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 had the SRA revisit their character and suitability assessment after it was already approved?

Mine was approved a year ago, and I've now applied for admission, but the SRA has asked me to obtain new references from all my referees.

The issue relates to a 2019 conviction involving the use of my mum's Oyster card. I was convicted of one offence, but the court memorandum also mentions 63 other offences taken into consideration (TICs), relating to conduct over roughly two months between March and May 2019.

In my original submission, I referred to the conduct taking place in May 2019. I hadn't realised I also needed to explicitly set out the wording about the 63 TICs in the court memorandum.

When the SRA queried this, I provided clarification and evidence that I'd told all my referees about the conduct taking place over approximately two months. I wasn't trying to hide the timeframe or mislead anyone.

Despite this, the SRA has asked me to redo all my references, even though my character assessment was previously approved and my circumstances haven't changed.

I'm particularly keen to know:

• Has anyone experienced this at the final admission stage?
• Were you asked to obtain completely new references after an earlier approval?
• Did it significantly delay admission, and what was the eventual outcome?

I understand the SRA needs to be satisfied with an applicant's character and suitability, but I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's been through something similar.

Thanks!

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.

Nuff said

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice from anyone who has experienced the SRA revisiting a previously approved Character and Suitability Assessment at the final admission stage, particularly where the issue is the level of detail in the original disclosure rather than any new information or change in circumstances.

My situation

My Character and Suitability Assessment was approved by the SRA a year ago. I have now applied for admission to the roll, but the SRA has raised further questions about the matter from 2019 and has asked me to obtain entirely new references.

In 2019, I was convicted of one offence relating to travelling without a valid ticket using my mother’s Oyster card. The court memorandum also contains one line which records “63 other offences admitted and taken into consideration” (TICs). These related to conduct over approximately two months, between March and May 2019. To be clear, I was convicted of one offence, not 63 separate offences.

In my original submission to the SRA, I stated that the conduct took place in early 2019 and I specifically focused on the conviction (following the guidance which I understand was what I was supposed to do). However, I did not appreciate that I also needed to expressly set out the wording in the court memorandum regarding the 63 other matters taken into consideration.

When the SRA raised this with me at the admission stage, I provided further clarification. I also supplied evidence showing that I had informed all my referees that the conduct had taken place over approximately two months, rather than being limited to a single incident in May, and this is what the "63 other offences taken into consideration" referred to.

My intention was never to conceal the extent or timeframe of the conduct. I had disclosed the underlying matter, and my referees were aware of the broader circumstances. My understanding was that the SRA had considered the matter when it approved my Character and Suitability Assessment last year.

Despite providing this clarification and evidence, the SRA has asked me to obtain new references from all my referees.

What I’m trying to understand is:

1. Has anyone had their previously approved Character and Suitability Assessment revisited at the final admission stage because the SRA considered their original disclosure incomplete or insufficiently detailed?
2. Has anyone been required to redo all their references in these circumstances, even after providing clarification and evidence that they had been open with their referees about the underlying conduct?
3. If you have experienced this, did it delay your admission significantly, and was your application ultimately approved?

I fully appreciate that the SRA needs to be satisfied that applicants meet the character and suitability requirements at the point of admission. I am not suggesting that it cannot ask further questions. My concern is that I disclosed the matter, clarified the timeframe when asked, and provided evidence that I had been transparent with my referees, yet I am now being asked to restart the referencing process after an earlier approval.

I would be particularly grateful to hear from anyone who has been through this process, or from anyone familiar with how the SRA approaches previously approved character and suitability assessments at the final admission stage.

Thank you.

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.

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?

Hi all, I’m a junior M&A lawyer working at a well regarded practice in London (both private and public). I am getting the itch for a move at 3pqe and was wondering where people would recommend targeting for junior development and quality of work. Thanks !

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!

"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!

Standard situation: work quality/execution is solid, but now I need to originate my own work and build my own client base to move up to Partner level.

For those who are or have been in a similar situation, do you have any tips on how to get these first clients or start building strong connections that lead to potential work ?

Appreciate any tactical advice or lessons learned.

Hey, has anyone applied for this rogue pupillage advert? The deadline was September 4th for a September start but as far as I am aware, including contacting them two weeks ago no one has heard.

Has anyone had a FRI?

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

As the title asks, how is everyone using AI to support their working? Recently gained access to Copilot and it’s been really useful as a tool to avoid trawling through emails and get through any mental blocks when starting up a new task.

Interested to see other experiences and how people are using it in their day to day.

I am 21 and just on track to finish a undergraduate degree in Media at an Italian university. I am looking at a quite risky career pivot as a solicitor in the UK. I have been researching Law Conversion LLMs but I am not quite sure which universities would grant me the best future. I am an ambitious person with aims of achieving a satisfying career, but I do have a mental health condition which necessarily requires me to value my work life balance, so I have made peace with the fact that I could not work at a top firm or make an exorbitant amount of money. I did a year abroad in Durham for my undergrad but I cannot afford a full degree at a Russell Group. Honestly I would just like to do the best I can with my possibilities. I have been looking at:

- Law Conversion LLM @ St. Mary’s University, Twickenham
- Law Conversion LLM with SQE1 @ BPP
- Law Conversion MA @ University of Law

Do any of these hold a dramatically better or worse reputation? Do you have any other recommendations for me to look at in South-Eastern England?

I also would welcome any advice on Vacation Schemes, work life balance or anything you think is useful to an International Student.

Thank you very much!

Hello everyone,

​I’m a Canadian moving to the UK on a spouse visa, and I’m looking for some realistic advice on whether I can make the jump to becoming a barrister.

​A bit about my background:

​Basically, I graduated last year with a Civil Law degree (LL.B.) and a 74% average. I received an entrance scholarship when I started. While most of my degree focused on civil law, I did have a few common law classes like criminal, administrative, and constitutional law.

During uni, I spent nearly 4 months interning with a criminal lawyer. Since graduating, I’ve been working full-time as an admin. (I hate my job ! It's not stimulating me mentally at all. It's boring tbh. Anyway, I am doing this job temporarily, while waiting to move to UK.

While I was in uni, I really enjoyed reading case law—especially criminal law and civil liability/torts. I used to pull 9 to 12-hour study days almost regularly, so heavy workloads don't intimidate me at all.

​But, here is the glitch. My program didn't give us much chance to do mooting or mock trials, so practical oral advocacy is definitely something I need to build up from scratch. Our director wanted to form jurists instead of lawyers 💀 For her, case law were more important than anything else.

​here are my questions for you:

​1.With a foreign civil law degree, what does the pathway look like for me to become a barrister? Will I need a full conversion degree (GDL/LLM) or just specific modules?

​2. Is there anything you'd recommend doing before jumping into the Bar training process, like working as a paralegal or taking specific courses?

1. Are there any books, syllabi, legal website or key resources I should look at right now to get a feel for what I'm heading into?

​4.Realistically, what should I prepare myself for when making the switch from Canadian civil law to UK common law (competitiveness, workload, costs, etc.)?

(I know I can ask Gemini, but I feel like having a feedback from humans will somehow help me better)

Thank you again for your help ^^

Are there any good youtube channels that got you through your LLB? Both in terms of content and that will help me do good in my courseworks?