Day in the life of the law sector?

Star2018

Hi I am looking to study a part time LLB (law degree) in September, then continue to complete my BPTC, and hopefully then get a pupilage and go on to be a barrister. Well thats the plan anyway!

Before I make this decision though, is there someone that works in the law sector that can give me a REAL LIFE picture! Warts 'n' all!! Or someone that has just done this or a similar route.

I know its hard work, but I am a very determined person! I find law really interesting, especially employment law. I would like to get involved with commercial law as well I think.

I just think its a completely different perspective looking in from outside, and would like to make an informed decision.

I know this is a little vague but any information would be useful, I think I have exhausted google!

dmg24

Could you apply for some work experience?

purplepardalis

I've been working in City Law firms since 2002. I'm quite happy to let you know from that perspective but it is different to being a barrister and working out of a chambers. Let me know and I'd be quite happy to go into depth!!

You can also look at the website 'Roll on Friday' the forums there are a good indicator of how people feel day to day

dmg24

computershack wrote: »

Depends on which field. My brother and his wife became solicitors. Ultimately they ended up in the legal department of some company in the North East pursuing people for money owed and got paid quite well. However, both are working now as teachers because they were unable to put aside their morals and conscience got the better of them.

Basically, according to my brother, to be a lawyer you need to be a money grubbing git with no scruples, no morals and no conscience.As a barrister do you feel you would be able to live with getting someone off a serious crime even though they'd admitted to you they had done it? After all, it would be your job to defend them and get them off. My brother couldn't do that which is why he didn't last.

This is the reason I did not go into practice.

A friend had to defend someone who had put a twenty year old man in a wheelchair for life. She won, and back at chambers there was champagne and lots of backslapping, and no thought for the ruined life. She left shortly afterwards.

jennilb

My Dad was a barrister and worked for the government, first off prosecuting drug smugglers and later writing VAT law. So not all barristers are defending people.

As a start, you could go to magistrates courts and crown courts and see 'law in action'.

You could also consider volunteering for your CAB or as an advocate for vulnarable people. It seems like, although the topic might be different, the negotiating skills, ability to understand complex information and explain it clearly to a vulnarable person and the ability to cope when things go wrong, will come in handy for a law career!

I hope this helps