Firms I shouldn't be applying to as an Non-Russel group student

[achramore]

I've spoken to a few people over the last days and I was advised not to apply to certain firms (Macfarlanes, Clifford Chance, Slaughter May, ...) are those firms are mostly interested in Oxbridge students and I would simply be wasting my time. (I am a law student at non RG university)

How do you guys feel about the advice I got?

 

[AJ]

Think the advice is total rubbish - and that’s putting it politely!!! (Except for perhaps slaugthers). Who is the advice from?

For example, I think I’m right in saying Macfarlanes don’t even have any A-level grade requirements or if they do they’re really low.

Grades are important. Which brings Oxbridge into play. But both are only one factor. I think further education, experience, activities, etc are equally as important.
Perhaps what they meant was that due to how competitive it is at the firms you mentioned it’s better to manage expectations and apply at other places as well. But even so if you’ve got the experience, grades, and a good application being non Russell shouldn’t hold you back.

 

[Jaysen]

Agree it's rubbish.

 

[Sandrou]

Agree with the above.

Don’t allow people to project their failures onto you. Just because X person didn’t get a vat scheme or Tc at X firm doesn’t mean YOU won’t.

A friend of mine recently got a TC from Squires patton boggs. Interestingly, he also attended a non-RG. Just keep going & persevere!

 

[P. Dybala]

Here I show you why you shouldn't give up.

Elizabeth S - Univerity of Hertfordshire - Trainee at Freshfields - https://www.aspiringsolicitors.co.uk/ambassador/elizabeth/

Rebecca C - Univeristy of Brunel - Trainee at Allen Overy - https://www.aspiringsolicitors.co.uk/ambassador/rebecca-c/

Stephaine Beams - Uni of Westminster - Trainee at Travers Smith - https://www.aspiringsolicitors.co.uk/ambassador/copy-copy-copy-copy-copy-copy/

Stephaine - Uni of Sussex - Trainee at Clifford Chance - https://www.aspiringsolicitors.co.uk/ambassador/stephanie/

This is just an example to show you that you can make it. But this means you will have to work twice as hard and if you are willing to do that, it may take some time, it will take time but I promise you just like the people above you will make it into such firms.

A great strategy that I have followed is in your first round of applications try to apply to lower firms because at the start your application won't be that good your reasoning won't be great but with time it will become better and then you will be ready to show the MC/SC firms what you are really capable of.

Btw - I dont know if firms still apply the automatic filter, I am guessing your A-levels are holding you back. I would read up on the FAQ section on firm because some do state that they read every single application irrespective of whether it meets their criteria or not.

P.S. - would probably not bother with Slaughters though.