Advice on becoming a solicitor in situation i am in

ste_coxy

Does anyone know if law firms are more select/picky for those who chose to study at the OU as opposed to a traditional university?

GEEGEE8

ste_coxy wrote: »

I do think it is something I am very much interested in and would like to do. I think I am going to request to see/speak to a careers adviser from next step (government funded careers service) and get some tips.

What was it that you went back to college to do? This is my intention come September.

Well I decided that I wanted to be a Building Surveyor, so I went to college and did a 1 day a week course in Construction & Civil Engineering. In that first year alone I decided I didn't want to do Building Surveying (not enough money lol) and my tutor encouraged me to look into Quantity Surveying due to my grades and what I enjoyed.

I got a distinction that year and got into Uni to do Quantity Surveying, just gone half way through my first year, really enjoying the course and I'm doing the 2yr HND (lower entry requirements which suited me as a mature student). I must admit, that now I know a bit more about Quantity Surveying, I'm now swaying towards Civil Engineering lol.. but the good thing is they are all fairly similar and I can do the degree in Civil Engineering instead if I chose to after the 2yr HND is done.

Try picking something that could go down a few different paths, as I guarantee you will change your mind a few times about exactly what you want to do, based on what you enjoy, what you are good at and what inspires you.

Best of luck, and just get enrolled into college for this September on something you enjoy and is related to law, and take it from there.. I was so nervous about college and only enrolled because my boyfriend happened to say bluntly one day 'so what are you doing with your life then? what do you want to do?' he didn't mean it to sound like that, but it certainly made me think about where I was going! I was 26yrs old and working as an assistant manager in a mediocre retail shop.

Like you, I knew I was bright and could do so much more, and more importantly feel like I was doing something worthwhile, and getting paid well

GEEGEE8

Also to add, I do a little bit of law (mainly just contract and tort) and I find it really interesting and easy to learn.. so if you enjoy it then go for it.

I do have a friend at Uni in her first year of a Law degree and it looks like it's hard work with a lot of assignments! So be prepared to have to work hard.

judyjetson

I'm going back a few years now, but I did the LLB part-time, and it is VERY hard work. If you're worried about the structure of the OU, ie working to your own timetable, I'd look at your nearest unis and have a look at the part-time courses.

With my part-time LLBs I had around six hours a week lectures/seminars/tutorials - 3hrs, two evenings a week - but you have to factor in all your library time, etc in as well.

Some unis also offer distance or open learning, which is similar to the OU, so might be worth checking out as well.

Sandella

think Ilex would be better for you, add on advocate skills and settle all your debts before you end the course and you should be good

licenced conveyancer or sole conveyancer property lawyer would be good too (correspondence courses are available), they do credit check you though and debts must be settled


I did two courses at the OU and then got on a degree course to study the LLB law degree full time with funding the most recognised law course, post degree it is very expensive and there are not many jobs about for trainee lawyers, so best to work and train doing the ILEX instead

don't just jump into a degree course without getting used to studying again, you need to build up to it.

ste_coxy

Sandella wrote: »

think Ilex would be better for you, add on advocate skills and settle all your debts before you end the course and you should be good

licenced conveyancer or sole conveyancer property lawyer would be good too (correspondence courses are available), they do credit check you though and debts must be settled


I did two courses at the OU and then got on a degree course to study the LLB law degree full time with funding the most recognised law course, post degree it is very expensive and there are not many jobs about for trainee lawyers, so best to work and train doing the ILEX instead

don't just jump into a degree course without getting used to studying again, you need to build up to it.

many thanks for your advice here, I recently sent out some speculative CVs to a load of solicitors' offices recently and managed to get an interview however, unfortunately I did not manage to get the job. It has left me wondering what best to do. Stay at my current job which has a good salary and will help me pay my debts off quicker and start the ILEX course regardless in september or carry on sending speculative CVs/covering letters to solicitors and see if I could get some sort of legal admin job?

Kyresa

ste_coxy wrote: »

Thank you for your reply,

so have you completed the ILEX course already? How come you are doing the LLB too then?

I have previously considered this option however, only thing really putting me off was not having experience of working in law. Is it any easier finding work with the ILEX course or are there no guarantees with this?

I know I'm late in answering this, but in answer to your question "is it easier to find work" the answer is (I'm afraid) no.

The reason is because you have all the LPC graduates who don't have training contracts competing for the work as well.

It's a catch 22 situation I'm afraid.

(My experience? I finish the part time LPC in June this year (self funded), have a law degree (also obtained part time) and currently have Associate Legal Exec status).