LSE student with a 2:2 in Year 1. Baker McKenzie Training Contract secured through the ECS paid programme. NQ salary: $185,000.
§ 01
Starting point
- LSE undergraduate with a 2:2 in Year 1
- Strong university brand, grade below most elite firm thresholds
- No AC invites before engagement
- Structural friction at every application sift
§ 02
The problem
Most elite firms apply academic cut-offs that a Year 1 2:2 does not clear, even from LSE.
§ 03
What we did
- Offer-Engineering System reframed the application around assessed qualities rather than the grade
- STAR-3® for the written application
- PEAL-3™ for interview preparation
- Commercial Fluency™ for cross-border transactional discussions
§ 04
Outcome
- Baker McKenzie Training Contract offer
- NQ salary: $185,000
- Year 1 2:2 did not determine the outcome
§ 05
Why it matters
Early academic slips do not have to be career-defining.