Hey!! I thought it might be fun to turn what is likely going to be a long journey into a thread so that maybe others feel a little less alone?? Also because, to be brutally honest, if I don't have something to hold me accountable, I will procrastinate :')
I figured I should probably set the scene a bit. I've just finished all my assessments for my final year of my law degree and am now in the very weird gap between finishing uni and graduation. I went to a non-russell group uni and got 3 As at A-level (for context, I did my A-levels in 2022 when RG unis raised their law requirements to A*AA because there was more students than usual). I at least will finish with a 2:1, but have had firsts in quite a few modules (including my diss) and am toeing the line between a 2:1 and a first, so really these last couple results determine it.
As for where I went to end up, the goal is to be a commercial solicitor. I'm particularly interested in less litigious work, things to do with technology and where the law is still evolving to keep up interests me a lot (I'm a nerd lol). I've got a lot of artistic/creative hobbies so I like when stuff involves that part of my brain. Who knows what practice group I'll end up in, since I find a lot of things interesting, but hopefully that gives you some idea of the kind of person I am!
This cycle, I applied for like 6 firms I think? Got to the virtual interview and online assessment part of it (I don't know the fancy forum acronyms yet) and failed! What did we learn from that? Use your uni's careers team! That's probably going to be the running.. well, thread, throughout this thread since I intend to actually make use of them this time! I also intend to actually apply to all the firms on my list. I think I had around 12 I wanted to apply for but deadlines approached and I got so fixated on assignments that they just slipped through my fingers *cue ABBA* which was not good!
I also am currently jobless (woo) so, since there'll at the very least be year, if not two or three, between now and when I start my TC/SQEs I will find something to fill my time between now and then. Honestly, the idea of having an office job sounds fun (that itself feels like a giant recession indicator haha) so I'm happy to get that experience before entering my TC - it'll probably make me a much better candidate since I'm lacking in that department a bit. On the note of SQEs, I don't want to self-fund and am hoping to get it funded by a firm but, who knows, if anyone thinks that might be a good option, I'm always open to hearing it.
So what's the plan?
1) Get a job (yay income) OR/AND find some work experience to fill the time (yay cv fillers)
2) Do firm research between now & the start of the next cycle to get some basic answers written (yay planning)
3) Keep in touch with my careers department and use their help
4) Get a training contract?? :0
There'll likely be a lot of little steps between now and then so we'll see how that goes!! At the very least, even if I don't secure a TC between now and the next cycle, I will have a thread detailing all the smart moves and setbacks along the way that will help me do better next time
(the thread title from treacherous by taylor swift btw bc i couldn't help myself)
TL;DR
Jobless almost-graduate attempts to get a job and training contract - join her for wacky shenanigans
I figured I should probably set the scene a bit. I've just finished all my assessments for my final year of my law degree and am now in the very weird gap between finishing uni and graduation. I went to a non-russell group uni and got 3 As at A-level (for context, I did my A-levels in 2022 when RG unis raised their law requirements to A*AA because there was more students than usual). I at least will finish with a 2:1, but have had firsts in quite a few modules (including my diss) and am toeing the line between a 2:1 and a first, so really these last couple results determine it.
As for where I went to end up, the goal is to be a commercial solicitor. I'm particularly interested in less litigious work, things to do with technology and where the law is still evolving to keep up interests me a lot (I'm a nerd lol). I've got a lot of artistic/creative hobbies so I like when stuff involves that part of my brain. Who knows what practice group I'll end up in, since I find a lot of things interesting, but hopefully that gives you some idea of the kind of person I am!
This cycle, I applied for like 6 firms I think? Got to the virtual interview and online assessment part of it (I don't know the fancy forum acronyms yet) and failed! What did we learn from that? Use your uni's careers team! That's probably going to be the running.. well, thread, throughout this thread since I intend to actually make use of them this time! I also intend to actually apply to all the firms on my list. I think I had around 12 I wanted to apply for but deadlines approached and I got so fixated on assignments that they just slipped through my fingers *cue ABBA* which was not good!
I also am currently jobless (woo) so, since there'll at the very least be year, if not two or three, between now and when I start my TC/SQEs I will find something to fill my time between now and then. Honestly, the idea of having an office job sounds fun (that itself feels like a giant recession indicator haha) so I'm happy to get that experience before entering my TC - it'll probably make me a much better candidate since I'm lacking in that department a bit. On the note of SQEs, I don't want to self-fund and am hoping to get it funded by a firm but, who knows, if anyone thinks that might be a good option, I'm always open to hearing it.
So what's the plan?
1) Get a job (yay income) OR/AND find some work experience to fill the time (yay cv fillers)
2) Do firm research between now & the start of the next cycle to get some basic answers written (yay planning)
3) Keep in touch with my careers department and use their help
4) Get a training contract?? :0
There'll likely be a lot of little steps between now and then so we'll see how that goes!! At the very least, even if I don't secure a TC between now and the next cycle, I will have a thread detailing all the smart moves and setbacks along the way that will help me do better next time
(the thread title from treacherous by taylor swift btw bc i couldn't help myself)
TL;DR
Jobless almost-graduate attempts to get a job and training contract - join her for wacky shenanigans
