Leducate & LittleLaw FAQ
For International Day Of Education and in partnership with LittleLaw, we have put together an FAQ to answer your questions about the future of your education, particularly those of you who want to go to study Law in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis.
Can the Government legally cancel my exams?
Simply put, yes they can, and the department for education has now confirmed that GCSEs and A-Level examinations will be cancelled again this summer (2021). Whilst it might be nice to know that you will not have to sit exams this year, you might be worried about how you will get into university, or what effect this will have on your future. Fortunately, every student is in the same situation, and universities and colleges will adapt accordingly. When exams were cancelled last year, predicted grades from teachers were instead used, and it is possible that Ofqual (England’s exam regulator) and the Department for Education (DfE) will do the same again. It is therefore important to work hard during term time to show to your teachers what you are capable of. Unlike last year, January mocks have not taken place, so there may be no exam evidence for teachers to use.
Distance learning can be difficult for lots of different reasons. If you are struggling, or if you are unsure about how to demonstrate your ability, remember that you can always speak to your teachers for help and advice.
Have my education rights changed due to Covid-19?
Everyone has the right to education, it is actually a human right. The pandemic has changed the way of life for many across the world, and education has not been an exception. We know that online learning can be different, and being forced to adapt is hard. We share the hope of so many, that the pandemic will end and that life may return to a level of normalcy. Education has continued throughout the pandemic, and we hope that every young person is afforded the best opportunity to learn. If you are looking for other resources outside of your school, make sure to check out Leducate’s online learning resources.
What are my rights of appeal when it comes to my results as A-Levels are cancelled?
In previous years, appealing A-level results was possible through clerical re-checks, marking reviews or reviews of moderation. Ultimately, they all amounted to the same thing; your paper being looked over again, just for different reasons. In 2020, when A-Levels were cancelled and predicted grades were used, reviews looked a little different. Colleges and schools could request a review for an individual only if they believed there was a clerical error, or believed discrimination took place. Alternatively, they could ask for a review of the whole cohort, or year of students, if they believed the calculated grades from the teacher predicted grades were incorrect for various reasons. This system was seen as wholly unfair, and in the end teacher predicted grades were used where they were higher than the calculated results.
But what does that mean for 2021? Unfortunately, we do not yet know. As Ofqual and DfE have not yet announced how they are going to be marking students, they have not explained what the appeals process will look like. Gavin Williamson, the Secretary of Education in a letter to Ofqual, indicated that the DfE would like to use teachers' grades as a replacement for assessments, and they will continue discussing how that will look.
I want to go to university to study Law but my A-Levels are cancelled. What can I do to keep preparing?
Whilst your A-Level exams might be cancelled, there are lots of other ways to prepare for studying Law at university. Universities will be looking for examples that show your interest in what you want to study, such as reading books around the topic of Law (check out our recommendations), watching online seminars or looking to shadow a barrister or solicitor. In non-covid times we’d recommend going to courts, as most hearings are open to the public. Instead, look to see if any hearings interest you in the UK Supreme Court (here) where you can watch a live feed of what is happening. Remember Leducate also has resources on our education website, which features a university preparedness course, making sure you’re ready to move out and start university.
It is also important to remember that universities will be looking for interesting and dedicated people. You can show this through your hobbies, such as being a member of a sports team, playing a musical instrument or volunteering: many things you’re probably already doing.
Source: Supreme Court UK
What is it like being a student at university at the moment?
Every student’s experience is vastly different. Some students may choose to never come onto campus, whereas students like me that live near university are still able to use the library and study spaces. All of my lectures and seminars are online; earlier this year, my housemate caught covid, and we had the option to switch to online seminars. Whilst the idea of working purely from home sounds strange, I have learned to enjoy it.
Lectures being pre-recorded means that I can work through them at my own pace, pausing or speeding them up to suit me, and there is no rushing around campus to make sure I get between lectures on time. Sure, I miss seeing my course friends, but we have set up a system of using shared Google Docs to split the reading and do seminar preparation together. We also make sure to Zoom occasionally and go through any difficult topics or concepts.
Online seminars aren’t as bad as they seem either – the use of ‘breakout rooms’ means that we can still discuss the work in small groups, and sessions have been run almost identically to how they would in-person. Even when I attended in-person seminars at university, we felt safe as everyone wore masks, wiped down the tables and sat a safe distance apart. My lecturers have been very accommodating and responsive to the change; we must remember that it is just as new and strange for them as it is for us.
How can I get legal work experience during Covid-19?
Getting work experience before the pandemic was never an easy task. But now law firms have closed their office doors and access to courts is limited, surely it is harder for students? Wrong! Work experience is arguably now more accessible than ever before.
Following the change to remote learning, many legal organisations have adapted to Covid-19 by creating virtual experiences. These include virtual workshops, law fairs and internships. Organisations such as BrightNetwork and Legal Cheek have held virtual Vacation Schemes, offering students the chance to network with a number of law firms. Despite missing out on the infamous firm merchandise these experiences are great to gain an insight into the world of commercial law.
InsideSherpa is another platform that provides aspiring lawyers with the chance to get legal work experience during Covid-19. Although work experience through your computer screen is not the same as the real thing, these opportunities offer valuable insight into what life is like as a trainee lawyer.
It is also important to note that law firms are continuing to run their first-year schemes and vacation schemes, just virtually instead this year. Do not let the pandemic stop your career ambitions – work experience is out there; you just need to know where to look!
Are law firms still hiring graduates at the moment?
With unemployment on the rise due to the pandemic, the job market is a scary place. But do not fear, law firms are here to save us!
Although Covid-19 has had an enormous impact on businesses across the world, many law firms have been able to mitigate this financial hit. As a result, most law firms have continued recruitment as normal. Despite the pandemic, all Magic Circle and Silver Circle firms are hiring graduates. And like every other application window, deadlines are approaching fast so make sure to plan ahead!
So, the short answer is yes, law firms are still hiring graduates at the moment.
I have an offer of a training contract and am concerned about whether it’s still valid and whether the firm will keep me post-training contract. What do I do?
This is a difficult question to answer, as every firm will have a different approach to the fallout of the covid economy. Some firms have altered or delayed their vacation schemes and training contracts as a result of the pandemic. To illustrate some examples, at present, DLA Piper has offered incoming 2020 trainees compensation if they choose to defer their training contract until 2021, and other firms are doing the same. Some firms have paused graduate recruitment entirely, in an effort to cut costs.
Whilst we are in unprecedented times and the future is unpredictable, you need to remember that you have secured a training contract for a reason; you have an impressive skill set and potential to be a great lawyer. Your firm has chosen you, and it is in their best interest to invest in brilliant future trainees like yourself. If you are worried, you could consider contacting your firm to see if they have any plans to alter their processes.
If a firm is looking to reduce costs as a result of the pandemic, it is likely that their first response will be to restrict recruitment or defer starting dates. You have already secured a training contract, and cancelling this after all of the assessment processes would be an extreme measure for a firm to take. All you can do at the moment is focus on whatever you are doing – whether that is the LPC, GDL, LLB or work experience, work at being the best version of yourself.