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Hello everyone, this is Sepi. I have a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of International Law degree from Iran, as well as a Master of International Business Law from the UK. I am well aware that being Iranian and having no UK law background puts me at a serious disadvantage, but somehow I am trying to hold on to even the tiniest shred of hope!

This is my second year applying (and getting rejected) for training contracts. I hope to find some good advice by people who have been through this process on this platform, cause it seems like nothing else is working for me! Thank you in advance for any future advice or guidance. (apologies for the non-fancy tone, working on cover letters and application questions all day has drained me!)

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Hi, I was wondering whether resitting exams during my GDL would severely affect my chances of securing a TC? I've met the entirely requirements of at least a ABB at A-Levels and have a 2:1 from a Russell Group university but I failed my Public Law I exam and one part of my Land Law exam which I had to retake. I just wanted to know, realistically how this would affect the way law firms view my application. This was during COVID and I have since undertaken paralegal experience.

Another day with no news from all my direct TC apps and not gonna lie it is making me a little disillusioned at the whole process. But looking back, I feel I have come so far and it would be a shame to give up now so I am going to start a thread to record my progress in my TC applications. Hopefully it would resonate with some to know we are all in this together.

A little bit about myself: I am an international student, non-law undergrad recently graduated from Oxbridge and I have an MPhil in the same school next academic year (kind of like a 4 year programme in that sense). This was my first cycle. I submitted around 12 applications, interviewed at 3 firms, and received vacation scheme offer at 1 US firm. Unfortunately, I was unsuccessful at converting it to a TC (I have since rationalised the whole process and I still think it was a wonderful experience overall). I am still giving one last desperate try for direct TCs (starting in 2026) this summer as my VS experience showed me that corporate law is the one thing I want to do. I am committed to the career path. As much as I am grateful for my MPhil offer and academia is a comfortable Plan B, I would withdraw my MPhil place if I could get a TC with a 2026 start, as I would like to begin my GDL right away.

That said, I have applied to the following firms for direct TCs:

Sullivan Cromwell - Submitted - Holding email
White & Case - Submitted
Freshfields - Submitted
WFW - Submitted - Video Interview
HFW - Submitted
MacFarlanes - Submitted

Will apply to:
Paul Hastings

I like firms with personalities and preferably a small intake (Freshfields is an exception but I still applied because I admire their strength in litigation and arbitration) and that has led me to mostly US firms or specialist boutique firms.

I REALLY hope I could get a training contract this summer. Not just because it will finally bring a sense of stability to my life but also because I feel it is time for me to move on from uni and academia. I am ready and eager to join the corporate world (as I say this I realise how much I sound like a brainwashed capitalist) and I just need ONE YES. If anyone is in the same situation and would like to discuss things/spill tea/share thoughts, my dm is open!! Thank you all this community has honestly been the one source of strength that's getting me through.

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For anybody who has done the (September start) SQE1 and 2 LLM at ULaw this year, could anybody give me some insight into the workload in June time? This is after both the SQE1 and SQE2 exams are done.

I have a family wedding next June in Europe, and I’m just wondering whether it would be possible to miss a week of class for that. I haven’t been able to find much information about the LLM part of the course online!

Thank you

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Hello, I completed my PLR exam and the results are due to come out in around a week. I was just wondering how bad you have to do to get a not yet competent. This is my resit and in comparison to my first attempt I know 100% I done better etc. Its just in relation to one of the issues I think it was incomplete, like thinking back to it I could have done/ added more. Not that I think what I wrote was wrong, I just could have used another legislation to add onto it. Would this be a automatic not yet competent or could it still be basic competent?

also the legislation I could have added is I guess really important etc so generally the legislation I talked about in my answer alongside this other one is important to mention

Hi, I received a training contract offer last year and I’m supposed to start my studies this September. I haven’t had any contact from the firm this year and this is making me really anxious. I sent an email to them weeks ago and asking them for an update as to where will I be studying. I did not receive a response and I asked someone who also got a TC at this firm and they told me that they got an email. I sent another email this week and I still haven’t received a response. I feel worried and nervous as I don’t know why I am not getting a response. Every day I can’t concentrate at work because everything just feels uncertain. I don’t want to chase too much because I might seem annoying and I want to have a good relationship with the early careers team. I keep thinking about this from the movement I wake up to the moment I go to sleep. I haven’t spoken to anyone about this yet because it’s not in their control. I just wanted to know when do trainees receive a confirmation about when their course is likely to start? (I also have signed the training contract offer letter) Should I be worried if I haven’t received any communication from the firm yet?

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Hello, I'm new so idk if I'm even posting this right haha.

I graduated with a 2:1 in professional policing which is not a law degree, after my gap yea, now I want to do a conversion course to become a solicitor. I'm stuck on which university to go to, BPP or UoL. I'm planning to do an online part-time course as I don't live in London so constant travelling back and forth will be very expansive for me and since it'd been a long time from studying I want to make sure I get exceptional grades and take my time properly learning. I'm also worried about the financial aspect of doing the PGDL, because I will have to borrow from my family on top of saving up and working myself during my course, but from my research I found out the BPP does a LLM Law Conversion course which is essentially the Masters version of PGDL as they have the same modules with addition of professional project in the LLM.

I'm tempted to apply for BPP as I can get a loan and don't have to worry about saving up and borrowing money but what concerns me is 1) the course being classified as LLM so Im worried if that won't give me the same advantage as the PGDL even though they cover the same modules. 2) I've heard numerous times that their teaching is quite bad compare to the UoL and that they discriminate against their students based on who has a training contract where I hear at UoL they give you the same attention as everyone else 3) this is the same as the second one but I'm worried that I wont be supported as much as I would be supported with UoL because I don't have a Training contract, additionally since I really need to build up my law Cv in order to increase my chances by doing working experience, going to law firm open days and events etc; I believe I need a lot of support from the institution with application to law firms.

The only thing making me hesitant with applying for UoL is just the money sadly.

I just need some advice that which is the better choice for my future and if the LLM course will still be an advantage to me, anything helps

Thank you so much in advance

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