LLM at UCL vs. moving to London now - advice on vacation schemes and next steps

[thrisha_h]

Hi everyone,
I’m a recent Durham law graduate (July 2026, 68% LLB) and I’ve received an offer to start the LLM at UCL on 28 September. My main goal is to secure a vacation scheme at a commercial law firm in London in this application cycle. So far, I’ve applied to around 15 vacation schemes but haven’t been shortlisted yet.
I’m trying to decide between:

• Accepting the UCL LLM offer and applying to vacation schemes while studying; or

• Declining the offer, moving to London regardless, and focusing on paralegal roles alongside vacation scheme applications.

I’d really appreciate any advice from people who’ve been in a similar position, or who have insights on:

• How much (if at all) an LLM helps with vacation scheme / training contract applications at commercial firms;

• Whether it’s worth taking on the LLM time‑wise if the primary aim is a TC;

• Any strategies that helped you get shortlisted after multiple rejections.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts or experiences you can share.