2:2 in Law can I still pursue a career as a corporate solicitor?

[Aspiringlawyer792]

Hi, is anyone in my position or can you direct me to the best option? I was a covid student so my A-level grades were cancelled so when I got BCC I was just happy with not sitting the exam not realising the impact it could make in the future. Then I went to uni to do LLB Law and really struggled with family issues in 2nd year and landed with a 57% 2:2. I got a first-class in my dissertation and I would really love to aspire to a career as a corporate solicitor. Any tips or advice on what I can do to stand out in applications, which firms I should consider applying and anyone in a similar position?

 

[TCLA Community Assistant]

You may want to consider legal roles in the public sector, such as the GLD or local government. They typically do not have minimum academic criteria and will just assess you against competencies they want to see in candidates.

Alternatively you may want to look at alternative routes, such as paralegalling, and then proving your capabilities internally before being asked to be considered for a training contract.

If you can afford to do so, you may also want to consider funding the SQE yourself if you feel confident you could pass the assessments. One of the concerns with academics is that there is a very strong correlation between previous academic performance and passing the SQE assessments and therefore firms will feel more assured if you have passed this of your own accord.