Will My A-Level Grades Affect My Applications?

[anonymousnoodle]

Hi, apologies if this is in the wrong section, but would like to seek some advice.

For background:

1. International
2. Decent O-Levels (1A+, 5A, 3B+)
3. Horrible A-Levels (CCD)
   1. Sat for my A-Levels lost and unmotivated, coupled with having to provide full-time care to a family member for approx. 1 year.
   2. Started my LLB in a low-ranked uni in my home country, before transferring to an RG uni. Graduated with a 2:1 this past summer.
   3. Really struggled in Year 1, but managed to slowly claw my way back up from a 56 in y1, to a 63 in y2, and 68 in y3.

I've managed to use my results in year 3 to get a 3-month placement within the government legal department of my home country. That said, I remain super insecure about my A-Level and Year 1 grades, and realistically what are the chances of those affecting my applications for vacation schemes/paralegal positions in the UK, as I understand it's a super competitive scene.

Thank you in advance!

 

[I’m_Batman]

Firstly, congratulations on your grades given your circumstances. Those are good O Levels too so do not talk yourself down. Achieving 68 in Y3 with extenuating circumstances is a big accomplishment and it's important you feel confident having done that.
Secondly, yes, your A Levels will have an impact but that is not necessarily reason to despair. There are a range of firms that do not require minimum A Levels to apply. However, they will still consider A-level results and look at them alongside the rest of your application and academics (how much weighting they put on these grades is difficult to say), but it just means you can apply no matter what your A-level grades are. This means you should look to become a well-rounded candidate, detail extenuating circumstances on your applications (you can opt to send these via email to grad rec), and add to your commercial work experience whether it is working as a Paralegal for companies that operate in the industries you want to specialise in legally.

Taken from some TCLA Forums:
List of firms that have no minimum A Level requirements:
Ashurt
arnold& porter
Baker mckenzie
BCLP
Clifford Chance
Freshfields
HSF
Macfarlanes
Womble
Gowling
PwC
Reed Smith
Browne Jacobson
Bird & Bird
Skadden
Sullivan & Cromwell
Milbank
Akin Gump
Davis Polk & Wardwell
Firms with no academic requirements at all:
Bevan Brittan - If no 2:1 degree then 3 years of commercial experience
BLM
Browne Jacobson
DLA Piper
Irwin Mitchell
Lewis Silkin
Osborne Clark

 

[Lawandmore]

Hey, I achieved BCC at A-Level, graduated from a non-russel group university with a 2:1 (including scoring 2:2s in my first year) and have just secured a Training Contract at Osborne Clarke. You can definitely do it! Please feel free to message if you have any questions or think that I could help!

 

[anonymousnoodle]

Thank you both @google_was_my_idea & @Lawandmore for your replies!

It's really reassuring having heard that, guess my next course of action will be to make sure my applications moving forward are bulletproof, and continue to gain any experience I can.

 

[rola05]

Hey, I achieved BCC at A-Level, graduated from a non-russel group university with a 2:1 (including scoring 2:2s in my first year) and have just secured a Training Contract at Osborne Clarke. You can definitely do it! Please feel free to message if you have any questions or think that I could help!

Hello, I am in a similar position as you was and just wondering what steps you took to achieve this?