In an unguarded moment, the director of business development at the College of Law has admitted that only 60% of the institution's students have a 2:1. So that means the CoL taking large numbers of students who don't have the widely recognised minimum requirement for a training contract at the end of the course.
Sarah Hutchinson was quoted last week in Legal Week as saying: "most of our students have got excellent grades at GCSE and A level, and over 60% have a first or upper second class degree at university". Although the CoL was quick to explain that the percentage was actually 68.4% for 2009-10, that means a whopping 32% of students have a 2:2 or lower. BPP confirmed that an only slightly more impressive 74% of its students have at least a 2:1.
Those statistics make for worrying reading. In 2008-09, 9,337 students enrolled on the LPC and 5,809 traineeships were registered with the SRA. Given that the LPC pass rate was 75% (across all providers), that leaves 7,003 LPC graduates fighting for 5,809 places. Which means a serious problem for those with a 2:2.
Admittedly there is a handful of firms which don't instantly reject people with 2:2s - although generally that means individuals with mitigating circumstances or strong work experience. But still, the reality is that larger firms receive thousands of applications every year and degree classification is a convenient, if blunt, recruitment filter. And for many firms, the unofficial view is that they don't need to consider anyone who failed to get a 2:1.
RollOnFriday spoke to the College of Law, which said that smaller firms would have more flexible recruitment policies. It claims that a third of its 2:2 students have a training contract 6 months after leaving its hallowed walls - and that others obtain paralegal positions which may, in the fullness of time, lead to a training contract.
Still, obtaining a contract can take years for those without strong academic records - which may well mean having to fund law school fees, and years of living expenses, from their own pockets.
Tip Off ROF
Sarah Hutchinson was quoted last week in Legal Week as saying: "most of our students have got excellent grades at GCSE and A level, and over 60% have a first or upper second class degree at university". Although the CoL was quick to explain that the percentage was actually 68.4% for 2009-10, that means a whopping 32% of students have a 2:2 or lower. BPP confirmed that an only slightly more impressive 74% of its students have at least a 2:1.
Those statistics make for worrying reading. In 2008-09, 9,337 students enrolled on the LPC and 5,809 traineeships were registered with the SRA. Given that the LPC pass rate was 75% (across all providers), that leaves 7,003 LPC graduates fighting for 5,809 places. Which means a serious problem for those with a 2:2.
 |
Welcomed at the College of Law |
Admittedly there is a handful of firms which don't instantly reject people with 2:2s - although generally that means individuals with mitigating circumstances or strong work experience. But still, the reality is that larger firms receive thousands of applications every year and degree classification is a convenient, if blunt, recruitment filter. And for many firms, the unofficial view is that they don't need to consider anyone who failed to get a 2:1.
RollOnFriday spoke to the College of Law, which said that smaller firms would have more flexible recruitment policies. It claims that a third of its 2:2 students have a training contract 6 months after leaving its hallowed walls - and that others obtain paralegal positions which may, in the fullness of time, lead to a training contract.
Still, obtaining a contract can take years for those without strong academic records - which may well mean having to fund law school fees, and years of living expenses, from their own pockets.