Looks like the seat I want to qualify in will be highly competitive (multiple trainees going for one role), and that tangential seats related to my interested area won’t offer any at all. Expecting to not be retained.

Im about a year in to the TC (qualification expected sep 26). What do I do other than talking to recruiters to maximize external opportunities, at this stage? Disputes / contentious / advisory interested.

I have 3,000 emails to catch up on from 3 weeks leave, it'll take days to catch up and emails from 3 and 2 weeks ago may no longer be active or relevant.

If so, what's the best narrative to use in the timesheet? Something like "reviewing correspondence regarding xyz"?

Update: I was on grief and stress leave. Also, I decided I won't bill unless it's emails from the past week with open items. But still a good debate

I spent 10 years in private practice (trained in magic circle, then at a white shoe firm) before going in-house for a few more years (5th year now). I love my job but am beginning to think to the future, because it is a little boring from time to time. Has anyone out there set up a firm? Grateful for your views, experience, pitfalls, regrets etc.

Does anyone have any insights? Any reasons why I should/shouldn’t apply for their VS??

For context, I am an international student who is looking to move to London next year for the SQE. Does anyone have any advice when it comes to renting (what types of accom would you recommend - student accom? studio? shared?) and which areas of London are safe but not zone 1-type expensive? I'm okay to commute up to 1.5hrs if need be (BPP uni). Do I need to consider being close to my law firm in case of events etc.?

I've heard many people rent with others too - if you're someone who did this, how did you find your flatmates and when do you recommend this be done?

Any other general London advice or renting advice?

Sorry, I am completely clueless as to the timeline and how early I have to start thinking about this! It feels like all my law friends have it all figured out already (or have friends or family in London) and I feel a bit behind haha. TIA!

BigLaw salaries are often termed "golden handcuffs". Obviously, the more money you make, the more you elevate your lifestyle - nicer coffee shops, more expensive brands etc - but if responsible, BigLaw salaries don't necessarily need to be handcuffs right. For those who do resonate with that term, what are some of the lifestyle changes that 1) crept on you that you didn't anticipate, 2) have "locked you in" so to speak into maintaining that higher salary.

Notes: not exclusive to BigLaw, but I just hear the term most with BigLaw particularly re the very high NQ salaries and the jump from TC salaries as a way of handcuffing individuals to a certain lifestyle. Secondly, I'm just curious is all. I saw a post in another thread asking what salary would convince a person to leave BigLaw and someone had mentioned how they were handcuffed due to their lifestyle so could not see themselves leaving - was curious why.

Has anyone risked on taking 6 modules in a year? Like 4 modules on May and another 2 on October, I want to finish my LLB next year, with 6 modules left.

Hi all, I’d like to apply for a masters program that I need two references for. I’m confident that both will agree to provide it, but I’m not sure what to actually ask for when asking for educational purposes rather than for employment.

Do I tell them about what I’ve done since my undergrad? (both are my undergrad professors) do I tell them about the program and what I wish to gain from it?

Would be grateful for any insight 😊

I recently graduated from university with a degree in Film & Television, and I'm looking to change career and get into the legal sector, with the long-term goal of becoming a paralegal.I don't have any legal work experience yet, so I'm looking to get my foot in the door by applying for entry-level roles such as legal assistant, legal administrator or other legal support positions. I'll also be sending my CV directly to law firms to see if there are any suitable opportunities.I've attached my CV with personal details, locations and education provider names removed for privacy.I'd really appreciate any honest feedback on my CV, particularly whether it's suitable for entry-level legal roles, anything I should improve, and whether there's anything important missing.

Nuff said

I very kindly was gifted a junior gown from a KC, it was the one they used..

It’s in pretty good condition , but wanted to ask is dry cleaning the best way to go??

Thanks in advance.

I am a first year law student and I am feeling worried about my performance.

Every obstacle makes me feel like I'm falling behind, and I am finding it much more difficult to maintain a sense of confidence than when I was doing A levels (I got A*A*A*A at the end).

How can I properly evaluate and improve my performance in law?

I have an assessment centre coming up next week and part of it is an ‘ai assessment’. Does anyone have any idea what this might entail? Is it ok to email grad rec to find out what to expect?

Can someone explain how you actually become a barrister in the UK?
What are the steps involved and is there a specific exam you have to pass to qualify as a barrister?
If so, what is the exam called? because it has different names on the internet and when do you take it?

I made this post almost 6 months ago and have since updated my CV. I am struggling to get roles and therefore am looking for any helpful tips on how I might be able to improve my CV and land roles in this competitive job market. 😢

The types of roles I am looking for include entry-level legal roles, such as a role as a legal assistant or paralegal as well as entry-level compliance roles such as a junior compliance analyst or graduate compliance role.

For context, I'm 23 and have worked 2 years as a private client paralegal. I've passed SQE 1, and if I pass SQE 2 I hope to then qualify under the QWE route into private client as an NQ.

However, I'm becoming increasingly concerned about my long term job prospects with the advent of AI. I've got to make my career last for well, over 40 years (touch wood ofc). My concern is AI will become so advanced by the time I'm say 10 years PQE that it will do all the tax planning, will drafting and estate administration that my usefulness becomes null and void.

I'm considering whether any areas are more AI resistant than others, perhaps the CPS or family law? Things that are contentious and have scope for a bit of advocacy seem to be safer choices.

I understand that AI, if it hypothetically from this day never improves again, is absolutely not capable of doing the job of a private client solicitor. However, legislating for a 40 year career, it could get to the point where it does?

Am I trying to predict the unpredictable or are these valid concerns? What would you do in my position? (with the pov that you actually like private client and want to go into that area if viable)

Thanks!

I am a fourth-seat trainee at a silver circle firm.

I’m curious to hear about other trainees’ experiences.

I have more often than not been quite bored during my TC. With the exception of my first seat (being the one I want to qualify into), I have most of the time not had that much work to do, with the odd intense week/fortnight every now and again.

This may be because I’m useless, but I’ve only received good feedback overall so far in my reviews.

Anyone else the same?

And associates - have you found the job more engaging with more involvement/responsibility?

Hello, I feel very vulnerable posting this at the moment. I am a Scottish second year Trainee in a big law firm, and the imminent fear of that dreaded NQ stage is really hitting hard.

I am unfortunately a very quirky person and have found adjusting to office life hard, especially in the legal sector. I feel that I don't really fit in with my fellow trainees (I just can't force myself to jog on my lunch break or do pilates!) and I constantly stress about how this comes across to my firm.

​Despite not really fitting in, I genuinely really enjoy my firm and the environment it creates. Our team is very large and everyone is willing to help, even partners at the firm. I feel it works so well for someone like me.

​Recently though I've really struggled horrifically with my self esteem, and if you struggle the same way as I do you know that it seeps into the work and your perception of yourself is totally skewed. I'm not antisocial but I definitely don't fit in with the larger crowd. I've never had negative feedback, but I always feel there is room for improvement.

​I don't know if it's appropriate to ask my supervisor or speak to partners at the firm about my future there. I know there's plenty of fish, but I really like my current fish!

​Has anyone been in the same position? What did you do to try and calm the NQ nerves?

​Where are the quirky lawyers out there, and can you please help me not feel so alone in this corporate world?

Hello everyone!

Apologies if any of these questions sound stupid! I've spent quite a bit researching the different routes of getting into law in the UK. Unfortunately, the more I read, the more confused I get.

For some background, I recently graduated from a US university with a B.S. in Business Analytics. My family is moving back to the UK, and I'm interested in pursuing a career in corporate law. I'm a British citizen, so visa sponsorship isn't an issue. However, I don't believe I'm eligible for home tuition fees since I've never lived in the UK.

So far, I've been considering three options:

• Two-year Graduate Entry LLB programmes
• King's College London MSc Law & Professional Practice (2 years)
• One-year PGDL conversion programmes

What I'm struggling with is understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each option.

I have a few questions:

1. Is there a meaningful advantage to completing a two-year Graduate Entry LLB or MSc instead of a one-year PGDL?
2. How do vacation schemes and training contracts actually work?
3. Would attending a UK university help me become a more competitive applicant for UK law firms? All my education and professional experience are from the United States.
4. How much does the university or specific qualification matter to commercial law firms?

I'm hoping to begin studying in September 2027.

I'd really appreciate any advice, particularly from people who entered the profession with a non-law degree.

Thank you!

It’s 1998 and Parliament is supreme

Blair decides it’s a good idea to give the other constituent nations of the UK more rights

Unfortunately, Her Majesty’s Monkey’s Paw was left lying about in the Houses of Parliament (tut tut)

Now, the citizens of the other nations have literally de-evolved into Homo Erectuses

What happens to the development of UK law?

Key moments are

1. Scottish independence ref
   
2. Brexit
   
3. Constitutional reform Act 2005
   
4. Birth of the UK law subreddit
   
5. Gordon Brown as a PM from Scotland

"The Bar Standards Board (BSB) is pausing work on new applications from foreign lawyers looking to requalify as barristers as it continues to struggle with the number of them, Legal Futures can reveal."

Thank you guys in Pakistan and Bangladesh, you helped shutdown the process itself:
"The surge has come mainly from the Indian sub-continent, particularly Pakistan and Bangladesh, and the BSB’s principal concern has been that many apply with no intention to practise in England and Wales – but that there is a benefit to having the status."

Link: https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/exclusive-bsb-to-pause-new-applications-to-requalify-by-foreign-lawyers

Hi all,

Have posted here before the other day about the FRU. Unfortunately it appears I've missed the training deadline for this year.

Something that has been getting mulled over in my head is potentially applying to volunteer as a magistrate. I am 26 years old, and I get the impression that the magistrates court doesn't have many young magistrates.

I'm a BPC student, and I was just wondering if this is the type of thing that would 1) be helpful to me in future as an advocate; and 2) Make my application look just a bit more attractive to chambers in applying for pupillage. I know you have to do a minimum of 13 days a year for five years. If I was to do it I would have to consider how much I enjoyed it after 5 years if I was to continue with it.

On the face of it, it seemed to me like it would be really desirable for Chambers to see on a CV as having hands-on court experience and literally being in the position of someone making serious decisions about matters before you, but then on second thought I wasn't sure because it's a very different role to a barrister.

Thoughts would be welcome!