Recent Law Graduate Seeks Advice on Paralegal Applications/Next Steps

[boots]

Hi all, hope everyone reading this is well. ☺️


I am an international student who recently graduated with a 2:1 in law from a solid university (i.e. LSE/UCL), but did not manage to secure a TC. I will be staying in London on a graduate visa and am hoping for advice on my applications strategy for the coming years.

I have been advised that experience as a paralegal would put me in a strong position for VS/TC applications in the coming cycles. However, I have also heard that paralegal roles can be very competitive, often requiring experience (which I do not have). I am also unfamiliar with other general expectations like working hours, length of employment, pay, etc. Are there specific roles/areas I should be aiming for? (i.e. firms that have a paralegal-trainee pipeline, or specific practice areas that large law firms particularly appreciate when considering applications).

Could anyone please share where I could learn more about this? I would especially appreciate insights from people who secured TC's after paralegaling for a while (and the impact of that experience on your interviews/AC's, etc), or those who chose alternative paths (and your reasons why).


Thank you!

 

[ZNadeem]

Hi all, hope everyone reading this is well. ☺️


I am an international student who recently graduated with a 2:1 in law from a solid university (i.e. LSE/UCL), but did not manage to secure a TC. I will be staying in London on a graduate visa and am hoping for advice on my applications strategy for the coming years.

I have been advised that experience as a paralegal would put me in a strong position for VS/TC applications in the coming cycles. However, I have also heard that paralegal roles can be very competitive, often requiring experience (which I do not have). I am also unfamiliar with other general expectations like working hours, length of employment, pay, etc. Are there specific roles/areas I should be aiming for? (i.e. firms that have a paralegal-trainee pipeline, or specific practice areas that large law firms particularly appreciate when considering applications).

Could anyone please share where I could learn more about this? I would especially appreciate insights from people who secured TC's after paralegaling for a while (and the impact of that experience on your interviews/AC's, etc), or those who chose alternative paths (and your reasons why).


Thank you!

Hi! While I haven’t worked as a paralegal myself, here are some insights based on my conversations with friends who have:

1. Paralegal roles are competitive, but not impossible—applying widely and tailoring your applications to each firm will improve your chances.
2. Legal experience is not strictly needed for vacation schemes, so you could apply for schemes while working as a paralegal if that fits your situation. Some firms may have a paralegal → TC pipeline, but this is very rare—most firms still recruit primarily through vacation schemes and direct TC applications.
3. In terms of pay, hours, and length: paralegal roles often vary by firm and practice area, but expect standard city-law working hours (often 40–50/week, sometimes more in busy periods), contract lengths ranging from 6–12 months, and salaries that differ by firm (you can check graduate schemes websites or Chambers for indicative pay).
4. Don’t stress about picking “MC-specific” roles—what matters most is demonstrating transferable skills.

 

[Abbie Whitlock]

Hi all, hope everyone reading this is well. ☺️


I am an international student who recently graduated with a 2:1 in law from a solid university (i.e. LSE/UCL), but did not manage to secure a TC. I will be staying in London on a graduate visa and am hoping for advice on my applications strategy for the coming years.

I have been advised that experience as a paralegal would put me in a strong position for VS/TC applications in the coming cycles. However, I have also heard that paralegal roles can be very competitive, often requiring experience (which I do not have). I am also unfamiliar with other general expectations like working hours, length of employment, pay, etc. Are there specific roles/areas I should be aiming for? (i.e. firms that have a paralegal-trainee pipeline, or specific practice areas that large law firms particularly appreciate when considering applications).

Could anyone please share where I could learn more about this? I would especially appreciate insights from people who secured TC's after paralegaling for a while (and the impact of that experience on your interviews/AC's, etc), or those who chose alternative paths (and your reasons why).


Thank you!

Hi @boots. I am well, thank you - I hope you are too!

Congratulations on your recent graduation! I thought I would share my thoughts on your questions above - for context, I completed a placement year as a paralegal during my undergraduate degree, and I think this was super helpful for securing Vacation Schemes and my TC.

From what I've seen (and experienced!), paralegal roles can definitely strengthen your applications, and they give you solid examples to draw on at interviews and show firms you're committed to a legal career. I found that my role really helped me in a number of ways, such as:

• Having a broad range of experiences to reflect on for competency style questions
• Strengthening my motivational answers, as I was able to share what I liked about my paralegal role
• Having an understanding of the 'unwritten' office rules, and how to interact professionally in an office environment, and
• Understanding certain systems, such as document management systems and time recording software

That said, they are competitive, so don't feel discouraged if you don't land one right away. Mid-size commercial firms and boutiques can be a good place to start, and they are likely to give you more responsibility early on which can be great to build your skills and experiences. For example, I was a paralegal at a boutique firm in London, and I sometimes completed tasks that might be considered trainee-level at some larger firms.

If you are keen to gain some experience, you could potentially look into legal assistant or administrative roles in a law firm. Whilst there isn't the paralegal-trainee pipeline, you will still get good exposure to legal work and have experiences to draw from during interviews for VS / TCs.

Pay and hours vary a lot, but in London you can expect anywhere between £24k-£40k with hours sometimes mirroring trainee workloads in busier teams. The length of contracts will also vary a lot - I know of some paralegals who have contracts that are 4 months, and some that are 12 months. That being said, there may be the opportunity to extend your contract if it is for a short period of time, so always keep that in mind.

I wouldn't say that there is necessarily any specific areas that you should be aiming for. I paralegalled in a Commercial Property firm, and most of my vacation scheme experiences have been in other sectors. I have found that the skills I learnt whilst doing my job were more beneficial than the specific knowledge I gained in that practice area.

Best of luck!!