routes in to law as a career change ?

jasonwatkins

my ultimate and overriding problem is that I have zero cash - and i'm not a youngster

law has always interested me and is probably the only thing that would fire my enthusiasm enough to warrant really giving it a go, but the lack of money will probably ultimately prove to be a bridge too far.

but, that said, would anyone know if there's any courses or exams you could take that could get you in on the bottom rung ?

things like GCSE's and A Levels I could probably get for free as i'm on Incapacity Benefit, so if they are two exams that I could do to show a prospective employer that I have at least an understanding of law and that i've attained a level of education in it.

i'm fully aware that GCSE's and A Levels won't make me a solicitor overnight and i'm also aware that the potential salaries aren't great either but i'm not looking at it for a salary, i'm looking as something i'm genuinely interested in.

I'm aware of the ILEX course, but again, sadly, that's just something I really can't afford.

Any info most welcome, cheers

Tigsteroonie

Would you be eligible for any grants towards Open University? They do "beginner's" law courses.

elsietanner71

What is your highest qualification at the moment? That info will help people to advise you more accurately.

Have a look at this from the OU website: http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/explained/financial-support.shtml It has an 'eligibilty checker.'

SarEl

I think you are getting somewhat confused. Or what you have written is confusing me! But there isn't a cheap (or a fast) route to becoming a solicitor. I believe that the course you are talking about is a legal executives course (they do a few others - like legal secretaries and paralegals - too). But whilst legal executives can practice in some areas of law, they are not solicitors, and although this may change, even if it does, it won't be a faster or easier route to becoming a solicitor. That isn't to say that if this is what you want to do you shouldn't try. But you will have to be ready for the "long haul" because there isn't short cut - it will take many years of studying at a sophisticated level (degree and postgraduate level) to get there.

I would have to concur that it might be a good idea to try out an OU module or two if you can. Believe me - having an interest in the law and actually working in it are not the same thing! A lot of the law is hard work, study and boringly routine. It's a long way off glamorous - it's often a long way off interesting too! You might find that a few months of law books and papers puts you off for life - it does many aspiring lawyers! If it doesn't, all well and good - but if you are going to even think about putting in years of your life to achieve this goal, it might be a good idea to find out first just how suited to it you are.

jasonwatkins

i'll check out that eligibility guide - thanks.

i'm always wary of apply for money in any sense - i have a terrible credit rating as it is, so any kind of loan would more than likely be rejected.

i think i did manage to find an introductory course on the OU for around £115, which might just be do-able. there's also a local adult education centre a train ride away that's advertising a law GCSE starting in October. It would only cost me £40 quid, but it would have to be the part time day course - can't do evenings. Ringing them tomorrow to find out more though - that would be perfect if i could get on that.

Judas

Tbh OP Law is a hard path; especially as a solicitor. What are your current qualifications? What is your age? What is your budget?

jasonwatkins

SarEl wrote: »

I think you are getting somewhat confused.

I'm not. I'm fully aware that I am not about to become a solicitor overnight. I know that even if I had unlimited funds available that i would be looking at at least 5-10 years.

It's no big thing though - a lot of people have assumed I'm looking for a quick and easy route into law when I'm really not.

Judas wrote: »

Tbh OP Law is a hard path; especially as a solicitor. What are your current qualifications? What is your age? What is your budget?

Well as I said in the OP, my budget will probably remain zero, or fluctuate ever-so-slightly above zero.

Qualification wise, it's not too promising either. I did work in I.T. for 13 years but left due to medical reasons. I only ever had english and maths CSE's as well. It was that long ago that I was still at school that CSE's still existed

And, since you asked, i'm 40.

SarEl

jasonwatkins wrote: »

I'm not. I'm fully aware that I am not about to become a solicitor overnight. I know that even if I had unlimited funds available that i would be looking at at least 5-10 years.

It's no big thing though - a lot of people have assumed I'm looking for a quick and easy route into law when I'm really not.

I made no such assumption. I said that either you were confused or the way I was reading what you had written was confusing me. I was giving you the benefit of the experience of 25+ years as a lawyer!!! And there simply isn't a "bottom rung" to get on - or not the way that you imply. Getting a GCSE or even an A level in law won't get you in the door for an interview - not in anything where you will actually be dealing with the law anyway. Our most junior secretaries (and I don't mean the legal secretaries - I mean their assistants) are better qualified than that and we turn away applicants in droves when there is a job going. The people who take our witness statements are former police officers trained in witness interviews. The same is true of most solicitors practices that I have contact with. It just isn't that easy to get into a legal practice - never mind on the bottom rung to becoming a solicitor. The bottom rung, as you call it, is generally a law degree, and a postgrad. And there are still more applicants for training than there are jobs.

So if you want to do this - and I made it clear that if you wanted to try then you should - then you have to forget about working your way up. There isn't a route. Quick and easy, or hard and difficult. One way or another you will need to do some serious studying - and nobody is going to pay you for it because there are hundreds of people doing this studying without being paid for it (many of whom may never even get to practice law), so no employer needs to pay.

I don't see any eveidence here that "a lot of people" have made any such assumptions about you - people were genuinely trying to help you out. But perhaps if you have done so little research on your chosen career change that you don't realise all of this already, people might make the assumption that you aren't really that serious.

T800

id recommend studying for the LLB Hons at the Open University, it is quite possible they would fund the entire thing. It would take about 6 years.

GemJar_2

I am currently on my first year of a 6 year law course at OU, its free due to my current low wage and I can reccommend it as long as you have enough time to dedicate to it each year. After your first year you can get a certificate in law, third year you can get a diploma and 6th year, your degree. The support you get is fantastic and I'm really enjoying the course.

Judas

I think the OP needs to be realistic here.

They would need a LLB degree; afterthat a post grad course to practice; followed by a 3 year training contract.

That is at least 10 years

Now they may get some of it free but not a chance all of it; furthermore to add the OP's academic past suggests they simply arent up to it.

OP I appreciate it isnt what you want to hear but I doubt you have the intellect or resources to complete a law qualification and become a solicitor and even if you do companies arent likely to be interested.