Mature students vs spotty A level students - Training contract, trainee solicitor and law student information and resources

LegalsmEAGLE · #1 (**permalink**) 6th December 2008, 18:50

Do Mature students have the upperhand??

Discuss...

unlikelyheroine · #2 (**permalink**) 6th December 2008, 19:19

What if the mature students are spotty and the A-level students have effectively used Clearasil?

In truth, neither really have the upper hand, but there seems to be an attitude amongst some mature students that they MUST be better than younger people because of their life experience. In some cases they are better candidates than some other younger TC hunters, and in others, they're not. After all, years of experience in another job isn't necessarily the best preparation for two years of being a legal apprentice. It might help, and it might hinder. All depends.

LegalsmEAGLE · #3 (**permalink**) 6th December 2008, 21:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by unlikelyheroine

What if the mature students are spotty and the A-level students have effectively used Clearasil?

lol I like how you put a spin on that.

sumoking · #4 (**permalink**) 8th December 2008, 15:21

We would never hire someone riddled with acne. It's not a good look for the firm.

The fresh faced types the tip up generally cause mayhem by knowing nothing, or thinking they know how to do things better.

Mature students rely far too much on common sense when they should be double checking and boilerplating things.

all in all kids are more annoying mature students are more likely to get you sued.

LegalsmEAGLE · #5 (**permalink**) 8th December 2008, 16:04

Going off on a slight tangent, how difficult is it securing a TC with a top 50 city firm, as a mature student?

sumoking · #6 (**permalink**) 9th December 2008, 09:40

phone some HR gimps up, say 'Hi I'm a mature student how many mature students did you take on in your recent intake?'

you'll get a far more sensible answer.

Mature students being rare is no excuse not to apply.

Del · #7 (**permalink**) 9th December 2008, 11:41

Isn't it more the case of the attitude of the individual as opposed to the persons age? When I was doing the LPC there were students there fresh out of uni (I wasn't a 'mature' student I was about 22 but had taken a year out to work for solicitors) who were there for the sake of it and had no clue what they wanted to do or whether they really wanted to be a solicitor. Surely that sort of person would not come over so well in an interview as opposed to the mature student who had made a conscious decision to change their career?

Similarly there was a mature student on the LPC I was quite friendly with but her attitude was 'I'm old and no one will want me'. My view was with that attitude alone she will be doing herself more harm than good as she was already writing herself off which I suppose was a defence mechanism against the descrimination she may face later on.

LegalsmEAGLE · #8 (**permalink**) 9th December 2008, 14:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Del

Isn't it more the case of the attitude of the individual as opposed to the persons age? When I was doing the LPC there were students there fresh out of uni (I wasn't a 'mature' student I was about 22 but had taken a year out to work for solicitors) who were there for the sake of it and had no clue what they wanted to do or whether they really wanted to be a solicitor. Surely that sort of person would not come over so well in an interview as opposed to the mature student who had made a conscious decision to change their career?

Similarly there was a mature student on the LPC I was quite friendly with but her attitude was 'I'm old and no one will want me'. My view was with that attitude alone she will get be doing herself more harm than good as she was already writing herself off which I suppose was a defence mechanism against the descrimination she may face later on.

*strokes chin*

Interesting...

Del · #9 (**permalink**) 9th December 2008, 14:43

well, I just don't believe in one particular 'group' being better than another!

The only difference is advantage, younger candidates have an advantage over mature candidates because they appear to be more 'pliable'.

Having built up a lot of hands-on experience as a paralegal I had gone for a TC interview where it was quite clear the interviewer was pissed off at my individual thinking i.e. "if you were working here you would have to come back and ask someone senior what to do"! Boy that was me told! And the question was:

"You're in court clerking a case and your client tells you that he thinks the barrister is an idiot, what do you do?"

My response: "I would ask him why he thinks the barrister is an idiot and see if I could resolve the issue between them but if the client is adament he doesn't like the barrister I would consider contacting chambers to organise a change of counsel"

Why do I need someone to tell what me to do about that?! Sheesh talk about wanting a 'text book' response

wishbone · #10 (**permalink**) 9th December 2008, 22:17

I am 29. I just kept applying until I found the right firm for me. Just keep working towards what you want. If you work hard enough you will get the elusive tc! I applied to 87 firms in 2 semesters at the College of Law. In the end I got my tc through a vac scheme...