I’m really worried that Law faculties and indeed employers will be turned off by my A Levels in Art and Media Studies
Up until recently I wanted to pursue a career in journalism and therefore taking A Levels in Media Studies, Government & Politics and Art. But since talking to my older brother who is a City lawyer I’m now considering following in his footsteps and thinking of applying to study Law at university. I’m however worried that Law faculties and indeed employers won’t be impressed by my taking A Levels in Art and Media Studies. I’d therefore love to hear from anyone who is or has been in a similar situation.
Art and Media studies won’t be looked upon unfavorably. People study french or something ridiculous for a degree and take the GDL thereafter and still get training contracts. Arguably it shows your creative and passionate side. All you need to do is get the top grades, gain lots of relevant experience, go to a decent uni and take it from there.
I think the first commenter is too encouraging (and blinkered by his/her obvious bias against the GDL). French is a recognised academic discipline. Yes, it’s not law, but it’s a traditional academic subject. Law firms, particularly City law firms are all about tradition.
If the OP is set on a career at a City law firm, he/she should think about taking an additional year to do some A Levels in more traditional academic subjects (English, European languages, maths, sciences, social sciences, history, geography, etc.) Government and politics is fine, but media studies and art scream “soft subjects” to a recruiter with a traditional bent.
It’s more than possible to do A Levels in a year at an FE college. Although an extra year of study seems like a lot now, it’s better to get your CV in order for law firms now than to try and back-track once you’ve finished your LPC and can’t get a training contract because of your A Level choices.
Have a look at the websites of unis you’d be interested in attending. Some have explicit lists of “no-go” A Levels. (See the list in http://www2.lse.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/howToApply/lseEntryRequirements.aspx for LSE’s version, which lists both Art and Media Studies as “non-preferred subjects”, meaning you’d be unlikely to get in there without 2 further A Levels).
Media studies will be looked upon unfavourably by most city firms.
While it may not prevent you from getting an interview/job students presenting A levels in recognised academic disciplines will, as a general rule, be at an advantage to ones presenting media studies and the like.
Media studies has a particularly bad image.
Anyone who tells you otherwise is wrong.
I think taking an extra year out would actually have more of a negative impact on an application. If you can get into a decent university this time around do it. Your A-levels aren’t ideal but if you can get into a good university for a good degree (not necessarily law) then I don’t think recruiters will care. Solid 2i wiith lots of extra curriculars, work experience, and other key skills like not being a social retard will be more important than a poor choice aged 16.
However as has been mentioned your A-levels rule you out of Oxbridge, LSE and probably one or two other top universities for sure and many others will be heavily biased against you.
I would like to point out that having an A Level in Media Studies does not need to hold you back unless you are unsuited to a career in law in any case.
I have an A Level in Media Studies and found that having a broader spectrum of A Levels made me a more rounded candidate at interview. Media also consists of a lot of essay writing and analytical skills which can be easily translated to other careers.
I have a training contract with a City firm and I’m due to begin next year.
Your A Levels will only be a barrier to your prospects if you are not a good candidate anyway and are unable to explain yourself properly if your qualifications are questioned at interview.
I think, given the fact you have had to ask the question, you probably already know that against other competitors with strong traditional academics, you are going to struggle. Also, I think, given how competitive the profession is at the moment recruiters are looking more at how to eliminate people at the initial application process and anything deemed to be below the norm could be seen to be an easy way of reducing the numbers. You have to realise that top law firms can have hundreds of applications for each training contract. Despite this, if you are determined you can still make it, you just might have to put in a bit more effort elsewhere and maybe even lower your standards as regards the firms you would like to train at.