First few weeks- round up

I have been back a few weeks now and I apologise for the lack of blogging, so expect a long one. 

GLS

I finally got the feedback report for the GLS assessment day (note to anyone applying in the future: they say you will receive it by the end of September but this actually means the very last day in September so don't be hanging on every email like I was!). 

All in all I scored 20/35. Obviously this isn't particularly great. My strengths were motivation for law and the GLS, collaborative working and delivering at pace. One of my biggest weaknesses (and my lowest mark of 2/5) was for decision making. This is something I am already aware of and am seriously trying to address, but it has definitely brought it home how very important it is that I change in this area. 

My writing skills were good and presentation skills also good so not a complete disaster!

University

We have completely settled in to Civil Litigation now with the course being in full swing. I actually quite like it although there is ALOT to do and the 7.5 hours suggested prep time for each workshop falls short. So far, my shortest prep time has been around 9 hours and this week I am already on 8 with still one i-tutorial and a test and feedback to go! 

Property Law and Practice (PLP) began last week and I must say it is yet to get me excited. So far we are on the conveyancing procedure and it all just seems dull dull dull. The prep for the coming week is addressing land law issues such as easements, covenants and trusts; it is basically a revision week of the LLB module. Oh the thrill! Anyone getting that I don't like land law??

We also have to choose our remaining two electives this coming week. We did do this last year, but with the change from LPC to LPC LLM some of the modules have also changed and so we need to reselect. This year I was a bit more organised and arranged a meeting with my personal tutor to discuss the options, deciding Private Client was a good choice as this is the area I currently work in and also Commercial Dispute Resolution to add a commercial element to my choices - top decision making right there!

We also need to state our preliminary intentions with regard the LLM dissertation. It is all a bit confusing to be honest and the real sting in the tail is that the LLM is not distinct from the LPC, meaning that the dissertation can bring your LPC mark down (especially considering it is weighted very heavily). In all honesty, my gut is telling me to avoid it like the plague. We are the first year doing it and it does feel like we are all guinea pigs with the tutors themselves not even knowing the answers to some of our questions. With that said, I won't rule it out at this point in time and will see how things look in February when the title choosing and planning process begins.

Work

Work is going really well and I have started doing lone home visits, only to collect documentation but it feels great to have the client contact. I am starting to get to grips with Wills and Probate and it is beginning to feel familiar. The team are fantastic and have thankfully taken me under their wing. Life is good!

The Last First Day

School is back! And without wanting to get too sentimental and yucky, Wednesday was my last ever first day back at "school". Never again will I feel the excitement over new planners and timetables. Never again will we eagerly discuss our potential new tutor or lay out your first-day-back outfit the night before. I must say that the thing I will certainly miss the most is the new stationery. 

But onwards and upwards. 

The first day back consisted of registration with our new tutor, book collection and the first Civil Litigation workshop. 

Our new tutor is honestly amazing. I was sad to see that we were getting a new tutor as our last one was so approachable and a bit of a laugh but I am more than happy with his replacement. She is also the head of Civil Litigation which is great if we have any queries. 

Unlike last year I was a bloody idiot and didn't take my suitcase in anticipation of new books. Luckily for me, there was no book similar in size to the one of dreaded BLP legislation so I just about managed to lug my plastic package of first term books to class. Rookie mistake one. 

My second rookie mistake came in the form of the tiddly folder I thought was appropriate for the first session. My usual lever arches had a day off and stayed in their warm and cosy home on my bookshelf while this teeny weeny ring binder got a trip out to university to aid me in my Civil Lit endeavours. I was sorely mistaken to think this poor excuse for a folder could hold anywhere near the amount of paper we received and in the end I bundled it as best I could into my bag. Inconvenient. 

Civil Litigation was not at all what I expected. For some reason, many students tend to dread Civil Lit. I personally think it has to do with the two Advocacy workshops in the module. Either way, those students are wrong. I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed both the prep and the workshop. So far we have only really begun to cover the general litigation process and writing a letter of advice/response in the initial stages of a claim. I am very much looking forward to the progression of this module. 

One thing I am most definitely NOT looking forward to is Property Law and Practice (PLP). Anyone who has taken the time to read this blog from the beginning will know my history with Land Law and I am afraid that I never have, and probably never will, enjoy this area of the law. We have all gotta hate something right? Anyway, this wretched module does not begin for a couple more weeks so I am granted a brief reprieve. 

Other News

I was surprised to learn that not one single member of my class managed to secure a training contract this summer. In fact, surprised is an understatement; I was downright shocked.  There are some fantastically talented and dedicated individuals in the LPC classes, which is the case with every provider. My class is no different. I have no idea what happened but I am guessing that at least a small part of it is the sheer competitiveness in recent years and the ensuing bottle-neck of applicants. I genuinely have no idea what has happened to the world when students achieving high grades at degree and LPC level, volunteering and working 30+ hours, all maintained over a period of 3-5 years, cannot get a job in the legal sector. Who are the people getting these jobs?

My first assessment centre

Phew! What a busy month it has been. With my new job and plenty of overtime at my second job it doesn't really feel like there has been a summer break at all. In the midst of all of this I also got the opportunity to have my first assessment centre experience, and I can tell you from the off (to avoid any false hopes!) I unfortunately wasn't successful. However, every cloud has a silver lining and, now that I am two weeks on from the disappointment, I am confident that I can use the experience for a successful experience next year.

Now, I wasn't sure whether it is the "done thing" to publicly name the firm you're interviewing for but having desperately searched the web for info on this particular organisation's assessment centre (info not provided in the assessment centre pack of course) I was bitterly disappointed. So on that note, the organisation I am writing about today was the Government Legal Service and I hope that my experience can provide an insight to any future hopefuls. 

As background, the application process for the GLS includes an application form and Situational Judgment Test, successful applicants are then invited to complete a Verbal Reasoning Test and, if successful in that, a Critical Reasoning Test. Finally, there is the assessment centre which includes a written task and an interview with a panel. 

The assessment centre is held in London across four days. We found out upon arrival that they were interviewing 112 candidates in groups of seven (four sessions per day) and that over 3000 people had applied; these were incredible statistics and indicative of just how fierce the competition to obtain a training contract is. 

The written task involved advising a minister on a proposed piece of fictional legislation, particularly in relation to four specific members of the public's concerns, within a one hour time frame. The task was typed and we were given a hard copy of the materials and permitted to make notes. Generally, I found the task okay. I finished just in time but felt comfortable and not flustered throughout that hour. 

We then had a 20 minute break in order to have a drink or snack before being called for our individual interviews. Interviews were held by a panel of three (two GLS lawyers and one independent person). They were very friendly and definitely put me at ease. That was until the questions began! 

The first 15 minutes consisted of questioning on the written task. I had expected to be questioned on the rationale behind my answers but the questions seemed to be more technical:

"You have suggested an exemption to this section 13(b), how would you implement it?"

"Who would be better to decide the annual fee in the legislation, the local council or wider government?"

I think I fared okay but my unpreparedness for these types of questions definitely showed and I actually had a moment of complete blankness, which completely threw me off. 

The remaining 55 minutes of the interview consisted of competency based questions requiring the applicant to give an example of a time when they have demonstrated particular competencies, in this case decision making, leading and communication, team working and working to deadlines. These questions were testing. I was obviously aware of the types of questions I would be asked and had thought long and hard about examples I could give, however, I wasn't sufficiently prepared for the depth I would be questioned into these examples and they ended up coming off a little shallow. I often had to stretch the example to fit the question they were asking and it all felt strained. Advice to any future applicants: talk through your examples, write them out, dissect them in every way and analyse them at a great depth before the interview so that you know them inside out and can in turn discuss them in better detail. 

In addition to the competency questions, we were asked to discuss a current legal issue which interests us (I spoke about David Miranda) and finally our motivation for working for the Government, particularly in public law. 

It was intense.

I left the building feeling entirely shell shocked. In my defence, it was my first experience! The questions were relentless and just when you thought you had cracked it they threw in a curve ball. The panel took it in turns to ask the questions giving you little time between questions to compose yourself and I often asked for a moment to think or take a sip of water. With that said, the conversations with other applicants seemed to suggest that private training contract interviews for top firms were even more intense so perhaps I got off lightly!

The GLS recruit on a top down basis. Everybody gets a mark for their written task and interview and then they take the top 30-35 so it really is a case of "may the best man win". I was completely gutted not to have obtained a place but I am determined to give it another (better) shot next year. 

With all that done, I am now preparing to return to the University of Law for my final year on the LPC in less than 2 weeks. Back to business!

Year One Results

As I sat on my bed, at 13:46, longing the minutes to go slower and simultaneously wishing it was all over, I was lured back into 'exam hysteria'. By this point I could no longer care and the constant bleeping of my Whatsapp group message became a comfort. 

By 14:02 I was logged on and hovering the pointer over the 'open' button beside my results. Here they are:

- Interviewing: Competent

- Solicitors Accounts: 90% (pass)

- Employment: 79% (distinction) 

Relief is an absolute understatement and I am over the moon with my results. Needless to say a few drinks are on the cards for me tonight...

In terms of my friends, I don't know their precise marks but I do know that the main instigator of 'exam hysteria' achieved a distinction in the employment elective and passed everything else. That's always the way! Regardless, everyone is returning for a second year of LPC madness and I cannot wait.

In other news...

Remember the legal admin position I was applying for a few weeks back? Well, I got it! In addition to this role a training contract has been discussed and is on the cards for 2015/2016 providing the firm like me so I am extremely pleased. I will initially be based in one of their smaller offices with a lovely tight knit team and I just can't wait to get stuck in. I guess the suit paid off ;)

Given the above, I halted my TC applications once I had received the job offer. Now I know that the TC isn't exactly certain, and probably a lot of you will disagree with my approach, but I am keen to train with this particular firm and would like to see how it plays out. Obviously, I won't withdraw any completed applications and will be interested to see how they fare too. 

I hope you all did well in exams and good luck with your applications!

Professionalism

Now this is not strictly a "law" related blog post but I feel compelled to write it and it does relate to business professionalism (an awareness of business/commercial environment being something we all know we must possess). 

The story starts like this. My best friend is turning 23 next week and I haven't a clue what to get her. We met when we were 11 and vowed from around the age of 14 that we would always make birthdays special. Over the years we have become regulars at our favourite spa, taken trips to the zoo, seen theatre shows, rode rollercoasters and the waltzers until we were sick, posh lunches, beach barbecues, I've sat through AWFUL concerts, sipped pricey cocktails in ice bars, laughed until we cried in comedy clubs... you name it we've done it, all in the name of great birthdays. I digress. 

So here I was trying to figure out a great way to treat my best friend for her birthday and I came across a local spa that offers glamping (that's glamorous camping in case you didn't know). Sounds perfect! Spa by day, tipi by night. I was checking out the menu when I noticed just underneath the menu PDFs a rather large amount of waffle-y looking text. Being open to procrastination I began to read. What I discovered was what can only be described as a long and frustrated rant about....customers! Oh boy. Please find said rant below (I apologise for how long it is):

If it's Winter and you're booking a table sometime around Easter expect that the menu may change. This means a change in the content of the dishes not the number of dishes or the variety on offer. So if you come in the second week of April you may be surprised to find that we're no longer serving a Winter Menu...

If you don't want to take a chance and would like to eat in a place that serves the same menu all year round from an indeterminate source with profits leaking out of the British economy into Multinational overseas investors pockets then please feel free to go elsewhere (to a chain carvery down the road perhaps) and spend £16 or £17 on a three course Sunday Lunch there. We don't pretend to offer the Earth, we're just a hard-working  family business striving hard to keep our loyal team of staff employed, pay our taxes and look after the future of independent places like Wallett's Court.

Ultimately you choose where you go to eat out, don't let us force you into paying £21.95 for a three course Sunday Lunch, if you don't believe it to be good value, let us know AT THE TIME and we'll see what we can do to add value to your experience whilst you're with us.

Now, imagine this... I am coming to your house for lunch. You put the heating on, light the fire perhaps. Now go to Tesco and buy a tin of Heinz Tomato Soup, a small loaf of Mother's Pride, a small packet of butter, a Bird's Eye Traditional Roast Beef for one, a tin of vegetables, a couple of Aunt Bessies' Yorkshire Puddings and McCain's home roast potatoes and a dark chocolate Magnum (this will all come to £10.18, remember that figure).

Now prepare all of that, lay a table with your best linen, crockery, cutlery, glasses and wait for my arrival. When I get to your house bring me a jug of iced water for which you won't charge me of course, then serve me my tomato soup with half a loaf of bread, roast beef dinner with tinned veg and frozen Yorkshires, and chocolate Magnum for pudding.

Now, I may spend the afternoon sitting in your lounge by the fire or in your garden whilst you spend the next hour or so washing-up and tidying the dining room. At the end of that I'll hand you £18.39 (that's £21.95 less 20% VAT) and you'll delight in the profit from your endeavours. That's a healthy £8.21 from your outlay of £10.18 unless you factor in the cost of heating and lighting your house, insurance, rates, income tax, the cost of the glass that I dropped on your terrace (oops, sorry!), the cost of mowing the lawn, the cost of half a loo roll that I used and the copy of Hello that you kindly placed by the loo and I assumed you wanted me to keep that by the way.  Now with all that factored in you will have made a glorious profit of a between a quid and naff all. But hey at least you'll have the reassurance of knowing that you won't have to do it all again for me tomorrow (reasons I won't be returning are to follow). Oh, no you won't because as far as you're concerned I paid you the money and left appearing to have had a nice time albeit without a big thank you.

So, there you are in a few days time spending a little time relaxing with your family and you'll receive a lovely email from me informing you that I've told the rest of the world via the Internet that I had an average time at your house but thought that it wasn't worth the money...

At this point you'll feel like jacking it all in and moving to a volcanic island in the middle of the Mediterranean where you don't have to pander to the needs of spoilt twots like me with aspirations of becoming the next Michael Winner... 

Here endeth the outpouring of my passionate views... For more rants please read my blog at lostfaithinhumanitytoday.blogspot.com

"The more dangerous volcanoes are those that lie dormant for years, holding everything in, then burst open suddenly, usually with devastating effect."

As much as I can sympathise with this business owner's frustrations, this rant, published on the business' professional website, is totally UNprofessional. Customers will moan. They might be ungrateful. They might not understand the profit margins of small business. If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Needless to say I have been completely put off, and what a shame. Especially by the bold quote at the end which seems to suggest that the writer is one unsatisfied customer away from a crazed maniacal outburst. I won't name the business in question as I do think they most likely provide a great experience, however, I think I will take my custom elsewhere... 

Suits and tricky questions

Wow, what beautiful and scorching weather we have had these past few day. Almost makes you think it might be summer... 

As you know, I was made redundant from one of my part time jobs shortly before exams *sob*. Obviously job hunting was not at the top of my priority list at the time. Since then, one particular position has caught my eye. Another admin post but this time at a much larger firm that annually recruits trainees. I applied and yesterday I had my preliminary interview. 

First off, it was over 30 degrees here and I was super reluctant to don a heavy and stifling suit. Contrary to what everyone advised me, I knew best, and wore a shirt and cardigan combo. Greatest idea I've ever had until I walk into the offices and come face to face with the previous interviewee, dressed in a suit. Nothing like a confidence wobble just before a big interview eh. 

Moving on to the reason for this post. One of the questions I was asked was:

                                      "What criteria should your next employer or position meet?"

What an interesting question. I was initially a bit stumped. After a moment to think, I was still stumped. And then I realised my only option was to be honest and so I entered in a conversation in which we discussed my particular desire for a job in the legal sector, in which team working is key and where there are opportunities for the development of employees (obviously here I was thinking of post LPC opportunities). 

The interviewer then cottoned on to what I was thinking and asked how long I expected I would be in this role, and I was really dreading this question. With the cost of training and the time it can take recruiters are quite rightly keen to employ people with the intention to stick around. With that said, I know of people who are in charge of recruiting and have told me that people who remain in the same position for more than 3-4 years are generally seen to lack ambition (I tend to disagree with this, but what do I know). What a minefield! Again, I had to be honest and answered that I couldn't imagine being in a part-time position for longer than 2 years as on completion of the LPC and then the LLM I would obviously be wanting full time work. I then mentioned that I might also be wanting to move away from admin and into a role that used some of my legal skills. This seemed to pay off as I then found out that this particular firm are keen to begin a practice of recruiting their trainees from within so it seems that honesty was the best policy.

The recruiter called me this morning to say I was through to the final interview stage next week. Having met some of the employees of this firm and seen the offices I could really see myself working for this firm. *preps heavy and stifling suit*

Exam Hysteria

We have all been there. The final exam of the year. Nerves, yes, but also a faint whiff of excitement for the summer. That feeling that, no matter what the exam may throw at you, in 3 hours time you won't have to worry for another 3 months. The invigilator calls you all to put down your pens and a wave of cool relief washes over you... ahhh calm!

This year I have been cruelly and heartlessly deprived of that heady relief due to, what I am coining, 'exam hysteria'. Electives exams were rather ruthless and consequently we have all been drawn into a blow-by-blow dissection of each and every word we wrote on the papers. The guilt, the regret, the misery.

When I finished the paper I felt a bit disappointed but definitely confident of a pass. I stayed behind with a few friends to grab a pizza in Guildford and the self-doubt began. 

"Oh... did you include [insert relevant case]?"

"Yes question 2 was definitely about [insert relevant topic]"

"You said she worked 40 hours a week? I am pretty sure it worked out at 37.5"

I spent the drive home deflatedly mulling over each and every detail and convincing myself I had failed.  I didn't even do this for my degree finals.

But the conversations didn't stop there. All texts from friends since the exams have been exam related. Some friends repeatedly just stating that they have failed. Some friends remembering bits they did or didn't include and checking if they were in the majority. Others planning their new careers after the embarrassment of inevitably being publicly named and shamed as the University of Law's worst LPC student and then unceremoniously kicked off the course. Tiresome, but infectious. 

My personal way of dealing with anything like this is perfectly summed up in the phrase "worrying won't change a thing" so I don't understand why I have been dragged into all this pessimism. I am slowly withdrawing from the exam talk now (it has been 2 weeks!) and trying to resume with normal life. I hope that my friends can also combat this strange compulsion to berate ourselves but I fear they may need to go cold turkey.

What I can confirm is that it is most definitely catching so beware, fellow law students, and keep away from the infected.