How many insurance choices?

[Dixiechickonhols]

DD in yr 12 predicted A* x3.
Shes been consistently working at this level and achieved AAand A/A* in her mocks so the predictions do seem realistic but I’m very aware that nothing is guaranteed.
Course she’s looking at is A*AA for most top unis. One she likes is AAA so was planning on using that as an insurance backup.
Is that enough or is it advisable to put one with lower offer.

Yes not disputing Bristol and Notts are perceived as better unis for law but both are A star A A and Bristol is Lnat, plus both very competitive to get into.
My question was about insurance choices and 5 choices on her list all with identical A star AA criteria doesn’t seem sensible and I think most on here agree should have st least one lower hence Queens making list for a variety of reasons - it’s city not campus, AAA, no lnat, actively recruiting GB, decent acceptance odds plus she really liked it.

I’m still not convinced you need to worry about non LNAT. Most law grads who want a law career do think about where they study. It actively recruits because it’s not popular. There is a reason for this. In general, recruiters prefer the LNAT unis as you can see. I would have faith and go for them. If she doesn’t get the grades it’s possibly not the career for her anyway.

Yes 4 out of 5 choices will be A star A A and lnat choices.
Yes she’s definitely aiming for a top well regarded courses, it’s not her doubting herself or me doubting her, it’s just me thinking don’t put all eggs in one basket.
Thread has been useful so thanks to everyone for taking time to reply.

Very many do. For law.

School have recommended not just putting all with same top requirements and nearly all replies on here have suggested having at least one spot on list with entry lower than A star AA/lnat.

I guess school are all lawyers then. Oxbridge types do not need non LNAT. They should walk it. Anyway. My views are my own but are backed up by employability stats which are clear. Law tends to be very very choosy.

With respect though school will have a lot of experience. I recruit lawyers and I would not know which universities require LNAT and which don’t. Are you a lawyer Tizer because I’m surprised that your experience is so different.?

Can I ask about the ‘no campus’ thing. Has she looked at a good campus? In many places, they only live on campus for one year anyway. Is it possible she’s excluding lots of good options and doesn’t really need to? Just a thought.

She has looked at campus ones but not Warwick.

It’s just preference for a city (but not northern city too near home!) and as most of the better regarded for law aren’t campus it seems as good a filter as any.

My instinct is she will do well at Lnat as she’s strong academically 3 A star predicted and not phased by exams..passed her 11 plus and full marks in Religious Studies and History GCSE papers.
I am anticipating she will get an offer from a top Uni but am aware how competitive it is for law hence asking question about insurance choice.

She’s at a state grammar 6th form. They seem to have a decent track record at students going to Oxbridge/decent unis. She says it’s quite medicine focused but they are supporting her and another pupil looking at Oxbridge law.

@RoyKentFanclub Its fairly clear from the tables I posted who asks for LNAT. I don’t have recruitment experience but I can read tables of where lawyers went to uni. Also one firm doesn’t represent the career overall. DC helps recruit for chambers but that is not representative of all chambers either. Who applies to you might be very different from other firms or chambers. We don’t actually know so employee surveys covering a wide range of employers makes more sense to gauge employment prospects. London is not the same as regional or national. However there’s not much difference in the uni lists and the top ones are mostly LNAT. You can look up the list yourself if you are interested.

@Dixiechickonholsjust stumbled across this thread. Where did she end up going for law?

Bump. Also very interested in this.

She went to Glasgow Common law (English law) it was A*AA and Lnat. About to go into 3rd year (semester 2 will be in Australia) she’s loved it and thrived.
Interesting to see my thoughts from end of yr12.
If it helps anyone this is how it panned out.
We went to lots of open days together end yr12 & beginning yr13. She also went to a few with school.
She quickly knew she wanted big city not campus. Nothing northern as it was too close home.
Appeal of London waned after frank conversations re finances.
We actually missed the Glasgow open day due to weather conditions cancelling train (the irony of the one she ended up at was one we didn’t go to open day) but visited and did a tour and loved it.
She decided to apply for law with politics not straight law.
She sat Lnat and did very well.
Once she had offers we did offer days in spring.
Loved Glasgow and firmed it.
Her insurance was Queens Belfast AAA none lnat. We both really liked it.
I relaxed about not having an offer below AAA. I watched clearing yr12 so had an idea of what was around if she got a B.
She had an A star EPQ in a law related subject. Neither formally dropped a grade but I strongly suspect Queens would have taken her at AAB from what they said.
She’s not wanting to qualify.
Year abroad options were important to her (she was studying 4 years no matter where so Scotland being 4 yrs made no difference)
What I didn’t say on original post was I’m a Solicitor with a law degree. Obviously I had my views when looking at unis for law. It was important for DD to go where was the right fit for her.
One bonus we hadn’t appreciated was Scotland is semester system. So she has exams before Christmas. She finished semester 2 exams early May. She’s worked abroad last 2 summers so this has fit well.

DS had ruled Glasgow out because he worried the focus would be more on Scottish law and that future employers would be less keen.
He also has Queens Belfast in the mix but again is worried about it not being as known as somewhere like Durham or Warwick. He has grades in hand of 3 A* so could apply to Oxbridge but he is adamant that is not his vibe.
My instinct is to go where you think you’d enjoy the most which for him is Belfast but then I read that law is a degree where the Uni matters. It’s not straightforward.

Glasgow runs the two law courses separately. Constitutional law was combined Scots and common law students but rest of teaching is all separate. Law society and law careers have events for both, some combined.
Queens is a qualifying law degree for England and Wales. Much smaller set up than Glasgow but I was impressed.
Whilst both are top 10 ranked the big players for law are Oxbridge and Durham. With 3 A* if they are certain they want to qualify I’d be encouraging them to seriously consider those.

Thanks. Not 100% sure he wants to qualify but is 100% he is not interested in an Oxbridge application and not sure they would be keen on two gap years anyway even though he has very good reasons for doing so.
He really liked Queens and Belfast as a place to live. Part of me thinks life is short and he should trust his gut but equally don’t want him to close off any avenues by making the wrong choice.
Great to hear that a good decision was made in your household in the end though. I think once they get somewhere it all falls into place. It’s this bit that is stressful with all the what ifs.

I think university of Warwick , University of Sheffield , university of York , niveriaty of Liverpool , university of Newcastle and university of Southampton are in clearing this year . May be worth considering one of these as insurance. I’d also look at historical entry grades on UCAS and only choose one 1️⃣ f going to be used as insurance if your yp likes it enough to study there.

We visited Belfast 3 times and Glasgow twice. Lots of conversations.
Her gut was Glasgow and it’s proved right.
Her English school friend is at Queens (not law) and it’s been a success.
Both have a full programme of law careers support - Glasgow’s is uofglawemploy on instagram if you want to see types of things offered. Plus all the usual mooting etc.
In terms of law recruiting for large firms it’s done via applying for vacation schemes and then applying for training contracts. Vacation schemes will be spring or summer holidays. Both have large and international firms visiting.
Personally I think it’s important they go somewhere where it’s a good fit for them and they will thrive. My dd strongly knew Durham wasn’t for her for example after visiting. I do think perhaps they stand out slightly in a good way as they haven’t just followed the expected trodden path.
Like I say though mine isn’t wanting to qualify as a solicitor (2 solicitor parents will do that to you!)
If you want to pm me happy to share some more.

All so helpful thank you

Please pm if you want to chat further.

@Dixiechickonhols
Haven't read the whole thread, but if you are looking at all the AStar, A, A tariffs, of the top Unis then (even though you may be predicted 3 AStars, you may not get an offer at all (as much as that sounds implausible!). I had a previous thread on the offer rates of Durham, Warwick, etc.

Would suggest 1 or 2 AAA tariffs such as Nottingham, Leeds, Exeter, York, etc.
Lancaster was in clearing at BBB last year, so would think that is too much of a drop off.

Noticed that it's old - forget that!

Yes it’s from 2023 yr12, she’s now uni year 3. Someone resurrected so I responded.
I’ve interacted with you under a different user name on your your son was wanting law or apprenticeship. What did he opt for uni wise?