Looking for Advice, feeling defeated

[rynpin]

Long-time lurker, this is my first time posting.

I'm not sure how to begin this post, so I will start with some context. I am currently a Canadian 23M and have been applying for vacation schemes in the UK for the past 6-ish months. I graduated from a dual degree business program between a university here in Canada and another one in China (graduated with a high 2.1 or 1st, depending on what conversion scale you use). Last year, I was able to secure a vacation scheme with a top 5 global firm last year in London, which was a great experience and frankly confirmed my decision to start my legal career in the UK rather than Canada. I am currently self-sponsored and hold an HPI visa. Hope this paints a clearer picture.

To put it plainly, this last recruitment cycle has been brutal, and I haven't had nearly the same success I did last time. Although it isn't the end of the world, because I currently have a full-time job in a bank here in Canada, I am just a bit lost on what to do next. I feel so utterly defeated by my lack of success this recruitment cycle; however, I still remain certain that I want to be a commercial solicitor. I am currently still applying, and in the process for some, its just been one PFO after another.

Most of the advice on this forum seems to be tailored towards people with established legal careers looking to lateral or having graduated from a UK university and then applying from there. It feels as though I am at such a strategic disadvantage applying from Canada, but I know that packing my things up and just moving to the UK isn't much of an option either. I am not going to quit trying, but I feel rather helpless in my current situation.

My question to the community: What can I do to bring myself one step closer to this career goal?
https://www.reddit.com/submit/?source_id=t3_1r1j9p0

 

[Alison C]

Long-time lurker, this is my first time posting.

I'm not sure how to begin this post, so I will start with some context. I am currently a Canadian 23M and have been applying for vacation schemes in the UK for the past 6-ish months. I graduated from a dual degree business program between a university here in Canada and another one in China (graduated with a high 2.1 or 1st, depending on what conversion scale you use). Last year, I was able to secure a vacation scheme with a top 5 global firm last year in London, which was a great experience and frankly confirmed my decision to start my legal career in the UK rather than Canada. I am currently self-sponsored and hold an HPI visa. Hope this paints a clearer picture.

To put it plainly, this last recruitment cycle has been brutal, and I haven't had nearly the same success I did last time. Although it isn't the end of the world, because I currently have a full-time job in a bank here in Canada, I am just a bit lost on what to do next. I feel so utterly defeated by my lack of success this recruitment cycle; however, I still remain certain that I want to be a commercial solicitor. I am currently still applying, and in the process for some, its just been one PFO after another.

Most of the advice on this forum seems to be tailored towards people with established legal careers looking to lateral or having graduated from a UK university and then applying from there. It feels as though I am at such a strategic disadvantage applying from Canada, but I know that packing my things up and just moving to the UK isn't much of an option either. I am not going to quit trying, but I feel rather helpless in my current situation.

My question to the community: What can I do to bring myself one step closer to this career goal?
https://www.reddit.com/submit/?source_id=t3_1r1j9p0

Hi - I'm sorry you are despondent, and that no one has responded yet. Also to caveat, I'm not able to offer many words of comfort!

You've said it yourself: the process is brutal. Six months is a mere sliver of time compared with many TC journeys - not even a full cycle, never mind a calendar year. There is a sense of 'beginners' luck' which it sounds as if you also recognise. Further, the legal market is experiencing significant turmoil. The UK economy, the SQE and the AI revolution are all key factors that are making firms, already notoriously risk-averse, potentially even more conservative in their hiring strategies.

The answers you can generate from Claude, Chat GPT and others, may be fuller than mine. But essentially (1) you just need to keep going, potentially targeting finance-heavy firms where your background will be useful; (2) construct short-, medium- and long-term strategies that may involve sitting the SQE1 in a couple of years if you still aren't getting anywhere and feel that you can afford to put your money where your mouth is, and that this will keep the momentum up, and (3) consider a different pathway (eg CiiLex/qualifying in Canada and applying to Canadian firms in London) or a different career.

It is noticeable that you don't have any legal qualifications. Could you, for example, do a Masters in an area of law that interests you and might be a good use of time in any case? Possibly distance learning from a UK university? Or actually, would you rather do an MBA?

Essentially, you probably need to recommit, or to redirect. Question yourself - has the dream actually been missold? To quote Daniel Roseberry (not a lawyer, rather the creative director at Schiaparelli, but bear with me) 'dreams are expensive'. And it's not just about money.

So you need to think in steps of different sizes and different types, rather than measuring the actual number.

Hope that helps a little! Good luck and let us know.