law degree- costs

OnTheUp_2-2 · 20 November 2009 at 1:23PM

Not sure if anyone can help me on this but I am thinking of doing a LAw degree but have no idea how much its costs and whether I would receive any help towards paying it. I guess I am classed as a mature student (28) and I want to do distance learning as I have two toddlers..
any advice would be gratefully received

MrsManda · 20 November 2009 at 2:05PM

If you're thinking of doing a Law degree through the Open University then you can find out what financial support you may be eligible for by using the calculator HERE
For OU funding I think it usually depends on household income and how many credits you are studying for each year.

As to how much it costs, it depends on what units you need to study. You find information about OU Law degrees HERE

Queen_of_NO_MATTER_WHAT · 20 November 2009 at 2:26PM

I'm a mature student studying law full time (I'm 27) I'm in my second year, I don't have any children, I recieved the full loan and grant. Law is a long hard slog, sometimes I wish I'd done something else

but I'm half way through now so it would be in my interest to finish

Queen_of_NO_MATTER_WHAT · 20 November 2009 at 2:28PM

Also if you want to go on to practice (ie be a solicitor) see if you can get a degree which includes your LPC otherwise the LPC (legal practice course) will cost about £10k and is usually self funded unless you have a sponsor. So 3 years at uni doing the LLB (or 4 if you do a placement) + 1 year LPC + 2 year training contract to qualify as solicitor.

OnTheUp_2-2 · 20 November 2009 at 4:02PM

thank you so much, I am going through a quarter life crisis and trying to decided what i would like to do when my children start school, one of my concerns being that I believe it takes 6 yrs on a distance learning and what if I decide half way through that its not right :-(

I just have so much interest in law and have seen through a court case to the high court and apart from the fact it was personal, I really enjoyed it

what to do, what to do

atypical · 20 November 2009 at 4:33PM

I think you should try and get some more experience before you go for it. If court cases are what interest you I assume you are interested in becoming a barrister which is even more competitive than becoming a solicitor. During your court case you will have missed the boring bits of law which go on behind the scenes.

To stand a chance you'll need to have graduated from a red brick with a more than decent classification. I think you'd struggle with an Open University degree but I may be wrong.

emmielou · 20 November 2009 at 4:46PM

Hi,

A law degree is a good degree to have but it is hard work.

If you are thinking of going down the solicitor route I would try to get some work experience to see if it really is what you want. I know lots of people who have gotten so far then decided it isn't for them (even as far as qualifying!).

I haven't heard a a degree that combines your LPC, however if there is one I would think you would still need to pay the LPC fees. It's a professional qualification and so no funding unless you get a sponsor.

It's a long hard slog to become a laywer but worth it if its what you want. I also think that if you want to do a degree and law is of interest to you then it's a good one to pick! It's important that you pick something you are interested in. Just be prepared for the boredom of Land Law!:eek: LOL!

If you are looking at Uni's you might want to look into childcare provision. I know my uni had a nursery but places were in high demand.

Don't forget that you will need to buy textbook's as well. I found the cost of these were more than what my friends were paying in other subjects but there are always people selling off last years books at a lower price.

Best of luck x

dmg24 · 20 November 2009 at 4:56PM

atypical wrote: »

To stand a chance you'll need to have graduated from a red brick with a more than decent classification. I think you'd struggle with an Open University degree but I may be wrong.

You are wrong. Unless the OP wants to join a magic circle firm (which I would assume they do not, these firms are not family friendly) experience will count for as much as having attended a red brick. Also, not all red bricks have a good reputation for law, but there are a good few ex polys that do.

dmg24 · 20 November 2009 at 4:59PM

emmielou wrote: »

I haven't heard a a degree that combines your LPC, however if there is one I would think you would still need to pay the LPC fees. It's a professional qualification and so no funding unless you get a sponsor.

Northumbria have offered this for many years now, and I am pretty sure that others have followed suit.

sparklymessygirl · 20 November 2009 at 5:10PM

Hi OP,

Look at this link for the combined degree and LPC
http://www.ntu.ac.uk/apps/pss/courses/cf/62434-1/3/LLB_(Hons)_Law_and_Professional_Practice.aspx

That uni also does a distance learning (DL) degree.

If you have a degree in another subject you could do the conversion course - Graduate Diploma in Law (also available by DL)

(Other legal education providers are available

)

I think before embarking on any of these options it would be useful to speak to a number of practising lawyer from different fields -high street firms, in-house, local authority, CPS, etc. It is a huge commitment which is often entered into without much understanding of the life it brings with it (understandably so as we don't have easy access to realistic examples of everyday lives of lawyers, especially lawyers who are mothers)

Good luck,
Sparkly

Queen_of_NO_MATTER_WHAT · 20 November 2009 at 7:43PM

emmielou wrote: »

I haven't heard a a degree that combines your LPC, however if there is one I would think you would still need to pay the LPC fees. It's a professional qualification and so no funding unless you get a sponsor.

Nottingham Trent Uni offered this course for the first time this year, I believe somewhere in Newcastle have offered it for a while because a friend from my last course picked that uni specifically because of the inclusion of the LPC. It's included in the fees too.

Just be prepared for the boredom of Land Law!:eek: LOL!

Oh good I'm glad it's not just me, it's so so boring and it feels really complex but I'm sure that's just me!

Don't forget that you will need to buy textbook's as well. I found the cost of these were more than what my friends were paying in other subjects but there are always people selling off last years books at a lower price.

Our uni has a book sale at the begining of each year, where 2nd and 3rd year law students sell their books, in the first year we bought brand new books (1 set between both me and boyf) we sold these this year which paid for our 2nd year books. Don't forget the library though, I've found I used much more than the core texts

Good luck if it is what you want to do, I fall in and out of love with my degree, I read back my last post and realised how negative it sounded, sorry for that. I do enjoy my law degree, it's just a lot of hard work. The first year wasn't too bad, but the second year the pace has really picked up and I'm spending at least 5 hours if not more prep and reading per module (5 in total), plus coursework etc. The other thing I'll say is that it is very much exam based assessment but if you do the work you'll be fine with those

law degree- costs

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