My Story - don't give up.
Hello. I am new and thought that having read some of the posts on here I would let you know about me and my journey towards qualification.
I did the LPC in 04-05 at the COL after doing the GDL the year before. I did my undergraduate in Business Studies 98-01.
After the LPC and many apps to law firms here there and everywhere and got nowhere!
My boyf (not in the law) got a job 250 miles away from our home so we moved because I could (in theory, at least) practice law anywhere whereas he is in a really specialised area.
So I start temping in an accountants just doing admin stuff, really banal. I was there for about 6 months, all the time applying for TCs and not getting any interviews at the least.
I then managed to get a job in London at a firm specialising in conveyancing. I had to commute 1.5 hours there and back but at the interview (which was for a paralegal position) THEY mentioned to ME about a possible TC. So the commute seemed worth it.
It turns out that this firm were actually terrible. They treated me and the other new starters absolutely awfully. It was nothing more than a factory churning out bad work for small fees but in such volume that made is all worth while.
That combined with the commute made me decide to apply elsewhere. So I did. When I told them I was leaving they offered me a TC, and another girl, saying that they were planning on doing that all along. I thought long and hard about it. A TC is a TC after all......
But I spoke to the firm I'd just got another paralegal position with and their head of HR was really good in persuading me to come to them. So I trusted her and left the TC behind.
I came to the new firm after 6 months at the old one and started as a paralegal in their res prop department. I was running my own files and making target etc. Loving it and I knew I'd made the right choice.
Then the time came after 6 months of me being there that I had to apply for the TC with them. They are a large regional firm with a seriously good reputation for their work and their training. I honestly didn't think I stood a chance. I didn't have good a level results and a non-conformist degree....
So I applied, online app. Got through to interview. Had to write an essay for the interview and lodge it beforehand. Interview was really tough and I seriously didn't think I'd got through. Anyway, in the meantime I applied for another paralegal position at a firm closer to home and went for that interview. I really, really liked that firm and they offered the job to me. I went to tell my managing partner and he said wait, you've got through to the assessment day....so I did.
I went to the assessment day, put off the other firm. In the meantime the other firm offered me a TC!
Then after the assessment day, my current firm offered me a TC to start not in 2009 (which was the intake I was going for) but THIS November!
I was in a quandary, but have made my choice.
I just want to let you know that it is possible. I honestly nearly gave up. I sat down my fiance and told him I wasn't going to do this anymore, but was going to get a proper job....
It turns out that with hard work impressing your current firm as a trainee and proper pointed applications to other firms which would not necessarily be on your map, as it were, work.
If you want any advice, please just ask.
All is not lost. I thought it was, and I've had THREE offers, two from great, great firms.
Good luck and sorry for the epic. I didn't want to take up so much of your time!
Cfc x
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