Career Clinic: Will I pay the price for poor grades?

I have very poor A-level results and managed to secure a TC at a top 15 firm. Your A-levels are not that much of a factor now that you have finished your degree and achieved a high 2:1. Hopefully your GDL results are of a similar (or better) calibre.

What is important is that you are able to justify to the firm that despite your A-level results you are more than confident that you surpass the academic threshold to work at a city firm which, you can do given your degree results.

I am not sure that a year out is the way to go because it is a gap in the CV that you will have to explain a potential employer (assuming you do not want to travel ect). I understand that you want to fill this time with work experience but times are tough out there and this is easier said than done.

If I was in your position I would proceed with the LPC (if you can afford it) and believe in your ability to secure a TC. Although competition is fierce there are TC's out there to secure so why can't you be one of those people who grabs one?

Anonymous -06 Jul 2009 | 11:02

I had awful A-Levels and a 2:2 non-law degree. I worked in industry before getting a commendation for the GDL. Despite my poor grades, I managed to secure a TC with a top City firm. I had mitigating circumstances for my grades but it was a hell of a challenge.

I had to get across to the recruiters that my A-Level/degree results years ago were not an accurate reflection of my abilities. The evidence was in me being a damn good paralegal.

You need to convince the recruiters of the same. I wouldn't take a year out. If it's corporate law you love, then get yourself in a top City firm of the in-house department of corporation.

If you had mitigating circumstances (genuine circumstances!!) then speak to HR about it.

Metallica -06 Jul 2009 | 11:45

The problem you might face is that many firms use A-levels as a filter when considering TC applicatons. I applied for TCs in 2001 with poor A-level results (obtained in 1984) and avoided MC firms for this reason even though I have a first class honours degree and post-granduate qualifications. I would apply to as many firms as possible - there are 100s in the City in which you can gain excellent corporate experience. Try not to be put off if a few blinkered HR bods or agencies reject you out of hand; there are many firms out there that will recognise your abilities beyond A-levels taken when you were a kid.

Anon -06 Jul 2009 | 14:05

Please elaborate on your legal experience.

Vacation schemes aren't the only worthwhile experience, although they are very important to some firms.

Baby Farks Mageezak -06 Jul 2009 | 16:17

It sounds like you have plenty of very good attributes and qualifications to cancel out the A-levels.

However, whatever your grades might be, I can never see the point of doing the LPC before applying for a training contract. All City/commercial firms recruit in advance, so if you get taken on having already completed the LPC, you'll be twiddling your thumbs for a year or two before starting work. Better to use that time to do to LPC, especially as the firm will then pay the course fees and may give you a maintenance grant.

My advice would be to apply to firms as soon as possible. Having finished the LPC won't make you seem more employable - it'll just mean you start work a year later and £15k (or more) poorer.

Anonymous -06 Jul 2009 | 17:42

I have average A-Levels but still managed to get a job at a global law firm. Although, I do feel a few of hte posts are a tad optimistic especially in the current market. At international firms, HR personnel or the system itself may weed out poor A-Level results at an early stage, after all, why take someone with poor A-Levels when someone else will have good A-Levels and your extra experiences are not particularly special to be honest. You know its a tough market, but don't let that get in the way. If, for you the law is the way forward and you are willing to take a punt on the LPC fees, just go for it, there's no point in doing otherwise and the post above is wrong, a big city firm will probably still pick up the bill for the course even if started before you accepted a position with them. Just move ahead knowing that you may need to take a TC at regular city firm and work your way up post qualification. Good luck!

Us Associate -07 Jul 2009 | 23:13

In reply to the poster asking for clarification: my legal experience consists of work for the CAB, two placements at solicitors firms, marshalling and a few days in-house at a medium sized commercial firm.

Asker -09 Jul 2009 | 20:54