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Hi everyone,

I've recently been worrying about whether I can obtain a TC, as my grades are not appealing. I got a B C C in my A levels and will get a 2:1 (65%) in my law degree from a non-Russell group university this year. I know my portfolio is not good, but I really enjoy learning law and want to have a career in the legal industry. I'm worried that my grades will force me to change my career path, and I wanted to hear from people out there about the reality of getting a TC.

If I do well in my LPC and gain relevant work experience, is there still a good chance I could get a TC in the future? What else should I do during my LPC year to improve my chances of getting a TC? Has anyone been in the same position and gotten a TC?

Thanks

Approximately how many hours per week do you have to spend studying independently for this course? Thanks in advance for any replies!

Hi everyone,

I really need your help as I am quite confused about what to do.

I am a recent law graduate from an EU country, and I have been offered a two-week placement by an international law firm in my home country in July. Meanwhile, I am in the late stages of securing a paralegal role in a mid-sized firm. Considering both the practical aspect (i.e., paying London rent so I need a job) and the potential long-term benefits (i.e., having something substantial to discuss in training contract applications), I am unsure which option to choose.

Would a two-week placement at an international law firm significantly boost my CV and expand my work opportunities, potentially helping me secure a paralegal job at a larger firm or even with the same firm? Or would this experience only be beneficial when applying for a training contract with the firm?

Should I simply go for the paralegal job at the mid-sized firm?

I appreciate your help. Thank you.

Hi everyone!

I'm currently choosing from two options: — LLM SQE 1&2 or SQE 1&2 preparation courses:

Do you know what is the difference between them (apart from price, duration and additional module) for my employability? As far as I understand it, LLM is better for those who would like to access student loan funding, but I am not eligible for it and it's not relevant to me. Is there any difference in studying LLM SQE and SQE preparation courses? The second option (just preparation course) is cheaper, that's why I am interested in it.

I am a bachelor in law (overseas degree equivalent to LLB, non-common law), 2:1 diploma. I have work experience as a paralegal and even as a lawyer outside of the OK (1.5 years in total) in the area of logistics and insurance, but I don't have any training contract in the UK (and I don't think that I will secure it soon because I don't have any local experience).

Hey @Jaysen - will there be a way to attend the TCLA summer BootCamp in-person boot camps virtually?

Hello,
I'll be starting the SQE/CCP at BPP Holborn in September 2024. I have a few questions which it would really help to know the answers to in order to plan my year (accommodation, travel, work, etc.). Could anyone who did the course this year shed some light? (Obviously, I recognise there could be differences between this past year and next year, but it would be really helpful to have a rough idea.)
I know it's a 12-month course, and I know it starts on 2nd Sep - but literally nothing else. I actually went to BPP Holborn last week and tried to ask them, but they wouldn't provide any information.

1. How many contact hours did you have per week? I've heard 10, but would like confirmation.
2. How many days a week were the contact hours spread out over? (I recognise this will vary by group, but were most groups having to go in 5 days a week?)
3. Were there any socials/opportunities to meet students in other groups?
4. When were the exams?
- BPP internal exams
- SQE exams (I think SQE1 is in January, but when is SQE2? In particular, when does it end? Do you get a summer holiday?)
5. Were there any holidays or reading weeks, and if so, when were they?
6. What was the Plus Programme like? Was it intense? Were there exams?
7. If you can be bothered after all my other questions - any advice?

Any responses hugely appreciated!

Hello!
I was wondering if anyone would be able to offer some advice on writing a masters application for law, preferably a General LLM. If anyone has any tips or would be happy to share sample personal statements for this, I would be eternally grateful.
Thank you

Hi everyone,

What are your experiences with ULAW’s SQE Plus modules? How difficult are they and are the assessment deadlines generous? I’m starting the SQE Plus modules in about 2 weeks and intend to sit the SQE2 in October. Is it possible to manage both if I’m studying from now?

Hi all, I'm really excited to join the TCLA community! This is my first post and I'm looking for some serious advice regarding my current position as a career changer.

1. I graduated from in 2021 from a RG university with a low/mid 2:1. However, I failed 3 modules in my first and second year and had to resit them, I was able to turn the situation around completely in my final year with scores averaging high 60s/70s and secured my 2:1. My question is, although I was able to secure a 2:1 in the end, would having 3 failures in my first 2 years seriously disqualify me from MC/SC/US TC training contracts?

2. I did not complete a normal A level route - as I am an international student, after my GCSE's I completed a 9 month International Foundation Course with the same RG University (which is supposedly an A level equivalent). I am reaching out to recruiters for confirmation - but would also appreciate insight from anyone who was / knows anyone in the same position.

3. During uni, I was always heavily interested in commerce/finance, which led me to secure a grad scheme in tech. However, as there was a long gap between graduation and the start date of my grad scheme, I took on a job in a pharma company. My question is - I know I have quite diverse work experiences, would this discredit me as a serious applicant who is committed to work in law ? What I am the most worried about is being boxed in as an "unstable" candidate who has already changed careers to finance and now wants to switch again. I can explain how my interest in the commercial world and my work experiences led to my current decision, but will this be believable to law firms?

Any advice / perspective would be really appreciated. Thanks!

I am currently a non-law first year university student. I found out that i got 35% on an assignment that I completed in the first semester. However, I have passed that module with a 2.2 overall. In every other assignments I have gotten high 2.1s and 1st. Can that one assignment hinder my application for opportunities in law firms including workshops, vacation schemes, and training contracts even if I end up doing well in my second year? If so, should I retake that assignment?

Hi all! I have gotten through to the assessment centre stage for Clyde & Co's paralegal academy.

Can anyone share their experiences and give some advice??

Hi is there anyone who has applied TC 2026 for Orrick, and Wedlake Bell? Any updates?

Hi!

I am currently a trainee solicitor and I have completed the SQE exams. Because of my previous experiences, I have enough qualifying work experience to send everything off now and ‘qualify’. However, I still want to complete my training contract for the experience. I just would like to have it all signed-off so that my “qualification year” on the SRA roll is a bit earlier in case that is helpful to me further down the line.

Does anyone know if it is ok to technically be a “qualified solicitor” on the SRA roll, whilst holding a “trainee solicitor” position? My firm has not seen this situation before.

Thank you in advance!!

Has anyone done a prior DWF vac scheme and wouldn't mind providing me with some insight into it?

Hi everyone,

Has anyone heard back regarding their direct application for a business services 2026 TC?

We had emails saying they’ll update us by end of April, but nothing yet. I check regularly and I have even emailed a few days ago to (respectfully) query when to hear back.

Has anyone heard back? Thanks

Hello!
I have a bachelor's degree in law and two years of work experience (mostly logistics and insurance) in countries with non-common law. My main aim is to get a job in London and become a solicitor (might seem very banal, but that's it).

My current plan is to apply for full-time face-to-face PGDL and pay for it on my own. The preferred institution is UoL, and two other options are BPP (as far as I understand, it is more negatively assessed by alumni) and Nottingham Trent University (not bad uni, but still not as widely known as UoL or BPP courses), which is slightly cheaper than the first two options.

My main question: is PGDL education beyond London different from London PGDL's? I know that UoL and BPP organise firm fairs and networking events with companies that they are contacting frequently. I guess that London companies won't be represented in other cities at these courses for their employers (partly or even fully) exist, but I don't think it makes sense to apply for such contracts. Firstly, where to find them (I suspect that law firms offer them at unis to students)? Secondly, it is unlikely that they will give funding to someone with no UK education and work experience. What do you think about it?

Hi there,

I currently work at a National firm within the RE division. I have just been offered a role at a smaller regional firm as a personal injury paralegal. The pay is better, the hours are better and the role is fully client based. I’d have my own caseload and be able to actually work as a paralegal rather than a pa/admin assistant but have the paralegal title as I currently do.

I definitely want to take the PI route for work experience but I am worried that this will look detrimental on my cv and also when applying for training contracts. I know firms value that you’ve worked at National/international firms and I’m worried that they’ll reject me for deciding to move to a regional firm and/or move to PI law.

I’ve been weighing the pros and cons and I’d definitely be able to gain more transferable skills, knowledge and experience with the PI role. However, I’m scared that that doesn’t matter since I’m just moving from such a well known firm to a smaller firm to then simultaneously try and get a TA with a commercial firm.

Hi there,

I currently work at a National law firm (3 months as of today), very known and has a good reputation. However, the team that I’m currently employed in makes me feel unwelcome. I feel out of place and am regularly excluded from events that they are holding. I also am employed as a paralegal but do 80% admin work and 20% paralegal work. I’ve asked several times for more paralegal work and that I am happy to help more but that has been frowned upon and they have now hired one of the future trainees as a paralegal. I also want to note that the legal/office assistant is also doing the same amount if not more paralegal work than I am. I just think they don’t like me as I’ve always been really good at the job and never been told otherwise.

I have just been offered a role at a smaller regional firm as a personal injury paralegal. The pay is better, the hours are better and the role is fully client based. I’d have my own caseload and be able to actually work as a paralegal rather than a pa/admin assistant but have the paralegal title as I currently do.

I definitely want to take the PI route but I am worried that this will look really detrimental on my cv and also when applying for training contracts. I know firms value that you’ve worked at National/international firms and I’m worried that they’ll blatantly reject me for deciding to move to a regional firm.

I’ve been weighing the pros and cons and I’d definitely be able to gain more transferable skills, knowledge and experience with the PI role. However, I’m scared that that doesn’t matter since I’m just moving from such a well known firm to a smaller firm to then simultaneously try and get a TA with a commercial firm.

I don’t know what to do - all I know is that right now, I’m not happy with being an admin/PA but only having the paralegal title. I feel like I’m wasting my time when I could be doing so much more but I’m terrified that moving down to regional will be something that I regret.

Pls may I ask – in a vacation scheme cover letter for a regional firm, (i) how to demonstrate a “a keen interest in applying for a TC after completing the VS” (ii) how to answer ‘why the vacation scheme’- without sounding like the VS will enable me to make my mind up about the firm (as I have been told to simultaneously making a TC app to the firm) (iii) to explain the motivation to join is it okay to say: “that there maybe more responsibility and a possible opportunity to run cases as a junior lawyer with supervision if the team deems fit”
Thank you!

xx

Hi, I just have one question of about its app questions.

"Please give details of your interests and any extracurricular activities that you have participated in? Please include your responsibilities and level". I am just wondering, when it comes to including responsibilities and level, should I name all activities or just choose one and then expand on that one.

Thank you in advance!

Hi! I have a place on a vac scheme at a law firm (firm #1) for 2 weeks in June. I received another vac scheme offer (firm #2), but can't attend it as it clashes with the first one. The grad rec team from firm #2 has kindly invited me to a day-long assessment centre (0930-1730) instead. However, this day-long assessment centre clashes with one of the days of the vac scheme at firm #1. I'm v concerned that even if I just email the grad rec team at firm #1 to ask if it's possible to miss a day to attend firm #2's AC (tho I would emphasise in any email to firm #1 that I'm def more interested in firm #1), that'll totally defeat my chances of converting the VS at firm #1 into a TC. I'm not sure what to do.

Sorry for a long query, any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks

Hello All, I just received a interview invitation with HR for the 2026 TC Application. Does anyone know how to prepare for the interview and what are the potential questions that will be asked during the interview? Thank you!

Hi all,
I am planning on taking the LLM Legal Practice (SQE 1 and 2) full-time in London beginning Sept 2024. I wondered if anyone who is currently studying it (from the Sept 2023 course) has the timetable and could share it with me. I just wanted to see how the course is structured and when holidays are etc. They only have the part-time timetables on their website for this course. Thanks!