Poor contract module grade, but 2:1 average.

henryc1271

New Member
Jul 19, 2021
2
0
Hi,

I'm currently going into my second year at Exeter university and received a 2:1 average for my first year. However, I struggled with contract law. I had poor mental health in term 2, and I found it very difficult to work as a result. Needless to say, I sorted myself out a month and a bit before my end of year exams, and worked non stop. Despite this, I didn't manage to salvage contract law, and I ended up with a 54% (2:2) as my final module grade for it.

Will this 2:2 effect my chance of getting a training contract at a magic circle firm, or any London firm in the future?

First year results
Criminal law (64%)
Legal foundations (64%)
Constitutional and Administrative law (62%)
Contract Law (54%)
 

Daniel Boden

Legendary Member
Trainee
Highest Rated Member
  • Sep 6, 2018
    1,537
    3,856
    Hi,

    I'm currently going into my second year at Exeter university and received a 2:1 average for my first year. However, I struggled with contract law. I had poor mental health in term 2, and I found it very difficult to work as a result. Needless to say, I sorted myself out a month and a bit before my end of year exams, and worked non stop. Despite this, I didn't manage to salvage contract law, and I ended up with a 54% (2:2) as my final module grade for it.

    Will this 2:2 effect my chance of getting a training contract at a magic circle firm, or any London firm in the future?

    First year results
    Criminal law (64%)
    Legal foundations (64%)
    Constitutional and Administrative law (62%)
    Contract Law (54%)
    The short answer is no, not at all since you got a 2.1 overall and normally first year results don't count towards your final degree anyway :)
     
    • Like
    Reactions: Jaysen

    Kola

    Legendary Member
    Sep 27, 2020
    125
    726
    Will this 2:2 in contract BAR you from being considered? No. Will the 2:2 affect your chances? Possibly. There are firms like Slaughter & May, Cleary Gottlieb and Sullivan & Cromwell, amongst others, who are rather stingy when it comes to this stuff. They could pass you up for a candidate with a better mark, hereby reducing your chances, so it is something to think about when considering which firms to apply to.
     

    Jacob Miller

    Legendary Member
    Future Trainee
    Forum Team
  • Feb 15, 2020
    897
    2,389
    I would echo most of the advice here in saying that it's highly unlikely to negatively impact your chances broadly speaking. There are some first who are an exception to this - Slaughters definitely being one in my experience - but broadly speaking I really don't foresee this being a particular issue for you in the long run.

    Good luck!
     

    Katie_H_22

    Standard Member
    Jan 20, 2023
    6
    1
    I got a 47% in contract and still got interviews at US firms. You'll be fine.
    Really? Which firms, if you don't mind my asking? I just posted a thread about module mark worries; in short, although I secured solid 2:1 averages from Oxford in my second and final years, I did get a few 2:2 marks in my breakdown as well. (It was a non-law degree)
     

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