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Hi, i have just finished my second year in Liverpool JMU and i am currentlyon a 2:2, and I am scared now that if i get a 2:2 overall my options will belimited at the end of my third year. I have wanted to be a solicitor for aslong as i can remember, but i have now realised that very few law firms willaccept anything less than a 2:1 degree. I have been trying to look for jobswhich have a legal side to them but are quite business orientated. I justwondered if you had any advice for me as to what i could do at the end of mydegree, perhaps in terms of a post-grad scheme or is there a way i couldavoid the training contract process (which i have found is a huge obstaclewith only a 2:2 degree). Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

Hi,

sorry to hear about your 2:2. You are right in thinking that getting a 2:2 is a massive barrier however don’t give up hope. I know a girl who has a training contract with a magic circle firm but graduated with a 2:2 also.

With regard to your options they are as follows:
1. you can do what is called a senior LLB (2 year course)
2. you can retake LLB (would not recommend this though)
3. take the ILEX route (its longer but you dont have to do the LPC)
4. do the LPC get a good grade and compensate for your 2:2 with work exp and practical skills which some firms class as more important
5. do a post grad in law to show off your true academic ability

Hope this helps!

Hi,

You say you’re in your second year- so you still have one year to pull your grades up.  You’re right in thinking a 2.2 will affect your chances of getting a TC, but you’re not too late to sort things out. 

You could try:
- speaking to your uni tutors about your exams / coursework and seeing where you could have improved
- speaking to your uni tutors about better revision methods
- buying revision guides
- speaking to your coursemates about revision methods
- revising in small groups
etc.

Don’t give up on getting a 2.1 yet - it will really make the difference.

In response to the above poster’s suggestions, getting a 2.2 is very difficult to compensate for.  Doing a postgrad in law will not cover up a 2.2 - plus if your academic level remains at a 2.2 it is likely (and I realise this may sound harsh) that you would struggle with a postgrad course.  Firms will still look at your undergrad degree result.  Even getting a good LPC grade will not be enough - the 2.1 is like the holy grail for the majority of firms.  Yes, some firms will focus on other skills but if you had:
a 2.1
AND
work exp
AND
practical skills
AND
a good LPC result
you will look so much better than having those things and a 2.2.  What I’m saying is that a lot of firms will immediately disregard you for having a 2.2, regardless of what else you can offer - so really focus on the 2.1.

Plus these people who get magic circle TCs with a 2.2 are few and far between.  Don’t just hope that you will be one of those people.  If you can really work hard, perhaps improve your revision style etc, then you should still be able to manage a 2.1 in your final year to pull you up.  Don’t resign yourself to a grade you may be worth more than.

Hope this helps - I don’t mean to sound negative about a 2.2, I just think that getting a 2.1 can mean the world of difference in a very competitive law graduate market, and that you still have a whole year to work towards getting it.  The work will definitely be worth it.

Good luck!

Adding to this discussion… I also have this problem, but I have already graduated. I am non-law, so have a place to take the GDL already, which is unconditional.
I was just a single mark away from a 2:1 - I was expected to get a 2:1 but due to taking on too many responsibilities during my final year (taking on too many jobs, moving in with a boyfriend etc.) I did myself some real damage. Obviously my circumstances weren’t enough to garner extenuating circumstances from my University, but I am academically capable - I just have no way of demonstrating this to training contract providers!

What can I do? I have a year before I start the GDL, and have been attempting to gain experience in the meantime, which isn’t going very well due to the 2:2. I have put my module marks on my CV out of desperation.

It has been suggested to me that I should boost my languages in some way (courses, home-learning packs etc,) as I have basic-intermediate Italian and French, but will this help?

How can I stop every employer from immediately tossing my CV in the bin?? Will strong GDL scores help?

I am fully dedicated to doing whatever I can now - even relocating abroad if I need to, or taking on anything to build my experience… this mark gave me an awakening I desperately needed long before… but I’d really like some strong advice on what I can do now?

Thanks for what has been said already by the way - Sonia you have been very useful already!

To jonnyshields24,

I have to agree with ‘hopeful’ here that you should do everything you can to get a 2:1.  A 2:2 especially on an LLB will almost kill your chances of a training contract.

And,

To 18philippa,

Since you are about to do the GDL I assume you are a non-law graduate, so if my experience is anything to go by all is not lost but it will be hard.

I got a 2:2 in Pharmacology from Leeds then studied for a law degree part time with the Open Uni as an alternative to the GDL.  From two years of applications I got 1 interview but thankfully was able to capitalise on it. 

In the first year of apps I hadn’t got my 2:1 in law yet so got standard rejections across the board.  The second year was about the same except that while Addleshaw Goddard rejected me a Vac Scheme they did invite me for an Open day (these seem to be a chance to see if people who just missed the cut deserve an opportunity when TC’s come around).  All went well from then with them and I will be eternally grateful for the opportunity.  As for the rest of the firms I applyed to, straight rejections even with the subsequent 2:1 in law.

As for what you can do to hopefully repeat my experience:

1) Explain why you got a 2:2 in your first degree. I had financial and family problems but without explaining this they would have had no idea that the grade wasn’t down to ability.

2) Apply to firms like AG that actually read app forms and care about diversity.  Many firms (Eversheds I know is an example) use automatic filtering systems which, based on that grade, will bin your app without a single person seeing it.

3) Despite point 2 only apply to firms you really want to work for.  The enthusiasm will show and you are more likely to get the TC at the end.

4) Talk to firms at law fairs so someone at the firm can have an impression of you and may be looking out for your app.

5) Get an excellent grade in the GDL.  This can help make up for your 2:2 because its showing your legal academic ability.

6) Get something in the way of work experience which will make you stand out whether its law related or not.  I worked full time at William Hill Telebetting during my law degree and moved around within the company so was able to show commercial experience and use of networking.

7) Get law experience if possible.  I found this one v difficult due to time constraints, and holiday availability from work, and I was quizzed about it at interview.

8) Don’t loose heart despite the repeated rejections and try to remain confident that you are an excellent candidate even if its hard to get anyone to see it.

Good luck