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I recently received my grades and I am quite worried about one grade in particular. Please let me know your thoughts on how likely this low grade could hinder my chances of securing a VS.

Criminal law: 45
Contract law: 70
Public law: 67
Legal methods: 77
Legal ethics: 70
Law and colonialism: 79

The only 'consolation' I have is that first year does not count. However it's all firms consider in their selection process, or least it plays a major role for vs in second year. No extenuating circumstances, tried my best in revising for topics, just didn't cut it. Any comments?

Hello Everyone! How are you all? I hope this message finds you well. First of all, this is my first time signing up on this website and posting a query. I honestly don't know anything about posting on right discussions threads etc. so I apologize for mistakes or shortcomings. I am a final-year undergrad averaging at 96% from a non-law background set in graduate in 2026. I plan to qualify as a solicitor from the UK and secure a TC 2028 at a Biglaw. I am interested in corporate law especially M&A practice. It would be really helpful to me if you guys help me on the following: 1) Is a PGDL necessary for a Biglaw or will MA(law conversion) work? 2) What courses shall I take as I have finished multiple courses related to law, finance from coursera so what else can i do rn as I can't start my intern except after graduation. 3) Also, I secured very low marks in A-levels but earned First-class honors since my first year of uni till now. Will it suffice at biglaw?
please help . Thanks

Hi everyone,
I’m a non-NLU Indian law student currently entering my penultimate year (4th year of a 5-year integrated programme). I’ve completed some internships — including at district courts, High Courts, and some judicial internships — and I’m now seriously interested in applying for vacation schemes in the UK.

However, I’ll be honest — I feel quite lost. Being from a non-NLU background, I haven’t had much structured exposure to how the application process works internationally. I don't know where to begin: the firms to target, timelines, drafting cover letters, or even building relevant experiences for UK law firms.
If anyone here is willing to offer mentorship, share their experience, or even guide me a little on how to build networks and navigate this path, I would be extremely grateful. Any resources, personal insights, or connections you can share would genuinely make a difference to me right now.
Thank you so much in advance!
Warmly,
Ananya

Has anyone heard back from Reed Smith about the direct training contract? I know they’re meant to get back about the next stage (situational judgement test) but it’s been over a week.

Hi,

I'm just posting this both to for advice and to hear from others in similar (or different!) positions as to what you plan on doing. My university workload will be demanding next year and I got my first AC of the ten VS applications I made this cycle.

Did you think it was worth applying to apps etc in your final year? Did you want to just focus on university, since that's permanent?

Hi all, my name is Charles. I've just finished my Final year and am waiting for my results. Hoping for a first as have worked hard for it, but will be happy regardless. Any ideas on any first steps to obtaining a TC? I understand I've started late, but had originally opted to go down the Barrister/ Consultancy route in my first three years.

As per the title I have been invited to a AC for a direct TC for Howard Kennedys. What worries me is that i have no idea what to do or practice. I started to just practice general interview questions etc but when it comes to commercial awareness i am completely stuck. I have the basic knowledge and have no idea how to go about it all. Anyone have any insight or has done an AC at HK that can help me please. This is my 4th Cycle and this is my 2nd AC over the 4 years. I really want this to be my last!

Thank you!

I am about to finish university and am on a vacation scheme. I have found out I need to resit one of my papers which was flagged for a high AI content. My resit mark will be capped at 40.

A board convened to consider my case and I submitted evidence. They found in favour of likely AI misapplication and therefore gave me the punishment above.

I have done some reading into the SRA character and suitability guidelines and it does not seem clear how strongly they rule on plagiarism, even though it is noted as a factor. I read an FOI in 2022 which said that they had not refused to admit a candidate due to academic misconduct for several years.

One option I am considering is going an early assessment to get the result. However, I am worried that no time will have elapsed for me to show improved character.

Any advice or help on this would be appreciated.

Hey all,

First of all I’ll preface by saying this is premature, and I do not actually have the TC offer. But I am on a vacation scheme where the offer rate is 90-100% for my office, and a TC is likely, so this has been playing on my mind a bit and I’m looking for thoughts.

My reasons for applying to this office are: it’s a sizeable city, good firm, 90 mins from home, and I was just generally looking for legal experience.

However I’ve also been fortunate to have some other legal experience this summer in London, and it’s really made me want to work there. I’m sure I’m romanticising a little, but it really feels like the place I wanna be and build a career, I cannot see myself in this other city long term.

Beyond that, while this firm is really great, they don’t offer a few of the practice areas that I’d really love to try out in their regional offices. The pay is also significantly less both as a trainee and as an NQ, I’d still be house sharing in this city. And their funding during my GDL and SQE years is not great so I’d definitely still have to work alongside both.

I know I’d be very fortunate to get a TC anywhere, and a lot of people say just to qualify and then move. But I don’t know. When I look at the next 4 years, it’s two really hard courses, while having to work at the same time. Then two training years, on a low salary, maybe not doing some of the areas I’m most interested in (though there are still many), away from family and friends. A big part of me wants to just take a risk, try for a London firm next year (my final year), maybe one with higher funding and salaries, and build my career there. As a non-law stem student I’m not even 100% set on law, I wouldn’t mind trying something else out so I may also apply for grad schemes and the like, though they are also obscenely competitive.

I don’t know, would this be monumentally stupid?

I applied for the JMW solicitors work experience (JMW Inspire) in May and have not heard anything back yet.
The scheme starts in July.

Has anyone else applied to this ? If so have you heard back yet ?

Hello!
I recently received all my second year grades back, and was worried whether any would potentially hinder me from applying to MS/SC etc firm's
I achieved 69s in (eu module and technology in the law module), and 65 (tort, land) I also however achieved a 59 in equity.
In oct/Nov of 2nd year I also applied to 7 VS's, with help from a dei recruitment organisation and was not able to achieve any, maybe because of the contract 2.2 in first year?
In first year I achieved 74 (public and policy), 70 (practical legal skills) 63 (criminal law), and 53 (contract law)
I also did a spring scheme at one of the magic circle firms (slaughters) and have visited 3/5 MS firms for open days, and brand ambassadored for one as well,
I was interested particularly in slaughters especially after the spring scheme, but I know they are focused on grades, would one high 2.2 be enough to deter? What about the other ms/sc's?
As for extrcurriculars I have done 4 mini pupillages, advocacy training, sports, own a business, have done one week work experience with a top northern law firm in the property and real estate, and am involved in the law clinic, citizens advice and social mobility organisations as well as an ethnicity based organisation focused on education of children
I am hoping my Extracurriculars will help with applications, but am worried the higher tier law firms might reject my applications once third Yr begins because of the 2.2
Thank you in advance
Gura

Hello!
I recently received all my second year grades back, and was worried whether any would potentially hinder me from applying to MS/SC etc firm's
I achieved 69s in (eu module and technology in the law module), and 65 (tort, land) I also however achieved a 59 in equity.
In first year I achieved 74 (public and policy), 70 (practical legal skills) 63 (criminal law), and 53 (contract law)
in second year I did not received any VS (applied to 7, mostly silver, 1 ms, regional firms)
I also did a spring scheme at one of the magic circle firms (slaughters) and have visited 3/5 MS firms for open days, and brand ambassadored for one as well,
I was interested particularly in slaughters especially after the spring scheme, but I know they are focused on grades, would one high 2.2 be enough to deter? What about the other ms/sc's?
As for extrcurriculars I have done 4 mini pupillages, advocacy training, sports, own a business, have done one week work experience with a top northern law firm in the property and real estate, and am involved in the law clinic, citizens advice and social mobility organisations as well as an ethnicity based organisation focused on education of children
I am hoping my Extracurriculars will help with applications, but am worried the higher tier law firms might reject my applications once third Yr begins because of the 2.2
Thank you in advance
Gura

I go to University of Aberdeen and my average for this year is 77.8% (high 2:1 at my institution). My first year grades are 1:1, 1:1, 1:1, 1:1, 2:1, 2:1, 2:2, 2:2. I am worried that these 2:2 (69% both respectably and less than a mark off a 2:1) will hinder me. I will also like to note my best grade is a 1st in contract law at 87%. For reference my degree is 4 years and I can only apply for first year schemes this coming year and the type of firms I'm going for are outside the silver or magic circle (like CMS, Addleshaw Goddard, Pinsents, BCLP). I would like to also add I have had very very good work experience this year alone: Dyson in house legal counsel internship, 1 week at Royal Courts of Justice in Belfast and confirmed royal courts of justice London with an Immigration Judge. I have a very wide range of extracurriculars (orchestras, sports, societies) and have even co founded my universities commercial negotiation society.

NA

Hi everyone, is there a general expectation/limit on when final year students can apply for paralegal roles? I am currently waiting for my marks for some of my modules and won't receive them until mid-July. A quick search on LinkedIn and I saw multiple openings in practice areas that I am interested in (either from optional modules or previous experience). Is it fine to apply regardless, or should I wait until I receive the marks back?

I don't have a preference on start date and don't mind starting as soon as I have final classification.

Hi TCLA!

I am facing uncertainty about where it is worth applying to certain firms given inconsistency in my grade profile. I am aware that firms like HSF want a 2:1 in every module. I know Slaughters look for a high 2:1, but I am unsure whether that requirement pertains to the average or module grades. I would really appreciate anyone sharing specific names of other firms that are pickier with grades.

For context I go to a RG uni and am studying law. I am aware that most firms take a “holistic” approach, but would really appreciate insight into the firms that care more about grade specifics! Thanks

Hi everyone,

I was wondering if my chances for a TC at a MC/SC firm are over. I got my dissertation results back and it was a 2:2, however the rest of my transcript was strong enough to pull through, and my overall wasn’t impacted too much so i still graduate with a 68 overall. However does the 2:2 in that one module eliminate my chances of a TC despite my high overall?

My name is Sharan, I just finished my first year studying Law at SOAS, University of London and it’s been pretty amazing so far!

I am wondering if there are any tips regarding writing a cover letter for the winter vacation scheme with Vinson & Elkins.

Hi everyone,

I’m an Indian law student, and my course structure is a bit different from the National Law Universities (NLUs). Despite that, I’ve completed a few strong internships and have worked as a paralegal with small international firms.

I’m now hoping to apply for training contracts and vacation schemes, but despite my research, I haven’t been able to find clear guidance or resources.

I’d really appreciate help from this community on how to explore international opportunities, specifically:

• How can I apply for training contracts and vacation schemes as an Indian student?
• Which firms are open to considering applicants from India or with non-traditional academic routes?

Any advice, experiences, or resources would be extremely helpful. Thank you so much in advance!

Hey guys, I have made a list of things that I look for in a firm and one of them me is intellectual property being an area that they work in. I really enjoy it and I wondered if anyone knew any firms that even had IP as a seat perhaps?

TIA

Edit: wrong section for my query

Hey everyone,

I have been thinking for quite some time to write about this journey because nothing good comes from just within. I thought that this could be an area where I can remember to apply and actually hold myself accountable. In terms of my background, I am about to graduate from a decent RG university, I have good grades, I have a vac scheme at a reputable firm and I also have middle east experience, where I have interned at 3 UK/US firms in the MENA region and one MENA firm where I gained experiences into a lot of different practice areas.

Aspirationally, I know I want to experience corporate and finance seats, but I also want the opportunity to go for competition and tech seats. So its very wide and I do tailor my applications depending on the firm's strengths but I find myself interested in these areas for certain.

I have done 2 cycles, my first cycle I wrote 9 or so meh applications and received one VS. However, after not converting my VS into a TC, I felt some concern as an international student and academically, but I also knew that I could work hard to ensure I get to that place. This cycle I wrote 18 applications, and I actually liked a few of them. However, I only got one VI, a few test invites (which I then messed up due to issues in prioritisation), but ultimately I learnt a lot. For example, I learnt that Jones Day really does get back to you within 15 days, was pleasantly surprised there.

I know theres a good amount of Direct TCs still open, and seeing as a lot of firms align with my practice area interests, I will be getting back into applying to them properly. I have 10 applications remaining, and these are the ones I am considering:

Reed Smith
Eversheds
RPC
WFW
HFW
Macfarlanes
White & Case
Stephenson Harwood

I'm going to set a time on the weekend where I talk to you all about the processes and what I did in the week.

Amat victoria curam.

Hiya,

I have my first vacation scheme, how do I best prepare to convert the vacation scheme into a Training Contract ?

Thank you,

Hi

@Jessica Booker , @Ram Sabaratnam , @Amma Usman / Others, do law firms that sponsor students for full-time SQE impose any restrictions on part-time work during the LLM SQE ?

Thank you.