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Hi, I've been invited to complete an Arctic Shore test. Their website does not provide an overview of what to expect. Just task-based questions, I'm assuming some games, similar to Ashurst. If anyone has completed them please let me know your experience, that'd be great! Thank you and I appreciate your help.

So yea, as the title says, luckily I have a paralegal job at a magic circle law firm but have been rejected for their training contracts, I want to work in commercial. I'm not sure what else to do with the SQE coming, and 3 years with no TC I feel pretty down, kinda worried my LPC will no longer be valued. I'm thinking about doing some leadership courses to make my CV stronger maybe that will help. I just don't know where to go anymore. Any ideas or positive advice would be helpful. I don't even know what I'm doing haha what a strange journey this is.

Last application cycle I was super busy, I held multiple positions within societies, volunteered and worked part-time. However, going into this current application cycle, I dont have any positions of responsibility and have ceased my volunteering and work. During a VC interview previously I was asked "How do you keep busy outside of academics" which at the time was an easy question. However, I would struggle to provide an acceptable response currently apart from sports and im worried it could be the downfall of any potential interviews/

Is it okay to spin the answer to refer to my activities last year (my penultimate year) or do I simply need to figure out a way "get busy"?

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I posted a similar question in the main forum but decided it made a lot of sense to have a separate thread on the topic

So as the title suggests, I was able to secure two schemes this year which were both really fun [one MC, one US], but I wasn't able to convert them. I think my biggest struggle is the final interview at the end haha

I also understand that whilst I technically have some experience now, it will also reflect badly on me that I failed, not once, but twice, to convert them!

So my questions are, as I am going into third year (law), should I just go for direct TCs or try to do winter and spring schemes too? And how do I go about explaining why I failed twice? I've also realised I like US firms more but I recognise they have have very few spaces.

Thank you in advance

This thread is for the general discussion of the Article Mini Series: Business of Law Firms - 2023 Financials Season. Please add to the discussion here.

Hi all

I am due to start the SQE next year with Ulaw, sponsored by a Firm amd had a few questions. has anyone had any experiemce of studying the SQE with Ulaw?

How difficult did you find the SQE in general? are there any tips on preparing in advance? as its been a while since my law degree.

Is it feasible to work part time and study comfortably? I am to receive a grant but i havent not worked since I was 18 and I find the idea of not having a job difficult if i was to just commit to studying the SQE

Many thanks

I started a paralegal role in March this year and to my surprise, I was offered a TC somewhere else to start in 2024. I want to leave my current role but I don't know what to do as it's my first 'actual' job. My current supervisor is mentoring me to secure a TC at the firm I currently am at, so I am scared to break the news!

HELP!

Hi,

I interviewed with Taylor Wessing for a paralegal role. I recently was invited for a feedback call with their recruitment team.

Does anyone know what that means? Is it a rejection call essentially?

Thank you!

Hi all,

I've got the SQE coming up and I feel like I should use the time now to do something. What are you all doing to prepare ahead of time? I am a non-law graduate and have completed the GDL. I have been refreshing my knowledge of Contract Law but I am not sure what else I should be doing to prepare.

Thanks.

Hi everyone! I received 2 TC offers, and both firms have differing SQE providers.

One is doing solely online through Barbri over a year, and the other doing it through BPP. Which is the better option in terms of SQE provider? Will I be missing out if I do an online-only SQE?

Hello,

I am wondering what kind of full-time jobs can I look to apply to while applying for direct TCs considering I have both an LLB and LLM degree? I find paralegal roles too difficult to obtain having tried recruitment agencies for the past 2 months w zero luck.

Thank you very much.

I am planning on self studying the SQE and I was wondering if anyone had experiences with Barbri as a provider? I have heard that they’re spaced repetition model is a good way to learn but I don't know how well it replicates the structure of the actual SQE exam?

Hi all,

Interested to hear what you think, a friend of mine and I were discussing applications recently and this topic came up.

We have been noticing a growing trend among firms who seem to openly advertise vac schemes and TCs but then end up just hiring from paralegals. The friend in question had applied to Shoosmiths and they are an excellent example.

They run a vac scheme for external applicants, they then run an assessment day. However, from that they simply hired two paralegals that already work there. My question is, why would a firm invest time and money into these recruitment activities when they clearly are aware they have able candidates they want to hire?

More widely, do you think this is a growing trend? Should applicants now be looking to be paralegals as a route into firms they want to apply to and will this replace the traditional route. Certainly, it begs the question with Shoosmiths, should anyone be applying at all if they clearly hire from paralegals, and have Shoosmiths now shown that by becoming a paralegal there, you have a much higher chance of being selected.

Interested to hear peoples thoughts on this! @Jessica Booker

I wanted to ask whether anyone has the experience of keeping their dog as a single person while doing their training contract and the things they did to manage. Rehoming my dog is not really an option for me as they are a major part of my mental health stability which is massively important to me so I just wanted to hear of anyone that has encountered a similar situation and the things they did to get by.

Hi all,

I have an assessment centre for a regional law firm coming up and we have been asked to:
"Prepare a 5-minute presentation on any subject of your choice – no slides or visuals to be used"

So, am I being an idiot if I don't pick something law-related to discuss?
And if so, what on earth can I cover in 5 minutes? It is such a short amount of time to get into anything effectively.

Some of my ideas so far are:

• Cyber Crime - a VERY brief look at the top three legal threats of the future (this firm doesn't specialise in tech law, but I have a personal interest)
• Metaverse - An intro to what it is and again, maybe look at what the top three legal issues might be associated with it

Any ideas welcome, and if anyone has done one of these before and didn't pick a legal topic - some insight into how it went would be awesome

HI all

Thanks for the help with the last question. I’m now trying to understand the SQE apprentice route - I've heard that there are relatively fewer people taking this route, and I'm curious to know about its specifications and duration.

I already have a law degree and I'm wondering if applying for the apprenticeship would lead to a shorter experience compared to other paths?

Would pursuing the SQE Apprenticeship be a more viable option for someone like me rather than obtaining a TC first and then taking the SQE? I'm interested to know if the work experience gained through the Apprenticeship is considered more legitimate or valuable than the experience gained during a TC.

Any insights into these aspects would be greatly appreciated.

Hi all, new user here. Thanks for all the answers and resources.

I was wondering: What is the best way is to get legal opportunities while applying and waiting for decisions?

I don't want to commit full time to a role so that I can fully dedicate myself to research, insight days, vac schemes etc until I get a TC.

Of course, I want to keep using my legal skills to show commitment.

I've heard Flex Legal mentioned a few times. How do they operate?

Are there any other places I should look at or ask for work?

Thanks.

Hi,
I want to start applying to law firms after the summer. As I do not have the minimum A-level requirement (ABB) for lots of top law firms, I will only apply to the law firms where I meet the A-level requirements such as DLA Piper, Clifford Chance etc. I got a BCC.

If I can not claim mitigating circumstances for my A-level results, how much will it affect my application for the law firms where I meet the A-level requirements? I am currently predicted an upper 2:1/first for my LLB law degree. I'm trying to get as much legal experience as possible. Im not sure if I can claim mitigating circumstances as during my A levels I had family problems but did not disclose this to anyone so I have no evidence.

Any advice would be helpful .

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Just a comment on an article in the Times (20/07)

'A third of students graduated with a first last summer in England despite pressure for universities to halt grade inflation... half of the firsts could not be explained by prior attainment or background, according to new figures published by the Office for Students. They also show a quarter of those who achieved three Ds at A Level were awarded a 1st class degree in 2022'

As a graduate of 2019, where less than 10% of my class were awarded a first, I wonder if graduate recruitment takes grade inflation into account. Would be grateful for any insight you could provide @Jessica Booker