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Message: <blockquote data-quote="James Carrabino" data-source="post: 107281" data-attributes="member: 16764">Hi [USER=21203]@lpcstudent2021[/USER], thank you for posting! First of all, congratulations on your 2.1 and your Distinction in the GDL - I am in the middle of the GDL and I know how hard that is to achieve 🤣 I can't claim to be an expert on the precise rationale behind safety net policies, but my inclination would be to say that they were put in place for a variety of extremely valid reasons arising from pandemic disruptions. I cannot imagine that they were instigated simply in order to throw students a bone and make them feel good about their grades. Consequently, it would make a mockery of this policy if employers were not to consider your grades at face value! The disruptions were enormous and safety net policies tried to at least mitigate the effects a little.The one difficulty with these policies is that firms have less information to work with when differentiating between candidates, so the other things inevitably count more. Let's dig into the other components of your application!<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">First of all, GCSEs and A Levels are not particularly important. Once you meet the baseline criteria (and many firms no longer even have one), they will not play a further role in your application.</li> </ul><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Secondly, it sounds like you have an excellent mix of extra-curriculars; congratulations! This was a strong area of mine too when applying and I tended to find that my extra-curricular activities appealed more to US firms than UK firms, as I have written about <a href="https://www.thecorporatelawacademy.com/forum/threads/tcla-vacation-scheme-applications-discussion-thread-2021-22-1.4197/post-105818" target="_blank">here</a>. You may wish to target more American firms during your next application cycle.</li> </ul><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Thirdly, I am wondering what work experience you have. What is your part-time job? If you are able to get yourself any legal work experience, I have noticed that this gives applicants a significant upper hand in the application process. Even if you got involved in something such as Pro Bono at ULaw, for example, this could show that you know what it is like to do work that involves law. Regardless, you need to make sure that you are really conveying the transferrable skills you have developed in whatever work experience you do have - that is key to making recruiters notice what you have to offer!</li> </ul><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Finally, the application process can really be a numbers game at times. If I had only submitted 12 applications, I would also have come away empty-handed. Instead, I submitted 40 applications and ended up with 3 vac schemes and 2 direct TC offers. It was only after submitting my 32nd application that I received my first Video Interview invitation, which came from the 13th application I submitted! Literally, the first 12 apps I submitted were immediate PFOs.</li> </ul>In conclusion, the application process is not only a numbers game but a learning experience. I know that it was not dumb luck (or misfortune) which meant that my first 12 apps were unsuccessful - I made an effort to constantly reflect and self-assess my applications. Every application I wrote was a little better than the one before until I started seeing results.I know that with your impressive background, you have what it takes to get a TC at a top firm. Don't worry about your grades, which are already said and done. Focus on the things that you can control such as the quality of your written applications, and see whether you are able to get any legal work experience in the meantime.I definitely suggest that you make some direct Training Contract applications in the summer (I received two TC offers this way). I think that you still have a great shot of getting a TC by the end of the year <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />Please reach out if you have any further queries and I hope that this all helps 😊</blockquote>

Verification: Our company is called, "The Corporate ___ Academy". What is the missing word here?

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