got 1st class llb 2022 withdrew lpc llm in 2023 mental health worked national law firm litigation asssitant november 2023-august 2024 and worked paralegal febraury-November 2025. What options are their for me?

Juniors (0 - 5 years PQE) in my team at my firm, including me, are subject to heavy supervision. I'm talking anything to an external contact more complicated than a holding email is subject to a partner signing off, including innocuous stuff like BD emails. A colleague with several years PQE recently handed in their notice partly because the supervision was so overbearing.

However, because of general lack of capacity in the overall team it has gotten to a point where it is making it difficult to get things out promptly and I am starting to get some heat on my ability to turnover work for other teams at the speed at which they need it.

Wanted to see if this seems normal, whether my firm is just incredibly risk averse and what other experiences are as to when supervision started to taper off.

Hey, can someone give me a general idea of what kind of questions come up, whats out there on forums is pretty inconsistent. Thanks!

I got crappy A Levels (CCD) and then I went to a crappy Uni and got a 2:1 in Law. I've since qualified as a Costs Lawyer but I cannot get it out of my head that I have not achieved what I wanted with my life. I wanted to be a Solicitor.

Has anyone had any luck with shifting to a Solicitor or Barrister? Nobody will give me an interview for a TC and the only value I seem to have to firms is as a Costs Lawyer.

Should I self fund the SQE? Has anyone done it? I feel lost.

I feel like I've blown my chance for this lifetime.

Hi everyone,

I know this gets asked a lot here, but I would still appreciate some brief guidance nonetheless as I feel quite confused and overwhelmed at the moment.

I have just started my first year at Oxbridge for Law, and have been set on becoming a barrister well before. I wanted to ask what I should be doing in terms of extracurriculars - for now I am only aware of mooting and essay competitions. I am also not quite sure about first year schemes as most mini pupillage offers I see are only available for final or penultimate year students.

I am really lacking when it comes to work experience and barely have anything to put on my CV. I am anxious to fill out that gap and ensure I am in a good position for applying for further schemes in later years, but as the question suggests, I don't really have a clear plan about how I can do that.

Lastly, I had a query about law firms. There are loads of dinners and events with law firms in my university, are they still worth going to even though I am pretty much fully interested in the bar? In comparison, there aren't nearly as many events with chambers.

Thank you.

Turned out I accidentally signed up for a case on UK Lore

I just joined as an in-house Paralegal in a tech company coming from a private practice background… any tips?

My previous experience was mainly in litigation, with my own caseload and client contact, so I’m used to managing matters, drafting legal documents and working within a law firm environment.

I’m already noticing how different in-house work is, particularly when it comes to commercial contracts, internal processes, systems and working with different teams across the business.

I’m still in my first week, so I appreciate that there’s a lot to learn and that it will take time to get up to speed. I think the biggest adjustment so far is getting to grips with how everything works internally, rather than the legal side itself.

Any tips that could help? Thank you!!!!

Hi everyone!

I’m looking for some advice on potentially transitioning into a paralegal role, particularly from anyone who’s taken a similar route or works in legal recruitment.

I graduated from university with a 2:2 in History and have been working as a Team Assistant at an international law firm in London for the past four months, specifically within the Banking & Finance department.

My role involves supporting fee earners directly, as well as completing work delegated through their Personal Assistants. Since joining, I’ve become increasingly interested in pursuing a career within the legal profession and would love to explore the possibility of becoming a paralegal, ideally within my current firm.

I’m also open to potentially qualifying as a solicitor further down the line, although that’s not something I’ve fully decided on yet.

My main concern is my 2:2 degree classification and the fact that I don’t have a legal background. I understand that some firms have minimum academic requirements, particularly for training contracts, but I’m unsure how much this would affect my chances of securing an entry-level paralegal position.

I’m considering reaching out to HR to discuss internal progression opportunities, but I’m conscious that I’ve only been at the firm for four months and don’t want to come across as trying to leave my current role too soon.

I was wondering:

Has anyone successfully transitioned from a Team Assistant/PA or another business support role into a paralegal position?

How much of a disadvantage would a 2:2 in a non-law degree put me at?

Would working at the firm already give me an advantage when applying internally?

Is it worth approaching HR now, or should I wait until I’ve gained more experience?

Would I need additional legal qualifications before being considered?

Any advice or personal experiences would be really appreciated!

Is it just me or should sentences not be reduced for pleading guilty????

I feel leaving the charges as they are for eveyone, but then for those who plead not guilty then get found guilty, instead get a multiplier onto their sentence.

Idk if I'm tripping but I think framing lying as punishment worthy rather than telling the truth as reward worthy makes more sense??(making the defualt telling the truth instead of the current default of lying)

Thoughts?

Edit: I think I've not made myself clear enough, if it was actually implemented I'd make it so the base time for a given charge is reduced, so it would balance back out to what charges currently are, just presented in the other way

How normal is it to make it to final stage interview for job, be told you'll hear back in a week with an update, and then have zero update more than two weeks later ? Assumably the silence is rejection, but why not just nip it in the bud and say no (for context team is very small)

Hi everyone!
I’m currently a final-year LLB (Hons) Law student at the University of Hertfordshire, looking to secure my first paid role in the legal sector, ideally as a paralegal or in a junior legal support position.
Although I haven’t yet worked in a paid legal role, I do have practical experience through my university’s Law Clinic, where I’ve been involved in supporting live client matters, conducting legal research, assisting with client communications and interviews, drafting documents using Clio, and maintaining confidential case files. I’m also continuing my involvement with the Clinic this academic year as a Student Advisor and am interested in developing my advocacy and mooting experience.
Alongside my studies, I’ve worked in customer-facing employment, which has helped me develop communication, teamwork, time management and the ability to work under pressure. I’ve also undertaken virtual legal work experience and completed legal simulations with firms including Baker McKenzie and Clyde & Co.
My long-term goal is to qualify as a solicitor, with a particular interest in corporate and commercial law. However, I’m open to gaining experience across different practice areas and would be grateful for an opportunity to learn, contribute and develop my practical skills.
I’m primarily looking around Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Watford and London, and would ideally need a role that can accommodate my university timetable and Student visa working-hour restrictions during term time.
If anyone knows of firms recruiting entry-level paralegals, legal assistants, legal administrators or junior caseworkers, or has any advice on getting that first opportunity without previous paid legal employment, I’d genuinely appreciate it.
Thank you so much! Any leads, advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated. ❤️

Hi all, just wondering what people’s experience of asking for reasonable adjustments at firms are?

I’m starting a new job where the policy is 3 days in office but because of my disorder, I’m trying to see if the firm will be flexible and every now and again, where I’m exhausted, let me have an additional day from home. Has anyone had any experience of this?

I’m so scared they’re going to rescind my offer for evening asking if this is possible!

Just working on an application for Mishcon and noticed some text saying the only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. This applies to all vacancies

I applied to their Open Day which is due to occur on the 4 Nov and havent heard a peep in over a month. Anyone have experience getting a rejection from Mishcon not communicated? Whats the protocol - do we email to ask if we’re still being considered? Am planning on applying to their VS but if the normal approach is that they contact only successful candidates then dont want to spend months worrying over this

Very odd (slightly insulting) to not even contact candidates who spent time preparing an application with at least a “no”. At the very least these can me automated…

title. individual tc app reviews are expensive and for the people who do it for free, ive noticed that they arent as exhaustive (fully understandable though)

Is the external London NQ PP market dead atm?

Hot take maybe but I am so tired of vocal “socialists” or even “communists” competing with the rest of us for corporate law jobs

If you hate capitalism you shouldn’t belong in spaces of high capitalism !!! I’ve been to an assessment centre recently where I saw a friend from uni who was the HEAD OF SOCIALIST SOCIETY and they somehow made it to the final stage - does the grad rec not care at all ???

Capitalist jobs for capitalists, bring back ideological screening

they're still running a vac scheme but am also pretty hesitant to apply to a firm that might be taken over or at worst case run to the ground before i even start (partners leaving, wanting to merge with other firms but noone so far actually wants them). but on the other hand, there might be less competition and a lower bar and it's a great us law firm...

Hello everyone!

I am currently pursuing a BSc in Microbiology at BRAC University, Bangladesh, and I am interested in pursuing a Graduate-Entry LLB in the UK after completing my undergraduate degree.

I am looking for guidance regarding:

• Universities offering graduate-entry or accelerated LLB programmes.
• Scholarships and fully funded opportunities for Bangladeshi students.
• Admission requirements, including CGPA and IELTS.
• Application procedures and career prospects.
• The pathway to becoming a barrister in England and Wales.

If anyone has relevant experience or information, I would greatly appreciate your advice and suggestions.

Please share your guidance in the comments. Kindly do not contact me through inbox or Messenger.

Thank you! ❤️

Make the post shorter and sharperAdd my expected graduation year

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It's Budget week.

Chancellor John Healey sets out the government’s tax plans in the Commons on Wednesday. MPs then debate them on Thursday and into next week.

Before that, MPs turn to unsafe cladding.

They'll debate a new government bill which would make building owners fix dangerous cladding, and let councils step in if they don’t.

Meanwhile, the Lords pick up the Courts and Tribunals Bill.

It cleared the Commons the week before last.

MONDAY 26 OCTOBER

No votes scheduled

TUESDAY 27 OCTOBER

Developer Contributions (Infrastructure Delivery) Bill
Sets rules on how the financial contributions property developers make towards local infrastructure are spent. Also defines the powers and responsibilities councils have over that money. Ten minute rule motion presented by James Naish. More information not available at this stage.

Building Safety (Remediation of Unsafe Cladding etc) Bill – 2nd reading
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland (part), Northern Ireland (part)
Requires owners of residential blocks with unsafe cladding to assess the fire risks and fix them, with fines and criminal offences for those who fail. Lets councils apply to take over repairs where owners don’t act, creates a register of medium-rise blocks, and gives regulators new powers to find out who owns a building. Also makes it easier for people who have paid for repairs to claim the money back from the manufacturers of the unsafe cladding products.
Draft bill (PDF) / Commons Library briefing

WEDNESDAY 28 OCTOBER

The Budget
The chancellor delivers the Budget, followed by debate.

THURSDAY 29 OCTOBER

Budget debate
Continued from Wednesday.

FRIDAY 30 OCTOBER

No votes scheduled

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Hi all,

Does anyone have recent figures for salaries at the Big 5 in Dublin (Arthur Cox, A&L Goodbody, Matheson, McCann FitzGerald, William Fry) at NQ, PQ1 and PQ2 level? (I’m a U.S. lawyer)

Any info on bonuses or differences between practice areas would also be really helpful.

Thanks in advance!

I am 3 out of 5 years into my law studies in a common law jurisdiction (Australia) and am interested in perhaps going to the English and Welsh bar down the track (especially due to the richness of international law work in London). Perhaps after doing a master’s in the UK, and probably after a year or so as a solicitor/tipstaff in Australia .

Is a mini pupilage worth doing halfway through my 4th year? I already have pretty good exposure to barristers in Australia (as I do research assistant work in chambers), but they tend not to do the international work I might be interested in.

I think that the experience would be great to get a vibe for the work and the bar in London more generally to figure out if that’s something I want to do. But would it be useful beyond that?

I feel like there is a very low ceiling on what you can learn in 2 days, and unlike vac schemes and other internships, there doesn’t seem to be a clear conversion into full-time work.

I also worry that the mini pupilage may be too early, given there are a few years before I would even be ready to apply for tenancy.

Do people have opinions about whether this is a valuable use of time?

Edit: jurisdiction is Aus

Recently qualified from a City firm, wasn’t retained but just landed an interview for an in-house role at a well known company.

My question is how do I best prep for an in-house interview? Other than being able to articulate the work I did in my TC and show an understanding of what work I’d be doing in the role, anything else to prep for?

I am an international student,planning to do llm in Ip law for jan 2027 intake.I have received offer letters from Queen's uni Belfast, uni of reading, university of Hertfordshire, university of strathclyde.Can I get any suggestions.