL. I studied law for undergrad but I met some non-law students on a vac scheme who realised law wasn't for them. At the same time, I have non-law friends from that scheme who loved it and will now be training with me at the same firm! :-)
G F yeah I was definitely planning on applying for a training contract before the course itself - it makes a lot of sense.
I have some legal experience and plan to get some more over the next two summers before I start my conversion course. Yeah that’s the only thing, so far I’ve really enjoyed my experience and though limited it has been very useful! I just don’t have anybody I know in the field that could give some advice so am worried about getting something wrong. Thank you for your tips!!
Hey - thanks for the comment. I loved my conversion course, although it was really intensive. It also created a good talking point at interviews as I had another academic string to my bow having done something other than law. Cost is obviously an issue and its definitely a good idea to try and secure a TC before you do it as it then takes a lot of the risk out of it. Of course, that is quite hard to do as you are applying from a non-law environment at the moment but be sure to send off some applications this year anyway even just to get some practice.
If you are going to do it, I would recommend doing it at one of the major providers e.g. ULaw or BPP because the exposure and opportunities available there are usually the very best and you will get lots of help and support. Good Luck!
Hi, thanks for the great informative video.
How do you find out which firms are more focused on academics and grades and the other firms who allow competency results bring your average up?
Thanks!
Hi Jack, the best thing to do is choose the firms that you actually want to apply to and then look at their grade requirements. To my knowledge, there isn’t an easy way to sift through firms by requirements but, in any event, you shouldn’t be choosing the firm on that basis (and you will likely fail to get through if you are!) Generally, if the firms have lower grade requirements then they are more focussed on the other factors which allows you to pull your average up but the best way to find out is to get to some law fairs and ask the recruiters. They will generally give you a straight answer. Hope that helps!
I'm normally starting my GDL at ULaw in September. I don't have any legal experience. I do have a lot of volunteer work with charities and a UN internship with a focus on immigration. At Uni, (studied in the United States) I studied Sociology. I'm worried that I don't really know what type of law could suit my experiences. I am interested in corporate/commercial/international law but there are so many firms out there and i'm not sure if the experiences I have are relevant ? do they help with that at Ulaw, and also do they help you find the right firms to apply to in that regards ? Thanks xx
Hiya, thanks for your message. The Careers team at ULaw we’re amazing when I was there and they really helped me to choose the right firms and complete my applications. Law fairs are also a great way to find out more about all the different types of firm. Legal cheek have a virtual one coming up which should be good. Good luck!
Video is an absolute godsend, thank you
In regards to Irwin Mitchell specifically how did you account for your grades in interviews?
I actually wasn’t asked about my grades so I never really had to account for them to be honest. I didn’t use the mitigating circumstances box either. There is a standardised application process so there is no difference between departments.
This video was so insightful & amazing to see how your career path was formed! I’ve just finished my Law LLB degree & looking to go for a training contract - would love to get your advice as an active solicitor and content creator 😄
HSN Vlogs thank you so much for this! Drop me a message on linked in!
How was the llb degree, tips or study guide you did to improve your grades
Great video! Do law firms place a lot of significance on the modules you take? I’m doing a law degree and not sure whether I should take the ‘easier’ (but non-commercial) modules to obtain a higher overall mark or the harder commercial ones which may then lower my final grade. I get that a lot of it depends on your interests when it comes to module choices but some modules at my uni (KCL) have higher average results which may be due to assessment patterns etc.
Not really in my experience...don’t forget that many students do the GDL where you have very little choice over the modules so generally it isn’t too much of an issue. However, if you choose all private client modules and then say in your app that want to do corporate/commercial law that might raise a few eyebrows! I would recommend a mix of modules if you’re not set yet on what you want to do as that is a sensible way forward and easy to explain at interview
Law and Broader thank you
If you still got a 2:1 for your degree but had one module you had to resit which meant you were capped, would explaining debilitating mental health challenges in mitigating circumstances be seen as being unreliable? Even if every other module was 1sts and 2:1s?
I am 7 years into my career - have lead a large team as well in that time - which is exactly what my degree was in. Would they really think you are unreliable because of a tough period 10-11 years prior? I understand they like consistency but surely your 19 year old self cannot compare to you in your 30s.
Amazing video.
I just want to know which firms did u applied for Tc's .(keeping in mind your grades)
I actually only applied to IM the second time around as it was the only firm I really wanted and was within reach academically. Always start with the firms your passionate about and then look within those for the attainable ones. Don’t shop on grade requirements!
I got c and e a-level and d as-level
At what point did you actually apply for the training contract. Prior to lpc? Or during
I firstly applied in my last year or uni but was universally rejected and then applied again in my GDL year and was successful!
A very inspiring video by an amazing energetic lovely individual. You should make a website to assist people like us who wish to start this journey.
Defiantly here to stay, I am.
Thank you so much! Working on a website...!
@@LawandBroader I’ll be the first ones on it cause I am in the process of finally getting to do what I am passionate about.
Hi I just got accepted into a top 150 worldwide law school and top 30 in the UK. I didn’t do very well in my A Levels - similar to yours. Do you believe I can get into a medium sized law firm and secure a contract.
If I can do it, you can do it! Just make sure you choose your firms well and stay away from those which are heavily grades focussed.
This is great. Thanks a lot.
Proud new subbie🔥😃
Yay welcome! 🤗
Hey, what age were you when you got your training contract ? Thanks for the vid btw, helped a lot.
Hi, thanks for watching. I got my tc at 24 and started when I was 26
Do you think I’ll have time to also do work experience during my GDL year?
GDL year is a pretty intense year. If you are doing it full time, you will be in classes four full days per week and then studying/prepping on the fifth day so it will be tough! Not impossible and you may be able to some ad hoc days but probably not loads...
How did you fund your GDL course? I understand that you can't get student finance for it because it is classed as post-grad.
I was lucky in that I went to Uni pre-top up fees and the GDL was much cheaper then so my education cost about a quarter of what it would now and I was able to fund privately. There student finance options I believe but you are best enquiring with the specific provider e.g your uni, BPP, uni of law etc to find out more
This helped me so much 😭 I mean I do a btec and a level law so idk if my application will give me a even less advantage then you did, and i feel like I won’t be able to achieve a training course because of the btec but you gave me some hope. Thankyou so much. This video help more then you would ever know.
Thank you for watching!!
If you continue your degree say onto a postgrad level. Does that better your chances
Not necessarily. A lot of firms value practical skills and experience over academic study but it depends on the individual firm.
Law and Broader would you say more prestigious law firms prefer practical skills and experience over academic study?
Hello, thank you for your video, I’m finding it hard to apply for training contracts due to my lack of work experience can you please help me?
Hi, have a look at Inside Sherpa who are currently offering some virtual work experience programmes. This might be a good place for you to start. Thanks 😊
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I am about to graduate with a 2:1 in law. I have no GCSE's or A levels. Will I still be able to get a job?
Do you have equivalent exams of another type? Are you graduating in this country?
Law and Broader had to leave school early due to illness so don't have any GCSEs. I have got functional skills maths and English since and some other level 2 qualifications. Doing llb through open university as no entry requirements
Hi madam are you a lawyer? I need a lawyer for judicial review
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Hi I had a question I am in third year I will graduate with a low 2:1 and I got 3Bs at a level but I don’t have any legal work experience I’m unsure of whether to take a a gap year to get some legal work experience or apply for masters to start in September and then do lpc because I do not have any training contracts
Work experience is definitely a key part of getting a job in law but I think you can do this whilst studying without the need to take a year out or do an extra year Masters. A few days shadowing or a couple of weeks in the holidays is all you really need so I wouldn’t delay a whole year just for that reason. It can take several years to secure a legal employment so best to start as soon as you can!
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10:35
This has some inaccuracies? 1) few law firms focus much on your 'A' levels so it doesnt really matter how you perform for 'A' levels in your TC application. What matters are your grades in law school. 'A' level grades are mostly relevant only in applying for a law school, thereafter it is pretty much useless except in some of the top law firms. Even then these top law firms refer mostly to your law school grades, instead of 'A' level grades attained more than 5 years ago if you have a graduate degree in law.
2) your views on the "mitigating" factors are wayyyy too cynical. It depends on how you explain how you have grown from your experiences. When you talked about weakness, you sounded really unkind which I think reflects some of your core beliefs, not anyone else's.
3) congrats on getting a TC but many small firms do offer TCs to law students who dont as perform as well in school. Most law graduates can get a TC if they really want to. The firm of course might not be as well reputed. What matters more and differentiates students is the kind of firm you get a TC in, whether it's a big or international well reputed firm.
Overall congrats! But I would say it is inaccurate to overstate the importance of 'A' levels in applying for a TC, as you seem to have done here and in your video title.
Just lie about them on applications nobody ever checks
If you get the TC most firms will hire a private company to vet you, SO I don't think that is a great idea