r/uklaw

I just graduated with a 2:1 in straight law this year, and have recently started a ‘legal analyst’ role at a well viewed commercial law firm.

The role was advertised as essentially being a paralegal, so I assumed it was pretty much the same thing under a different name. I took it as I thought full-time legal experience outside of internships would help my CV.

I’ve recently finished induction and started the actual role to discover it’s in fact just 9 hours a day of document review (8 if I don’t count my lunch).

Genuinely the role feels like a computerised sweatshop where I’m just tagging documents - this is not how the role was advertised but when I try and vent about this to family and friends (none of which work in law) they just tell me this is the real world and all work is boring, etc, etc.

I understand the likelihood of having a job that’s fun and interesting 100% of the time is nonexistent, but with this role I genuinely go into work, sit down, and spend 8 hours a day tagging documents in silence alongside others doing the same thing.

There is no team work, no client interaction, no problem solving, etc, I can feel myself going insane from this mind-numbing repetitive task that doesn’t challenge me or make me actually think more than twice a day.

I’ve also been informed they only consider people in this role for a training contract after 3+ years in this exact role, with no room for progression until then.

I worked as a hospitality manager alongside my studies. I genuinely found that job to be significantly more stimulating and interesting than this. It was 8-9 hours on my feet and incredibly stressful at times but there was problem solving, human interaction, and team work. All the things I believe I would genuinely need to enjoy a job.

I’m strongly considering going back to that job (they’ve told me they’d take me back) and applying for training contracts until I hopefully secure one, but I don’t know if that would hurt my CV/look worse.

Ideally, I’d like to qualify into family or criminal law but I just need to know if other legal work is as repetitive as this, as everyone seems to claim, in which case I’ll need to heavily consider a career change.

Hello!

I’m an NQ in a very small specialist team at a US law firm (one partner, one senior associate and me).

I’m 10 months into the job and am starting to realise that I’m just not very good at it.

The team is lovely, but sometimes that almost makes it harder. I don’t think they would necessarily tell me if I was underperforming because they know I’m genuinely trying – I’m very responsive, happy to help out at short notice, and always willing to take things on. Despite that, I still feel like I’m just not very good at the actual job. I’m not dumb, but maybe this job just isn’t for me…

Has anyone else ever felt genuinely incompetent in their job? If so, did you end leaving the profession?

Thank you in advance!

In a particularly desperate moment, I came across one of those Training Contract coaches on LinkedIn. They were advertising a ‘mentoring’ scheme for ‘disadvantaged’ students and it genuinely looked charitable so I dropped them a text.

We hopped on a Zoom call shortly after, where they once again didn’t mention any price ONCE for 30 minutes, only to hit me up with an email about an hour later asking for £850 per MONTH to continue their coaching

And despite paying almost a thousand a month they still put a cap on how many applications you can receive support for

Do people actually pay these??? There surely has to be demand to justify these prices but that prospect only terrifies me further

Edit: With all the requests of naming and shaming, see the comments below

Hi All,

I have two offers to study a PGDL course starting this year, one offer from BPP and another offer from Uni of Law. I am self-funding the courses so price is a major deciding factor for me. Right now I am leveraging my two offers and playing each university off against each other as I try to get the course prices down.

BPP has decreased from £12.6k down to approx £9k.

Uni of law has decreased from £12.6k down to £10.6k (so far).

Does anybody else here have any experience or luck in successfully haggling these universities down price-wise? Does anybody have any tips? Or know what their absolute lowest price would be?

Thank you in advance!

I also have a few years of contracts drafting experience, but work is quite administrative sometimes and my pay is shit and am only surviving. Cant really live a full life or even look forward to one with such pay. Getting more and more depressed with each job application.

For almost a year, I cant even get an interview. Last year similar months I still got a few. I got quite a lot when I got my current job. Is it me or is it the market? I have tailored my CV for each application.

Where do you guys look for jobs apart from Linkedin and Indeed (which I think is crap), law school career websites?

I also tried to apply to compliance roles but it seems the door is completely shut for entry level applicants (meaning those that doesnt have direct compliance experience at all)

Also traditional TCs feel completely out of reach.

I am completely lost.

I’m about to start third year. On track for a first at a Russell group but have limited work experience which is scaring me. I’ve been emailing high street firms for some informal work exp but no one’s biting yet. Did work experience at a small firm in college, I am also part of my unis legal clinic. I want to be a family solicitor.

How many vac schemes should I be applying to? I understand the window opens soon and I have never made an application before so I’m aware I’ll probably get rejected a bunch. I’d ideally want a winter vacation scheme taking place in December but will settle for Easter or summer after grad if I have to

Hello,

I secured an associate role but because of this NQ market, I definitely had to adjust my expectations and become more flexible because as there was nothing coming by.

I trained as a very respected firm and have great experience, it’s just the NQ bottleneck that’s the issue.

It’s in the same broad practice area I enjoy and at a reputable firm but a niche area. It could be great but it will definitely limit my access to certain kinds of work I enjoyed, as well as the potential for an in-house move which I always envisioned for myself at some point.

Do you think this will limit me even in the short-term? Have people made successful jumps at a junior level especially if they have solid training and extenuating (market) factors to point to?

NQs have to be flexible in this market, but I would hate for a temporary phase to actually derail my original career trajectory when I’ve worked so hard my entire life to get to this point.

Thanks

hi everyone,

I don't want to sound annoying because I know several people on this sub have formulated some version of a query re poor grades, but I haven't seen any specifically aligned with my circumstances, so I wanted to ask.

for context, I am an international student. I graduated with a first from an RG uni (LSE/UCL/KCL) this year; however, my grade module breakdown is rather questionable:
y1: 66,61,58,54 (2:2s were in public and contract respectively)
y2: 76 (non-law), 64,63,62, 53,53 (2:2s were in EU and property)
y3: 85 (non-law), 75, 73, 73, 71, 70, 69

I have never disclosed any formal exenuating circumstances (though I did struggle with undiagnosed depression and an eating disorder for the entirety of my undergrad+before that)

my question is: how realistic are my chances for the commercial bar, given my grade module breakdown?

Uni-grades aside, my CV is relatively polished (mooting wins + international moot participation (think vis/JESS UP), volunteering, society lead(s), legal internships, etc). My GCSE and A-levels were strong (straight A*/9s).

However, I don't have mini-pupillages as of now. I didn't apply in my final year, because I thought my grades weren't up to par (was this a correct move? A bit late to cry over spilt milk, but I'm open to advice on this too, so anyone who achieved similar grades in Y2 knows whether they should/should not apply for mini-pupillages).

Currently, I'm set to take out the postgraduate visa to apply for the upcoming VS cycle (I applied in my final year, made it past to the AC/VI stages so I know I have some level of chance in this field) and also the BCL/LLM.

However, before anything, I wanted a realistic opinion of my chances at the comm bar and the BCL and whether it is still a worthwhile pursuit.

Sorry for the droning message.

Thank you in advance!

Hi soooo, I recently completed my First Year of LLB (Really good results; got a Distinction as well). For background, I chose the University of London Program for it was cheaper (financial constraints wanted to save some money for a good post-grad as well), and I could do it from home. In my experience, first year was fairly dead for social life, and studies were mostly done by myself. I really want my undergrad to help me in the future. I want to score a first-class degree classification and also experience University Life as an international student as it should be.
My question is: Now I would have the chance to apply to the UK for the 2027 intake, which would be for my third year; my aims after undergrad are to do a really good postgrad from a good university like BCL from Oxford or a good LLM or SQE or Bar. Hence, is it really worth it to transfer into Third year? Will it effectively help me? Are there any good universities which do accept intakes into Third year from the UOL External Programme? If so, which?
Would really appreciate any help I can get. Thanks!

TL;DR: Is it worth it to transfer into Third Year from the UOL External LLB Programme? What are the potential pros/cons? Is it possible?

Hello everyone, might not be the best sub to ask but should I as an aspiring solicitor, look into getting British citizenship?

I’m technically a citizen of the ROI but have been living in the UK after moving here as a child in 2018. I know that it’s not necessary to get citizenship to work in the UK for me but would my citizenship hinder me in my future legal career? Ireland also have an expedited pathway to British citizenship afaik so it wouldn’t be too difficult.

I don’t really want to give up my ROI citizenship though as it’s been more useful in airports due to being part of the EU

I start my TC in the City very soon and I’m feeling a mix of excitement and nerves!

For those who’ve been through it, what advice would you give someone for navigating the first few weeks/month? I really want to make a good impression and start off on the right foot.

I appreciate this will differ between firms but I’d especially love to hear what you wish you knew before starting your TC, things to do, things to avoid, or just general tips for settling in and working effectively with supervisors/colleagues.

I’m also a little nervous about going from doing well academically to actually applying that knowledge in the real world, particularly at a high performing firm. Would really appreciate hearing how others found that transition and any advice for managing the pressure.

Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone,

I’m currently starting my bar course and I’ve been told civil litigation is one of the hardest and biggest hurdles I’m going to face, and that is the first module that I am currently starting in the next few weeks.

Does anyone have any tips?, Any sites that have past papers?, MCQ questions etc.

Anything at all that can help me pass this module as I know this module is gonna be the hardest, I’ve been told the reading is easier than criminal practice, but it’s the questions that kind of Trip you up.

Any advice helps 🫂

I'm going through the house moving process, and the general consensus is that solicitors are slow and usually the 'problem' in slowing down house sales.

Never had a chance to speak to or know a conveyancing solcitor so thought I'd take to Reddit to ask your thoughts on this.

Are you slow? Are just most slow?

Or is it the actual process of getting back searches, information (requesting forms, certificates from clients), etc that makes it longer.

This isn't meant as a solicitor bashing thread. Just curious to hear it from the other side.

Sorry if this is a silly question. I will be starting an SQE course in January.
In the meantime, I’m looking for roles to obtain QWE.

For training contracts I don’t bother putting down that I’m looking for QWE as it’s pretty obvious that the end goal is to become a solicitor.

For other roles I wonder if I should put in my CV intro that I’m seeking QWE. Surely a permanent paralegal position would want a permanent paralegal, and not someone who’s going to leave once they get a NQ solicitor role?

But then the question is, will a solicitor in my company sign off on my QWE if I don’t discuss this beforehand??

How do I go about this? Any help would be appreciated

Hi everyone,

I’m a French student trying to decide between three UK universities for an LLB.

I currently have offers from Cardiff University, Lancaster University and City St George’s, University of London.

My long-term career interests are currently between two paths:

- Human rights / international law / diplomacy, potentially working with international organisations or in government/diplomatic roles.

- Corporate/commercial law, working for big law firms (eventually moving into finance)

I’m not completely sure which direction I’ll take so I’m looking for a university that keeps both options open.

For those working as a solicitor or barrister in the UK, I’d particularly like to know how you would perceive these three universities in terms of :

- Employer perception and reputation

- Commercial/corporate law recruitment

- Human rights/international law opportunities

- Access to big law firms and particularly London firms

- Vacation schemes, training contracts and networking

- Whether the university name makes a meaningful difference in recruitment

I’d also be interested in your perspective on whether being based in London at City St George’s gives a significant advantage for legal recruitment compared with studying at Cardiff or Lancaster or whether the difference is relatively small if the student builds a strong CV and gets relevant experience.

If you were advising someone in my position, which of the three would you recommend and why ?

I’ve got a training contract with the CPS (where I currently work) beginning September 2027 but would really like to work corporate (pref in London).

Most corporate firms will be opening TC applications soon but they start dates aren’t until 2029/2030, by which time I could have qualified through the CPS.

So my question is, is it worth delaying qualifying by two more years just to do my TC with a corporate firm (if I secure one)?

How easy would it be to secure a corporate role after doing a criminal/CPS TC?

My other concern is the lack of NQ roles in corporate, it’s highly likely I’ll be kept on with the CPS which again is a risk to delay qualifying to potentially not even get offered a job after the TC.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.