Fatal Fails
updated on 10 February 2009
Dear Oracle
I studied the GDL last year, failing multiple modules and having to do retakes last August. I have one exam to retake in order to obtain the qualification and achieve a bare pass. I have a 2.1 degree and good A-Levels, and have acquired five months' work experience at a small City firm. I still want to go on to do my LPC, but do I have a realistic chance of gaining a training contract?The Oracle replies
As you must be aware, the legal profession is incredibly competitive, with many more students choosing to study the LPC than actually go on to secure training contracts. The economic downturn has only exacerbated this problem as more students look to law as a seemingly safer option to some other industries (see "Bankers' bust is lawyers' boom").
A legal career is intellectually rigorous and although firms often don't mind if you only achieved a pass on the GDL or LPC, we fear that multiple fails would be looked on negatively.
So the Oracle's advice to you is this - think long and hard about whether the legal profession is the right choice for you. The LPC is a costly, challenging qualification and will be of little use to you if you do not go on to train as a solicitor. Although your results and experience prior to the GDL are excellent, the fact the course proved to be such a struggle might indicate that law is not your calling.
Why not check out our alternative careers section (which is in the process of a make-over) for some ideas. And good luck!
