Advice needed for LSE Law

[hiltz]

My DS has recently received his predicted grades, 3xAs, English Lit, Econ and Latin. He was hoping to get at least one A* to meet LSE entry requirements for law. He is thinking of putting LSE as his first choice, ( he says hes capable of meeting this) or should he forget LSE. He has 8/9s for his GCSEs. Advice needed.

OP, might he be interested in applying for “Law and Anthropology” at LSE because I think this is either AAA or AAB, so he would be matching or exceeding the offer conditions there. Could be a more interesting course? Then he could do a masters or law conversion?

Sorry cross post with Oldowl!

One big advantage of the LSE is that it is right in the middle of everything.

When DS was studying economics, there were regular breakfast networking talks where speakers such as chief economists from major banks would present. Students were expected to turn up wearing a suit and clutching their CV and, as a reward, would get a good breakfast. And that was just the LSE, with professional bodies,. other London Universities etc also hosting things. DS earned money a couple of times by being a guinea pig for recruitment programmes for big employer internships, good experience though he then failed to progress during the actual recruitment.

I assume the same applies for law. If nothing else the Old Bailey is a stones throw away, and the LSE has an active Law alumni group, who may well interact with current students.

Another advantage, though this might depend on how you see things, is that student culture at the LSE is both very international and very career focussed. It does not mean that students don't have fun, but it does mean that peers will be discussing volunteering, internships and work experience from the get go, meaning it is relatively easy to be well informed of opportunities.

That is actually why there is a pecking order of universities for Law. The best universities attract the top employers to careers fairs and interactive sessions with students. These universities provide everything a budding lawyer needs. They also have students who do have tip top cvs and understand about gaining meaningful work experience, volunteering and informing themselves about their chosen career and the processes involved in getting what you want. In fact, they also have Historians, English undergrads and even Music undergrads doing exactly the same because they want law careers too.

Around 18,000 students per annum study Law as an undergrad. There are around 6000 solicitor training contracts and 400 pupillages for barrister positions p/a. Doubless decreasing as I write this. So, add law students to all the other well qualifed young people, and you have competition for the better paid training contracts.

However there are criminal junior barristers and solicitors who can barely make ends meet. Add that to visiting solicitors to Police stations and conveyancing - its not that glamourous or well paid at the cheaper end of the market. If you, can aim for as high as possible because you will get a far better grounding in what it takes to succeed and be around career minded people who are doing what they need to do about the deadlines that approach in fast succession. They all need separate applications tailored to what you are applying for.

The best universities do have better access to the employers who pay more and the information you can get from them is invaluable. So is attending any open days and information days for students in any law career. Attending any court is good. However, not all lawyers go to court very often. Joining a debating society is invaluable. Or mooting if you want to be a barrister. There are lots of things to do to kick start your career and you can stand out from the crowd if you pay attention and get that cv to be outstanding.

LSE students did note that whilst they got breakfasts, Oxbridge students got dinners.

That said proximity to employers and policy makers is valuable. As is the fact that roughly half the student body is post graduate. Even in his first year DS got to know post grads, who did a lot to shape his thinking about future options and what would be needed to achieve them. PhD students would sometimes present to societies etc, and there were plenty of staff who, as well as teaching, were actively engaged in researching and advising government and other institutions. The great diversity of the student body also helped. No dreaming spires, but lots of challenging intellectual stuff going on.

Unfortunately, If you read the OP, her DS does not have the predicted grades for LSE. So what you get there is irrelevant. Oxbridge ask for AAA but they are highly selective for Law so predicted AAA would have to be accompanied by stellar pre tests and GCSEs etc. Therefore we were trying to find other possibilities to add to the aspirational one of LSE. I think having two aspirational ones, eg Oxford and LSE is not a good policy and Bristol is A*AA too. I have not looked at Durham but that will be high entry too I suspect. So being realistic and picking the best from the others is worthwhile. Exeter, Nottingham, Manchester and Birmingham are not back numbers for Law. All want AAA which is attainable by the DS.

If your son feels he could get an A* he should approach the teacher and convince them that he's serious about working hard and negotiate an upgrade of his predicted result.

Guymere, I know. I was in part responding to earlier suggestions that a main reason for applying to LSE was for the prestige. It is and it isn't in that the prestige flows from the advantages described in your post up thread.

It might also help OP realise that the course is very sought after and will still be aspirational even if you meet the minimum grade requirements, and that there will be plenty of applicants with higher predictions who don't get in. There can be a tendency on MN to assume that it is Oxbridge then the rest. This is not true of LSE law. There will be applicants with Oxbridge offers who receive LSE rejections.

(Tip. First read the applicant to acceptance rate that LSE have on their website, as this will give you an idea of how competitive the courses is. Then read the course requirements and any other PS guidance, carefully. There are no interviews so a good PS is crucial. It will probably be scored so make sure you tick all the boxes. Also the LSE does not enter clearing, nor I think adjustment. The same will be true of other top law courses. If he gets super grades he might consider a gap year and reapplication.)

Also consider not reading law but a subject with easier grade requirements for university and convert to law later if that is the only way to get into the best of the universities on a list. (Although you then have the extra year converting which my twins are currently doing).

're the query about private school students not studying law at Oxford. Most will have been encouraged to study a different degree first then do the GDL as usually the additional cost of doing so is less of a problem. Also remember Oxbridge is trying to up their state school intake too.

Thank you for the very informative feedback. DS has another shot at improving his grades after half term. Should things not work out, he is armed with lots of options.
Thank you all.