In need of a little Wisdom

Hitchslap

I’m a final year corporate law student at NUIG essentially in a state of panic career wise, the problem is my degree (in my opinion) isn't going to be worth the paper its written on because firstly it has 2 failed/repeated years and secondly its unlikely it will even hit a low 2:1 grade-wise.(I’m currently repeating 3 subjects in final year so cant foreseeably push up the grade) I’ve gotten two different pieces of advice, one being to go on to the LLB at NUIG get a 1:1 and that in a way would help to rehabilitate my prospects(Once you just pass Corp Law your admitted to it). the other and more drastic suggestion is to bail out of NUIG altogether and just start law again elsewhere in Trinity or UCD via CAO (have a 560 leaving) at a doable but an infuriating waste of time and money... all in all i think the second option is the most beneficial in the long run, i cant see a one year LLB(even a high 1:1) making much of an impact combined with an appalling primary degree be it in applying for Tc’s or reputable masters.
I know after reading that you must be thinking “why on earth does this guy want to continue law as he’s obviously not cut out for it after utterly mangling his degree to such an extent”, I’ve been a complete idiot\waster for the duration of my degree and amazingly its only dawned on me relatively recently the consequences of my extremely immature laissez-faire attitude. Despite my situation, I’am however determined to try and rectify it...




Any opinions or wisdom would be greatly appreciated

FreudianSlippers

Hitchslap wrote: »

I’m a final year corporate law student at NUIG essentially in a state of panic career wise, the problem is my degree (in my opinion) isn't going to be worth the paper its written on because firstly it has 2 failed/repeated years and secondly its unlikely it will even hit a low 2:1 grade-wise.(I’m currently repeating 3 subjects in final year so cant foreseeably push up the grade) I’ve gotten two different pieces of advice, one being to go on to the LLB at NUIG get a 1:1 and that in a way would help to rehabilitate my prospects(Once you just pass Corp Law your admitted to it). the other and more drastic suggestion is to bail out of NUIG altogether and just start law again elsewhere in Trinity or UCD via CAO (have a 560 leaving) at a doable but an infuriating waste of time and money... all in all i think the second option is the most beneficial in the long run, i cant see a one year LLB(even a high 1:1) making much of an impact combined with an appalling primary degree be it in applying for Tc’s or reputable masters.
I know after reading that you must be thinking “why on earth does this guy want to continue law as he’s obviously not cut out for it after utterly mangling his degree to such an extent”, I’ve been a complete idiot\waster for the duration of my degree and amazingly its only dawned on me relatively recently the consequences of my extremely immature laissez-faire attitude. Despite my situation, I’am however determined to try and rectify it...




Any opinions or wisdom would be greatly appreciated

Firstly, isn't an LL.B. 3 years?
Secondly do you want to be a solicitor or barrister? I'm presuming solicitor if you care about your results

Hitchslap

After Corporate Law your admitted to the final year of the LLB, so it therefore is a one year endeavor, the reasoning being you've already done all the key law subjects bar criminal and land law really.
Certain masters courses have interested me but at the end of the day, taking the route to becoming a solicitor would be my intention...

ResearchWill

To be honest a low degree will not stop you getting into law. Yes a top 5 training contract is more than likely out. If you intend to go bar route once you get in no one cares what degree you got. I can assure you high court judges don't ask if you got a 1H.

If you are going Dow the solicitor route, once you have your FE 1s then yes it may be an issue to get a TC but they are really hard to get in any case. Once your in again no one will care about your degree.

Knowing solicitors who are looking for people to do TC they are looking for a clever person, able to work hard and learn. Have the cop on to attend counsel in the HC and give a good report of what happened.

Hitchslap

Thanks for the insight ResearchWill... i've arranged to speak to a lecturer and somebody from the careers advice service at NUIG. I'm pretty sure they"ll just say do the LL.B there, as they pretty much direct everyone from Corp Law there if they are confused career wise it seems. I cant see that helping much even with a 1:1 in the LL.B, as my primary degree will be poor. Getting a TC with a big firm or even getting into a semi-decent masters would be nigh impossible i would feel. Really thinking the drastic action of just dropping out of NUI and starting again in UCD/Trinity with the BCL and acing it would be the best in the long term... maybe i"m being too negative? Sadly i think I'm not !!!

ResearchWill

Hitchslap wrote: »

Thanks for the insight ResearchWill... i've arranged to speak to a lecturer and somebody from the careers advice service at NUIG. I'm pretty sure they"ll just say do the LL.B there, as they pretty much direct everyone from Corp Law there if they are confused career wise it seems. I cant see that helping much even with a 1:1 in the LL.B, as my primary degree will be poor. Getting a TC with a big firm or even getting into a semi-decent masters would be nigh impossible i would feel. Really thinking the drastic action of just dropping out of NUI and starting again in UCD/Trinity with the BCL and acing it would be the best in the long term... maybe i"m being too negative? Sadly i think I'm not !!!

To be honest I really think dropping out is not a good idea. Finish your degree I'm my humble opinion dropping out will look a lot worse. I know an awfull lot of great lawyers with pass degrees.

jblack

as opposed to wasting those years trying to get better results why not invest them in industry experience which will really set you apart from other candidates?

E.g. if you wanted to get into environmental law then look at interning with a renewable energy company or try and get involved with doing environmental impact assessments.

If you have a few quid to spare - buy the West Wing Box set, watch all 154 episodes, book a ticket to DC and volunteer on the next Obama camaign... or whatever but a year's industry experience IMHO is worth more than a 2 grade bump. (and besides an employer is going to ask WTF you were doing for those lost years).

Hitchslap

So what i seem to gather from this thread is that dropping out/starting again would cause more problems than it would solve. In that case i would presume doing the one year LL.B at NUIG is the best next step.(Would be needed for FE 1s anyway) As doing extremely well in this would surely detract slightly from a poor primary degree and more importantly, try and use it to get strong lecturer references(from being a huge swat:cool:) To follow up on the gist of jblacks post, getting an internship with say a human rights org would be made easier with strong ref from a human rights lecturer, and so on and so forth....

jblack

Doesn't have to be an internship either, you could work full time. I know a few barristers and solicitors who, despite questionable legal ability, are doing very well on account of having spent a few years working in insurance post degree and pre- Inns/BHP.

I cannot advocate enough the benefit of having proper work experience.

Hitchslap

Thanks for info jblack, really appreciate it... forgive my ignorance but would i not have a similar difficulty in getting into an insurance company as a Solicitors TC. i would guess its far harder to get a solicitors Tc but i would presume an insurance company would have relatively high standards?

jblack

I'm only using insurance as an example, apart from in a construction context I wouldn't know much about it.

Getting any job will not be easy but you're clearly not stupid. Just a guess but I reckon you've realised that spending 4 nights a week falling out of Cuba (or whatever it's called now) and trying to pick up girls outside supermacs was probably not the best use of your time and panic has set in?

Don't let this worry you, and besides there's fck all you can do to change it anyway.

The one thing I was always surprised to hear from Seniors and Queen's Counsel was that some wished they hadn't bothered with a law degree but rather read english/history/politics and worked in the field that they specialise in now.

Hitchslap

jblack wrote: »

Just a guess but I reckon you're realised that spending 4 nights a week falling out of Karma and trying to pick up girls outside supermacs was probably not the best use of your time and panic has set in?

Thats it in a nutshell I'm afraid

In regards Senior/Queens counsels regretting not striking a different path, i originally wanted to do history at Trinity but was persuaded that a legal degree in a college near home would be best :rolleyes:

Anyway off to NUIG's career advice centre tomorrow to see what wisdom they can bestow on me....