Advice on becoming a solicitor in situation i am in

ste_coxy

Hi everyone I am hoping for some advice and information.

I have just turned 24 and have realised I need to do something with my life before I am 30 and I am no better off.

I have debts of around £16000. 2 loans, 2 overdrafts and a credit card.

I am currently working 2 jobs, my main job I do enjoy, it is worthwhile and for a good company. Whilst the other job is working in the evenings Monday to Friday doing data entry for a bank, it is only temporary and likely to end in July.

My main issues are that I did not complete my A-Levels and I only have GCSEs. I have also realised that I am not likely to progress within my company as there are no opportunities and I do not have a degree (which whilst I realise does not guarantee you a job it certainly does look better on your CV and can potentially open more doors/opportunities).

I feel like I am in a bit of a rut at present as my debts do not seem to be getting any smaller and I am getting older but no better off. I just don't really see a way out at the moment and it is getting me quite down as I am quite bright - I just made a few wrong choices and want to do something with myself.

I have really considered moving home to my parents' once my tennancy agreement ends as this would obviously in turn save me money. I also wish to go back to college and do an evening access course because ideally I would like to go to university whether that be part time or full time however, I think it would have to be part time due to the level of debt I've got.

I am wanting to become a solicitor eventually as I feel I have the skills and motivation for this. I am just wondering what's people's views on how hard a course it is and how likely it is to get taken on by a firm at the end of your studies is in the current climate?

Also any general tips and advice on sorting my debts out and whether it is feasable to go to university full time with debts hanging over you or if working full/part time whilst studying part time can be done?

Lokolo

Debts

Do you budget?

If not - you should do one.

http://www.makesenseofcards.com/soacalc.html

You can also add debts.

Once you've done this you can post it in this forum

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.php?f=76

They will help you figure the best way of handling your debts.

Education

You should look at some local college courses to start off with.

The OU also have a number of courses in Law which you should look at.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/law/index.htm

Voyager2002

Becoming a solicitor:
You would need a degree, probably in Law. Getting a place on a Law degree requires good grades, and the course itself is tough.
(With a degree in something other than Law, you could do a one-year conversion course. Tuition fees for this are high; no funding is available; and since it is a lot of hard work there is no question of financing yourself with a part-time job.)

With a Law degree, you would then need to do a one-year professional course. Not much funding around for this; entry is competitive; the course itself is very hard work and the failure right is high.

Assuming you completed the vocational (professional) course, you would then need to get a job as a Trainee Solicitor. Competition for these places is horrendous, and without working as a Trainee Solicitor it is not possible to qualify.

However, it is easier to become a Legal Executive, although the training process for this takes longer.

Since you have been given the link to the OU, I should also mention Birkbeck College. This is part of the University of London, provides education for mature students, and so most teaching is in the evening to allow people to hold down a job while studying. Students aged over 21 do not need any formal qualifications to start a degree course there, and as it happens the Law department there is excellent. However, I do suggest that you complete some formal education before beginning a degree -- possibly some of the OU courses at foundation stage or level 1.

Oldernotwiser

Lokolo wrote: »

The OU also have a number of courses in Law which you should look at.

http://www3.open.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/law/index.htm

You can do a full LLB with the OU.

As the OP has already studied at A level standard, there's no reason why s/he couldn't start a degree straight away.

Lokolo

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You can do a full LLB with the OU.

As the OP has already studied at A level standard, there's no reason why s/he couldn't start a degree straight away.

The OP didn't complete his A Levels

ste_coxy wrote: »

My main issues are that I did not complete my A-Levels and I only have GCSEs.

But you know the OU better than me, wasn't sure if theres a possibility of lower level law courses or access courses he could do?

Oldernotwiser

Lokolo wrote: »

The OP didn't complete his A Levels



But you know the OU better than me, wasn't sure if theres a possibility of lower level law courses or access courses he could do?

You don't need A levels to study a degree with the OU. As the OP has studied to A level standard (which is what I said), s/he should be able to cope with degree level work straight away, without doing any kind of introductory course.

marywooyeah

hey OP I am also 24 and thought my input might be useful to you as I am in my second year of my LLB.
I was in a similar situation as you jobwise when I decided to train as a solicitor and I did the ILEX Level 3 diploma course two evenings a week over 2 years, you could either do this distance learning or find a college that does it. you need to do ILEX level 3 and 6 and work in practice for 5 years to qualify as a legal executive, and at least 2 of these years must be after finishing level 6 although there are currently proposals to reduce the 5yr period to 3.
alternatively you could do the llb route as an above poster mentioned but it is very difficult.
I have a 2yr old and until 2 weeks ago also worked 4 shifts a week alongside my degree and all the housework, I had to leave work because the workload was getting too much. As the poster already mentioned getting work after you qualify is difficult and you have to find a training contract and pay for the legal practice course yourself (currently between 8 and 11k depending on where you do it)
Its a good career, but in your situation I think ILEX would suit you better so you can carry on earning to pay off your debts, but you would have to self fund that.

agrinnall

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You don't need A levels to study a degree with the OU. As the OP has studied to A level standard (which is what I said), s/he should be able to cope with degree level work straight away, without doing any kind of introductory course.

I really don't think you're in any position to say what the OP can or can't cope with. We don't know the reason why A levels weren't completed but that doesn't bode well for launching into a law degree without doing at least some preparatory work.

kazzah60

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You can do a full LLB with the OU.

As the OP has already studied at A level standard, there's no reason why s/he couldn't start a degree straight away.

The difficulty is that Law courses are difficult to get on and future employers are VERY fussy about qualifications and WILL require good results at both GCSE and A level - they can afford to be choosy and will always pick the A* students - my niece did a law degree at a "good" university and never found any employer willing to take her on - the reason given was poor GCSE results

getting the degree doesn't automatically guarantee a job for the OP and sadly Law is one of those careers that still has a relative amount of snobbery attached to it - I know people will shout me down, but it is true!

the OP could find themselves in 3 years time with a law degree ( and massive debts) and no prospect of a job at the end of it.

WolfSong2000

Personally I'd be wary about this...I count myself as a fairly intelligent person. I'm currently doing a postgrad at a prestigious UK uni, but I tried a criminal law module during my undergrad (was doing philosophy at Aberdeen Uni at the time, and the scottish education system is more flexible with what subjects you can take alongside your main degree for the first 2 years) and I failed. I failed by one lousy mark, but it was still a fail. The reason cited was that I wasn't able to memorise enough case detail. So it's not just about being smart - you have to be intelligent and possess an excellent memory (mine's lousy. lol).

Also, as others have said, Law is a *very* competitive field and you will be overlooked in favour of better qualified students.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't do a degree - far from it, if you feel that you're academically inclined, then by all means look into your options. If after completing a degree you decide you're still interested in Law, save up and do the conversion course. Legal firms look favourably on people who didn't do law at undergrad level but did a conversion course as such people are seen as more rounded individuals with a great scope of knowledge.

I reckon the OU would be a great place to start. Have a look at what's on offer, make a list of the subjects you reckon you'd enjoy, then follow that up by adding longer term prospects to each subject on the list and see what you're left with.

Voyager2002

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

You don't need A levels to study a degree with the OU. As the OP has studied to A level standard (which is what I said), s/he should be able to cope with degree level work straight away, without doing any kind of introductory course.

Yes, your facts are absolutely right.

As a matter of opinion, someone who did not complete 'A' levels might struggle with degree-level work, particularly when the subject is as demanding as Law. It might be a very good idea to take something like an OU foundation-level course as a gentle way in, and as a way to start putting into practice the excellent advice that the OU gives about developing study skills and organising your time to include studying.