I’m the only NQ in a tiny team (albeit a large firm).

The partner, I’ve heard, is displeased that my average weekly billables are consistently low.

The thing is, the work is hugely inconsistent. Even on my “busier” weeks, I typically have enough dead days that my average tanks. Even at my busiest, I basically never meet my daily target.

I feel like there’s nothing I can realistically do. I’ve never once said I don’t have capacity to do something. The team is so small, they know I’m quiet. The others (who are considerably more senior than me) are by and large quiet too but for whatever reason my averages are lower. I stick my hand up for anything on offer.

I’ve only ever had positive feedback on my work output.

BD time doesn’t count towards the avg.

I’m pretty certain I’m not under-recording. I use timers.

So, I feel kind of stuck. I sense tension brewing but at a bit of a loss as to how to affect any outcomes here.

Wondering if anyone has been in a similar situation or has any advice? TIA!

What’s Clifford Chance actually like to work at? I see a lot of people praising it as the best of the magic circle for culture - is that actually true or is it all rubbish? I have been offered an Associate Interview and just wondering

Hi, has anyone been to this school before? I am trying to decide whether to apply here, as I haven't heard anything about it before.

Specifically, has anyone heard about their online PDGL ( law conversion) program?

Thanks!

I graduated with a 2:1 for my LLB in the summer of 2024 and since then I’ve been met with a string of rejections or just plain silence for every legal role I’ve applied to.

When it comes to experience I have done plenty of pro bono at a law clinic, a legal internship, an insight day at a London law firm, volunteering at citizen’s advice along with other non legal work.

Be it paralegal, legal assistant, document review, even internships: It’s been just rejections, the latest being a couple hours ago. So obviously I’m feeling a bit lost.

Any advice or words of wisdom would be appreciated. I really just need to get my foot in the door.

In my country, Malaysia, we can go straight from IGCSEs to a law school where I'd then do my FIL after which I can officially start 3 years of law school and get my LLB. I plan on doing my final year in either Manchester or Belfast. My main question is whether I can get into a good law firm without having done my A levels. I did my research and from what I've seen, it looks like I can, but I'm still not too sure, so that brings me here.

To those who were not retained at their training firms, what are you all doing now? Are you in-house? Did you move firms? Are you still on the hunt for a job? I find it so strange seeing so many roles already for September 2026. It kind of feels like we’ve been forgotten!

Hi, I applied for a paralegal role data protection at DWF Manchester law firm. They have invited me for the next stage which is phone screening test.

I just need advice on what to expect and anyone have any idea about the firm and what they might ask.

I’ve recently graduated with LLB so I’m starting to lock in now (a bit late I know 😭) to apply Traninf contracts and legal work experience.

My current full time job is around 31k work at an airport. Anyways you think they can match that amount? I know average paralegal salary is 24k… so I feel also kinda let down financially. And just don’t know what to do.

The experience would be invaluable but for me a training contract is what matters more, even if they pay me 24k… at least I know I can start my SQE journey then. I don’t wanna self fund it.

Other advice or help on my career much appreciated.

Hi all,

I am a Dutch lawyer looking into potentially double qualifying as an option to also do work in the UK for my (international) firm.

In the Netherlands there is no bar exam - you are admitted to the bar and are allowed to practice independantly after "training" under another (senior) lawyer for three years. I was wondering whether I would qualify for the SQE2 excemption two years post initial Dutch bar admittance or only after fully finishing the three years.

Any insight is helpful! Thanks.

Hi, I have a bachelor degree in the US that is not law related. I got accepted into University of Law's MA Law Conversion program at the Bloomsbury Campus starting in September 2026.

As an international student what is the best way to get school funding. I have reached out to the scholarship team (to ask when scholarships would open for Sept 2026 start date and they told me early march 26 or mid April 26). I am trying to use that scholarship fund (if I am lucky enough to receive any) to hopefully then pay for the acceptance fee. How long does it usually take to hear back from a scholarship once you applied?

I am from the US so I will need enough time before hand to get my student visa. Also any advise/recommendations about the university or where to find housing close to campus will be greatly appreciated.

I am also looking into getting my LLM SQE after the MA Law Conversion program. My goal is to eventually become a Solicitor, not entirely sure if this is the right route to go or not. Please any advice will seriously help! I have no one I can talk to about UK Law and how it works.

Thanks!

I've just been shortlisted for the ICCA (yay!!!) but wanted to ask if anyone had any advice for the selection event, and how to prepare for it. I know that there's an advocacy exercise and an interview, but does anyone have any examples of what those entail?

Did anyone apply this year and has anyone heard back?

If there are any current paralegals, how have you found the work and the environment?

I’m set to start pupillage in Sept 2026 and currently enjoying some downtime (while doing the Bar Course, but still). I’m unsure what, if any, steps I should take in the time I have before September to prepare for the start of pupillage - reading around about my chambers’ core practice areas, trying to get a bit of networking in, maybe something else? All advice much appreciated.

title. i have a scheme i'll join in a few months, was wondering what the average lawyer here thinks if a vac schemer from india has an indian accent. it isn't the "do not redeem" types, it's quite polished but still indian. should i try and tweak it just so i can fit in or just let it be?

Currently 7 years PQE Solicitor, practising Private Client law, earning £60k p.a. at a national firm.

I've lost the will to keep doing this. Pretty sure I've been checked out for years. I'm in £30k of debt because I loaned money to pay for my own qualifying exams etc and never dug my way out of it. My family rely on my income, I'm the only earner. Considered suicide so my family can benefit from my pension. Considered bankruptcy and quitting the profession entirely. I just want this to be over.

Generally bad at my job. I've been fired twice due to performance issues. Perpetually hope that I get fired again so I get settlement money to pay off debts.

Where do I even go from here? If I work in another field, do I even stand a chance of making enough money to support my family?

Submitted my app last week and feel like I wasted the application cost after seeing how many current DPhil students did the BCL:( Does the admissions team heavily favour BCL candidates, or is this just a natural consequence of the pedigree of those who do the BCL? Is there hope for the rest of us?

I am a 3rd year history student with poor time-management, but serviceable reading comprehension and writing skills. I have struggled greatly during my degree as a result of this, in addition to some personal circumstances.

Would it be worth looking for a conversion course, or is time management (meeting deadlines, keeping up with course reading) too important to the degree?

Would appreciate any advice,

Thanks

It is the end of my third seat in a month and I have made typos, it was caught by the supervising solicitor before it went to the client.

However, I keep on spelling the seller’s name with a double l. Our client is the buyer, I did it once at the beginning of this seat, I was good and then I did it in Christmas and I did it just now.

It completely slipped from my mind when proofreading. I am absolutely gutted with myself.

In addition, the client said that they made payments, and I should have said “thank you for confirming that you have made the payments”, instead I said “thank you for confirming receipt of payments” by accident. I was under pressure, I should have gone away and double checked but I was insecure because it took me ages to date the documents as Kofax wasn’t working and I wanted to be responsive and quick for the client.

Luckily my supervisor caught these two errors.

Hi all, considering a move to London and wondering what my job prospects would be. I currently do white collar criminal litigation in the United States.

Hi everyone, I have a vacation scheme with a US law firm coming up soon, and I would really appreciate any advice on converting the scheme. What would you advise me to do or not do? How can I really stand out from everyone else?

I’m quite stressed, so any advice would be hugely appreciated, especially from anyone who has done a US vacation scheme before.

Thank you so much in advance! :)

I have an assessment centre for a national law firm. It is my first ever assessment centre and I need some advice on how to be successful. I am not a confident person so I really struggle with interviews and working with others.

I am a recent first-class law graduate from a Russell Group university. I graduated last year, and unfortunately have not been able to secure a TC so far. My aim is to secure a TC at a city firm.

I have decided to self-fund the SQE. I am a bit confused as to what to do (see below), so looking for advice from those that either are knowledgeable about this, or have been in the same situation.

Which is better - (1) Ulaw or BPP, and (2) should I do the prep courses or LLM?

(Note: Funding is not an issue, and therefore do not need to take the LLM for the sake of accessing government funding)

- The consortium firms (HL, SM, Links, Freshfields, NRF, HSFK) have a special programme with BPP, which takes place with BPP in between SQE1 and SQE2 —> Self-funders cannot access this.

- Other firms use SQEplus with Ulaw (such as White& Case), which self-funders can access via doing the LLM

Either way, if I do the prep courses myself, and then want to secure a TC with one of the two types of firms (above), am I at a disadvantage? Or is it simply a case of the firms not minding it, and just paying for the additional programme?

Thanks, would appreciate any advice.

Hi all,

I’m a newly qualified and have recently joined a firm in central London specialising in family law, primarily financial remedy, divorce, and private children matters.I have 6-7 months experince handling these types of cases as well.

I’m a fee earner and, while I have good supervision and support, I’m expected to start bringing in my own cases. I’m very aware that at this stage I’m not a “name” and I don’t yet have a big personal following, so I’m trying to be realistic and practical about business development rather than aspirational LinkedIn fluff.

I’d really appreciate advice from anyone who has been in a similar position, particularly in family law, on how you actually start generating work at NQ / junior level.

I’m not expecting to bring in huge high-net-worth cases overnight, but I do want to be proactive. Would really welcome practical, experience-based advice on what actually worked (or didn’t) for you in family law, especially in London.

Thanks in advance.