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‘I’ve had to re-sit exams, can I still get a training contract?’

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By Legal Cheek on

22

LPC graduate seeks help

In the latest instalment in our Career Conundrums series, one Legal Practice Course (LPC) graduate wants to know if re-sitting exams impacts their chance of bagging a training contract.

“I graduated from university with a 2.1 in law. I then went on to study the LPC. However, I have had to retake a few exams because I had to work alongside my studies. Now I am not sure whether I will be able to succeed in applying for training contracts. Is this something that would prevent me ever acquiring a legal role? Any advice would be appreciated.”

If you have a career conundrum, email us at team@legalcheek.com.

22 Comments

Anon

It may impact your applications, since there are tons of candidates with perfect credentials, including distinctions from the LPC. I appreciate that you weren’t in the same privileged place as a sponsored student and therefore had to work, but don’t be wholly dissuaded since the LPC is/was merely a tick box exercise to qualify. The quality of your initial University will matter so much more.

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(18)(2)

Jimmy

Absolutely – I finished my LPC studies last year but had to resit two exams this year and was open about this in TC interviews. I now start my TC in 2 weeks!

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(42)(2)

C

They did bring your TC forward then?

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(4)(1)

Anon

Not every firm is recruiting two years ahead.

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(5)(0)

V

Yeah it’s usually the lower tier firms that have this ngl

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(3)(17)

MC 5PQE

I had to resit an LPC exam and I have turned out alright. Just make sure you pass the resit and life goes on.

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(23)(2)

C

I kind of hate the idea where you have to revise for a year or months on end and one piece of paper determines how hard you work where anything can happens (laptop freezes, get nervous, panic attack, brain fog). I don’t think it really measures intelligence hence why lpc is seen as box ticking exercise.

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(24)(6)

It’s not just the LPC or is it?

That sums up all exams not just the LPC, so you don’t like any exam at all?

If you have panic attacks for exams, should consider whether client facing situations will bring you those panics too. If so, maybe doing something else with the law degree would be better option?

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(1)(5)

5 pqe

Exams don’t = intelligence otherwise why do I have some abysmal trainees and NQs who claim to have had 1sts at oxbridge?

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(11)(7)

oxbridge is a scam

well you know, those colleges are very old and expensive to maintain. im sure donations towards upkeep are appreciated by the college. and if your child just so happens to be there while your donation was made, who could blame the college if they get a little bit of favourable treatment.

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(3)(20)

Anon

I think you’re mistaking Oxbridge for the US… someone’s clearly not got over their rejection yet.

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(9)(3)

Associate

Correct that exams don’t = intelligence – But given the LPC is fundamentally quite simple (it is predominantly regurgitation and has been open book while assessed online over the last few years), I would really expect my trainees to have passed at the first time of asking.

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(4)(3)

Old Guy

My trainees? Hahahaha. Wind your neck in Associate, no one cares what you think and you have no sway.

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(13)(2)

k

There will be partners who have had to resit exams…think they are doing alright judging by their wealth..

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(8)(2)

a

i think it only matters if you’re sponsored tbh

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(8)(0)

a

it only really matters if they are paying for it and your sponsored and even then there’s always a discretionary basis to these things unless you’re going to a nerdy firm like S&M

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(8)(0)

SC Associate

Absolutely fine in my opinion. We all have setbacks at some point. I resat two exams during my LPC and still ended up working at a SC firm. You’ll be ace!

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(10)(1)

gogo

At a Mickey Mouse firm, you can get away with it

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(5)(10)

Chris

Don’t be dissuaded or talked down by anyone. I had resits and has qualified this year.

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(4)(1)

Professional Hater

have* . Gee, which firm did you qualify at?

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(2)(3)

Josebabe

You can sit for SQE 2 if after passing your LPC resits and you are unable to secure a training contract. SQE 2 will enable you to take advantage of becoming a solicitor through the Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) route. So don’t beat yourself up for the circumstances you find yourself.

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(0)(0)

New Trainee

It just all depends on what firms you are applying for. An option may be to go to a lower tier firm, maybe look at outside London, or attempt to become a paralegal and then work through the organisation into a trainee.

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(1)(1)

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