Advice please

[sparkleshine]

Hope someone can offer me some advice.

I did the LLB several years ago and the LPC I did 2 years ago. I worked for some Financial Services orgainisations for several years doing mainly admin/support work. At present time I am working as a Paralegal (in house). I did do a bit of probono work whilst doing the LPC.

I just feel as though I am not getting any where. It may be that my awful A Levels (I mean very awful) are to blame. It's like I have just given up and I don't know what I am doing any more. The frustration of it all is making me angry, stressed and I don't want to be like this.

In the beginning I was hopeful, I knew I wanted to be a Solicitor but now it's like im not the same person anymore. I still want to be a Solicitor, im in my late 20's now and I just don't know what I am doing any more.

Every day is just the same, im getting more stressed, angry and I feel as though i have not achieved anything. I just end up going round and round in circles.

[Ganymede]

What did you get in your degree?

Depending on what size/type of firm you are applying for your a-levels won't be as important as your degree grade. Obviously you're not going to get a TC at a MC or city firm but there are plenty of regional and high street firms out there that you can apply to.

You don't say what area of law you want to work in or where abouts in the country you are...

[Lex_100]

Hope someone can offer me some advice.


Every day is just the same, im getting more stressed, angry and I feel as though i have not achieved anything. I just end up going round and round in circles.

Have you spoken to your superiors / HR about this? What are their views about your prospects?

[sparkleshine]

Hi

I am in the Midlands. My elective choices were Employment, Family and Commercial.

I have a 2:1 in Law. The HR department where I work are clueless possibly because the in house dept is not huge and everyone keeps themselves to themselves. Majority of the people in the organisation do not do legal work so were kind of like a unique team. It's like everyone is trying to get everyone else back, no one wants the other person doing well.

I am seriously considering carrying on with my legal job but doing A levels again part time. I can't carry one like this forever, not getting anywhere with my career is making me mad. I wake up in the night just think and still not get any where.

What do you guys think?

I appreciate people actually trying to help. I think this is the only place where I can be open and trust people will give their honest view.

[Ganymede]

Hi

I am in the Midlands. My elective choices were Employment, Family and Commercial.

I have a 2:1 in Law. The HR department where I work are clueless possibly because the in house dept is not huge and everyone keeps themselves to themselves. Majority of the people in the organisation do not do legal work so were kind of like a unique team. It's like everyone is trying to get everyone else back, no one wants the other person doing well.

I am seriously considering carrying on with my legal job but doing A levels again part time. I can't carry one like this forever, not getting anywhere with my career is making me mad. I wake up in the night just think and still not get any where.

What do you guys think?

I appreciate people actually trying to help. I think this is the only place where I can be open and trust people will give their honest view.

If you have a 2:1 then you should at least get to a fair few interviews at the regional/national firms. Have you tried IM in Birmingham for example?

How many applications have you actually made this year so far? Maybe your CV and covering letter need more work?

I would not give up as your 2:1 will be a big advantage.

[sparkleshine]

Hi only made a couple of applications but they said no. My A levels put me off.

Not tried IM. Do you think I should re-take A Levels or how do I go about sorting my mess out. I have not ever done a vac placement.

[sparkleshine]

It could be as you suggested I have been trying to aim to high and negelected the high street and regional firms.

[lsnryvb]

It could be as you suggested I have been trying to aim to high and negelected the high street and regional firms.

I don't have a huge amount of experience so I don't know how good my advice will be, but it seems to me like you just need to spread your net a bit wider. What is it you actually want to do, what type of law?

If you have a department and a region in mind then just search on the student chambers guide and read up on the firms. It doesn't have the very smallest firms, but it does have quite a few regionals on there and you can get a basic feel for the firms from reading through the site. Pick a few you like the sound of and write applications.

I think it's easier to do if you're at least vaguely excited by the firm and the type of work they do. I've decided on the area I'm most interested in and them I'm applying to all different firms; I've made a spreadsheet to make sure I have a good balance between MC, US firms, internationals, nationals, regionals, and even dinky little local firms (if they do corporate/banking/finance work that is). I don't know for sure what type of firm I'd fit in to so I guess I'm leaving that up to firms to decide for themselves. Don't count anything out because you might be missing out on the perfect opportunity.

I know it's hard to motivate yourself, but once you force yourself to get back into applications you might get wrapped up enough to keep yourself going!

Good luck x

[Ganymede]

Hi only made a couple of applications but they said no. My A levels put me off.

Not tried IM. Do you think I should re-take A Levels or how do I go about sorting my mess out. I have not ever done a vac placement.

As lsnryvb says, you have said what area of law you want to practice in.

I would not re-take a-levels, it'd be a waste of time an effort and would raise too many questions at an interview and will probably look bad.

What firms have you applied to?

DO you want to actually tellus your a-level grades? I bet they're not as bad as you think...

[hotmama]

Hope someone can offer me some advice.

I did the LLB several years ago and the LPC I did 2 years ago. I worked for some Financial Services orgainisations for several years doing mainly admin/support work. At present time I am working as a Paralegal (in house). I did do a bit of probono work whilst doing the LPC.

I just feel as though I am not getting any where. It may be that my awful A Levels (I mean very awful) are to blame. It's like I have just given up and I don't know what I am doing any more. The frustration of it all is making me angry, stressed and I don't want to be like this.

In the beginning I was hopeful, I knew I wanted to be a Solicitor but now it's like im not the same person anymore. I still want to be a Solicitor, im in my late 20's now and I just don't know what I am doing any more.

Every day is just the same, im getting more stressed, angry and I feel as though i have not achieved anything. I just end up going round and round in circles.

Hi there

I know exactly how u feel. I went through a year of that before landing my tc which btw is now stressing me out even more than the search but thats another thread!!

Anyway i just want you to know I had no A levels in fact I left school at 15 and didnt go to uni till i was 21. Had no qualifications prior to my 2.1 in law. I applied to every law firm in the region. Searched the smaller ones and targeted them too. All in all it must be over 200 places I applied to. I had so many rejections I began to doubt myself and gave up searching cos the search was doing my life no favours when i got that call. I was initially rejected by this firm but when the initial trainee pulled out i was 2nd in the queue.

What im trying to say is chances are your a levels isnt whats keeping you back it is likely to be the lack of applications. You have a lot goiing for you ie. the 2.1 and legal work etc. You just need to persevere and stay motivated. Easier said than done but do try.

This is a numbers game the more you apply the more chances there are you will land something. There is however the possibility that you might not get there but at least then you knew you had tried. You will know when to give up. Its the point when you dont care anymore and realise there honestly are more important things in life i.e you mental wellbeing

all the very best