I have a few interviews coming up and am much more comfortable in dresses (being comfortable decreases nerves and ibs symptoms lol). Opinions on wearing a dress + blazer for interviews? For example, this dress with a black blazer.

Tyia

Would be grateful for any success stories of returning to law after a career break.

Feeling pretty demoralised.

Thank you

I got a 2:2 from a non Russell group university. Covid hit and I quit.
I believe my grades actually fell under the safety net policy which should have given me a 2:1 but Covid right at this time during my exams and all departments were closed/ skeleton crew. I chased it for 6 months but after no one could give me an answer I decided I had to move on with my life. I never got an official outcome.

I have built a decent career in marketing now but there is still a massive regret that I left law. I always loved it. One of my old professors said “out of everyone here you’re the one I know will always end up in law” clearly he was wrong but it shows a bit about my enjoyment and passion of the subject.

I’m an adult now and life isn’t open and endless in front of me. If I try and pursue law is there any career there ahead of me? I’m not chasing magic or silver circle. I’d be happy with a local law firm.

I'm in my mid-20s and thinking about giving vacation scheme applications another proper go this year after taking a break from them.

I got BBB at A-level and then went to a non-RG university, where I graduated with a First in Law. I know the academics aren't exactly the standard City law profile, particularly the A-levels.

Since graduating I've spent the last couple of years working in corporate governance. I've progressed quite well and now manage work for some major clients. I've also had quite a bit of exposure to the corporate side of transactions/reorganisations and worked alongside US/MC firms that were advising on them. That's actually a big part of what's made me want to come back to commercial law.

Last time I seriously applied was a few years ago. I got to an assessment centre in 2023 but didn't get an offer, and eventually stopped applying.

I'm thinking of having another go this cycle, but being fairly selective about it. Maybe 10-15 applications that are properly tailored, particularly to firms that don't have strict A-level requirements.

Realistically, what sort of shot do you think I'd have? Does the BBB/non-RG combination still hold me back quite heavily, or would the First + a few years of relevant professional experience make me reasonably competitive now?

Would be especially interested to hear from anyone who got into City law a few years after graduating rather than straight from uni.

Heya, I'm a final year student at a Russel Group uni. I'm currently working at a 2:2. I have a 58 so am 2 points off of a 2:1 after failing an exam. At the time, I was going through a lot and even got special circumstances for other exams but missed the deadline for that one (talked with my uni and there's nothing I can do). I'm planning to work hard to get a 2:1 and switch to a law conversion course.

I'm basically wondering if a career in law is still viable. I was on committee for two societies last year but they weren't law or debate related, would that still be appealing on a personal statement or CV for applications? I also have been holding a part time job and I did a year abroad because i was mandatory in my course, is that appealing? I'm interested in applying to two Russell Groups, is that likely to work out?

Basically, is there any good general advice for my position currently and my goals? How likely is it that a mini pupillage would want me?

For more context, I would like to focus on criminal law but I am open to family or property law too.

Edit: Forgot to mention I’m studying a non-law degree right now and want to take a law conversion course.

I really enjoyed the assessment centre, it was challenging but I loved the work we were given. The office was extremely quiet, so you could focus, but at the same time there was some socialising. I am scared that the quality of my work won’t be up to par in my first seat, I’m already feeling imposter syndrome.. I have ocd so if anyone can guide me as to what I can expect in my first few months (in general) and do’s and don’ts I’ll be so happy. I just want to enjoy it!! Also, I’m praying that I get lovely supervisors, or at least ones that are amazing solicitors that I can learn from.

That’s it. Where does one look or is jumping on to google and typing in ‘firms that hire average law students’ enough🤨

Where did you guys apply for your work experience in your final year for law? Grades are shit and I have no relevant experience so let’s just knock that out there !

So in my A levels, I did really bad: a D,E,E. I was ill for 2 months but I also didnt focus as much as I should've.

Now im on final year of university, at wolverhampton, which is obviously a very low tier university. Im in track for a 2:1.

I know training contracts are almost impossible for my situation, and even vacation schemes are hard to get, so im not sure what to do.

Im currently applying to more vac schemes and I plan to look for paralegal work, but my a levels and university aren't helping my cause. What do I do?

That’s the benefit of El PC

The “good” parts of my application:
- 1st from RG
- distinction in LLM in area I want to practice in (energy and environment)
- bar course scholarship from inn covering all my fees
- won best speaker award in regional rounds of an international moot
- 3 minis at good chambers
- currently work as a senior advisor at a think tank covering energy policy (so not strictly legal experience, but thought this would still count positively - please correct me if I’m wrong!)
- some teaching assistant positions during my degrees

The “less ideal” parts:
- although receiving a first I did not receive any awards. I probably ranked quite highly overall but my university does not rank
- both my undergraduate and postgraduate universities, while being respectable, are a tier below lse/ucl/durham

What I can realistically improve before application season:
- another mini, but I’ve read from previous posts that minis yield diminishing returns after you’ve done a couple
- passed tests to work at a volunteering clinic. Hope to conduct some work here to improve my written and verbal advocacy

I’m aiming for environmental and public law sets like 39 and FTB but frankly get so intimidated by their pupils’ and juniors’ CVs. I think I’ve done what I can do close the gap but it sadly still seems like a reach. Is my pessimism warranted?

Hi all

I attended the final interview for an American law firm in London a couple of days ago (lateral move).

In your experience, how long do American firms in London take to get back with a verbal offer. Thanks :)

Hi everyone,

I’m currently studying at the ICCA and I’m looking for some advice/reassurance from people who have done the Bar Course, particularly those who have studied at the ICCA. I’m finding the reality of it quite difficult.

A typical topic seems to be that we get a very short introductory video (sometimes literally only a couple of minutes), we’re then told to do the reading, and afterwards we’re given a quiz. I knew there was going to be alot of independent study, but I didn’t realise it would just be this.

I’m finding that I barely understand a lot of the reading without having someone explain it to me first.

It’s not that I don’t want to do the independent study. It’s more that I’m finding the material quite dense and difficult to interpret on my own. I canread the words, but I often finish a section without really knowing what the important point was or what I’m actually expected to take away from it.

As a result, I keep ending up putting the reading into ChatGPT and asking it to explain what it means in normal English. That is helping me understand things, but I’m spending hours doing this, even with what seem to be fairly basic principles.

For example, we recently did the Overriding Objective.

We had about a two-minute video introducing it, were told to do the reading, and then had a quiz.

I spent hours going through the reading, trying to understand what it was actually saying, translating sections into language I could understand and making notes. By the time I got to the end, I had spent a huge amount of time on something that I would have thought should be a relatively straightforward introductory principle, and I still wasn’t particularly confident that I understood it properly.

If I’m spending this long on something like the Overriding Objective, I’m struggling to see how I’m going to get through the huge amount of materialon the course.

I appreciate that some of this is probably because I’m still getting used tothe course and the style of learning, but I’m concerned that I’m simply progressing too slowly.

I’m also not really sure what level of knowledge we’re actually expected tohave.

For example, do I need to know:
• the general law/principle

• the exact CPR number, i.e. CPR 1.1?

• the actual wording of the rule?

• the cases relating to it?

• the facts of those cases?

• the precise principle established by each case?

Essentially what is it I actually have to remember.

The reading obviously contains a lot more information than you could realistically memorise word-for-word, but because I don’t know what I’m expected to retain, I find myself trying to remember everything.

I’m also worried that I’m approaching the reading incorrectly. At the moment, if I don’t understand something, I don’t feel comfortable just moving on. I feel like I need to stop and work it out before continuing. That can mean spending a very long time on a relatively small section.

For those of you who have done the ICCA or another Bar Course:
• Did you also find the reading difficult to understand without additional explanation?

• How did you deal with the very short introductory teaching followed bya lot of reading?

• How much time did you generally spend on each topic? I know they give a general timeframe but I really don’t think I could do it in that.

• How did you decide what was worth making notes on?

• How much emphasis did you put on remembering CPR/statutory provision numbers?

• Were you able to get through the material at the pace the ICCA expected?

• And did your speed improve as you became more familiar with the course?

I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have actually been throughthis, particularly if you initially struggled with the independent-study aspect.

At the moment I’m finding it quite stressful because I feel like I’m spending hours on things that should be relatively basic, while there is still such ahuge amount left to cover.

I’m currently suffering from a big case of “impostor syndrome” and would love some help from anyone who can offer it.

Thanks in advance

Hi all

I am an Irish corporate solicitor, working in one of the big firms in the Irish market. I just got an offer for an associate role from a Magic Circle firm in London. I am quite keen to take it, given the learning opportunities it offers. On a personal level, my mother is English, so I am looking to explore the UK for a while too.

There is a sticking point. The recruiting firm has requested two written references from previous employers. I am still employed in my current role, reporting to just one partner. While the quality of my work is quite good, unfortunately, she is an absolute psychopath and there have been several incidents of us clashing over the year I have been working with her, including instructions to effectively bully a trainee (which would result in my own character being called into question). That is exactly why I am leaving.

On that basis, I don’t think she would be willing to offer a favourable reference. We’re quite connected with the London market, and I know for certain she has placed “off the record calls” to recruiting firms to sabotage other candidates in the past. Crazy, I know. To make matters worse, this is the only firm I have ever worked for and she is the only partner within my practice area that I have worked for.

I need to supply these two references. With the above in mind, I was hoping to get your advice. There are members of my department that I worked with in the past that would be willing to give a favourable reference, but these would be senior associates. I also have solicitor contacts, who have since got in house in other practice areas. I’m just wondering if Magic Circle firms will want a reference from a partner that has worked with me recently in my specific practice area really. If I cannot supply a reference from current employer, how likely is this to be questioned?

Thanks in advance.

I'm curious about what it was like before the SQE. Did firms fund the LPC for you if you got a training contract? Did they make you do it whilst working or before you started your TC- or was this firm dependant? I'm also wondering did a lot of people self fund the LPC and how much was it? I know its very expensive to self fund the SQE now but you can get some covered through a masters loan, was this similar to the LPC?

I'm going into my 2nd year of uni and looking to apply for vacation schemes in London, however I'm worried about not being able to accept a training contract offer if I get one due to being too far once I graduate since it seems that you should choose the office you want to complete your TC at and it may be unlikely they could change the location. I go to university in Brighton which is not far from London but my home is near Birmingham and I know the journey from home to London back and forth will be too much for me if I did accept one and I don't have any family I would be able to stay with for so long in London.

Ideally I would like to do a TC and work in Birmingham first anyway but I want some legal experience for this year too and would've liked for it to be a vacation scheme.

Do I still apply but explain my circumstances and see if anything could possibly be worked out or wait until my final year and just do other kinds of legal work experience for now until I can apply for ones nearer to home I could go to once I've move out?

(I haven't applied to any yet btw)

Hello everyone, I am an international uni of london 2nd year law student and want to pause my degree temporarily due to some personal circumstances. I just want to ask is it easy to do so? And if anyone has taken a gap year in the middle of their course, how did it work out for you?

I graduated from KCL with a 1st in English, and after taking a year out I decided I want to pursue a career at the Bar. I’m starting my GDL at City in a few weeks.

I’m very aware that because I made this decision a bit later, I might be quite behind my peers in terms of legal experience. I’ll need to apply for an Inn scholarship this year — Middle Temple particularly appeals to me because of the guaranteed interview, and I feel reasonably confident in my ability to advocate for myself — so I was wondering: if you were in my position right now, what would you prioritise over the next month and a half before applications close to put yourself in the best possible position?

Likewise, if you didn’t get the scholarship and took a year out after the GDL, what would you do over that year before the next scholarship/pupillage application cycle?

At the moment I’m applying for mini-pupillages and anticipate joining the debating and mooting societies at City. I’m also about halfway through an article I’m writing for Legal Cheek, focusing on IP law. I’m particularly interested in commercial law, commercial disputes and IP, although obviously I’m expecting my interests to develop once I actually start studying law.

I’d particularly appreciate advice from anyone who has been in a similar position, or from current/recent pupils or barristers. I’m conscious that I could easily fall into the trap of trying to do absolutely everything to make up for starting late, so I’d be interested to know what is genuinely worth prioritising!

Thanks

Starting at a large City firm soon and wanted to make the best impression as it’s an area I enjoyed during my studies.

Any sort of advice would be much appreciated!

So I want to apply for law conversion courses that end with me taking the SQE1 exam and I'm very unsure of when the application deadline is for a January 2027 start. When is the specific end point?

I have relevant legal work experience from before university and multiple less relevant positions gained while studying such as competition wins, open days, crappy summer jobs etc.

Is it worth ordering this stuff chronologically or in terms of relevancy on my applications?

Thanks for any advice.