Law Degree Anyone?

milkfloatquack

I am a former solicitor. I think the advice is very strange too. The larger commercial law firms would expect a 2:1 degree before offering a training contract. I would steer clear of law A level - universities and recruiters for law prefer "established" subjects - say science, maths, english, history, geography, languages. As other posters have said, a great deal of study, equivalent to a degree would be required on the job for your daughter to be qualified as a legal executive or solicitor.

My concern at going down the route of starting at 18 working for a solicitor's firm, is whether there would be the appropriate training to eventually qualify as a solicitor, or whether your DD could end up doing a solicitor's work at a fraction of the pay. Then again a year or so of working for a solicitor's may not be a bad idea in terms of your DD deciding if she did want to take the risk of the degree/LPC.

Ultimately - whichever route your DD chooses, there is always the risk that she won't be offered a training contract, and may end up doing paralegal work instead (which is often lower paid).

milkfloatquack

just to add - if your DD is still undecided as to medicine or law, then she should do science A levels - law firms will respect science A levels probably more than Law anyway.

dmg24

Chall wrote:

I doubt this is actually what the firm is offering, it's more likely that they would put you through a long series of arduous tests, the legal executive exams I believe they're called; I would definately opt to go to uni (as I have).

You may doubt it, but you don't know that it is not what the firm is offering. I know of several medium size firms that do. The only way to really find out is to get more information from the firm itself.

Chall

dmg24 wrote:

You may doubt it, but you don't know that it is not what the firm is offering. I know of several medium size firms that do. The only way to really find out is to get more information from the firm itself.

You're right, I don't know exactly what they're offering, but I imagine that it's more likely that it is legal executive exams than a law degree.

Kizzy001

this may help you a bit more -

http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/becomingasolicitor.law

I would think that the firm is trying to get in some cheap labour - with the promise of a law career. They will probably let her do the ilex exams, but that does take a very long time, and by the time she has become a fellow (see link above for explanation) she still has to do the LPC, and as another poster above has said at the moment they cost around 6-9k depending on the education establishment, and the firm may not be willing to pay for that. She will be exempt from any training contract if she took the ilex route and she will have years of experience behind her when she qualifies.

I could go on about the different ways she can qualify, but i recommend you read the above website, it tells you all you need to know, on how to qualify.

On a personal note - she should take the firms offer of a work placement - this way she can get a feel of the work, i would also recommend that she applies for other similar placements - you never know, after the placement she may not like law after all!

Bossyboots

I agree that on the face of it, this looks like the firm are talking about ILEX courses and obtaining some cheap labour. It is a stunt pulled by one of the firms local to me so I have come across this before.

I agree with the advice given that she needs to fully research what is on offer before jumping in with both feet and finding she doesn't have sufficient qualifications later on to move on to another firm or into a different area of law.

amyparr

Hi,

I would strongly recommend anyone considering a career in the law look at this site:

www.lawcareers.net

This covers legal executives

This covers the first steps to becoming a solicitor

It has lots of useful info and provides you with advice from A-Levels through to degree and job-hunting.

I myself did a law degree and graduated last year, I did A-Levels in Biology, English Lit and History (as I still harboured a desire to be a vet at one point!!) and had no probs getting into a good redbrick uni with AAB.

I've taken a gap year and for a while worked in a large national law firm paralegalling to earn some cash to go travelling, and it's fair to say that without a law degree you end up being lumped with admin-type jobs nowhere near the standard of solicitor's work.

People worry about getting a training contract after their degree, but it depends what type of law your DD wants to practice. I imagine the type of firm who gave her the original advice weren't a London City firm doing corporate/commercial work. If this is the case, high street law is less competitive and finding a training contract may well be a bit easier.

I say, go for the law degree - at least then even if your DD changes her mind 3 years down the line, a law degree is a great basis for many many careers. One of my mates from law changed their mind upon graduation and started a medicine course (and he got a 2.2!!).

Voyager2002

Chall wrote:

I would recommend using an actual university rather than the open university (no offence skyrocket). Law firms are less likely to look favourably on an open university course than they a degree from a university with lecturers they know about. I'm a first year law student so my advice could be ignored, but understand I did my research before deciding what to do and where to d my degree, I would recommend your daughter does the same as it would give her an inciteful look at the role of a lawyer, what is involved in training, and what solicitors firms want from trainees.

There are many good reasons why she might prefer a 'physical' university to the OU, but this is not one of them. OU qualifications are very highly regarded; their lecturers are of at least the same calibre as at the majority of other universities; and their teaching materials are probably the best available.

(Disclaimer: my sister is a law professor in London university who has considered working for the OU; my own PhD, not in Law, is from the OU.)

amyparr

I disagree; the legal profession (especially the City) is dominated by Oxbridge types who tend to stick together.

I understand that for some careers the OU is great, however I do think that the legal profession is different. If you went to an interview with a top law firm with a degree from the OU having come straight from A-Levels, I'm sure they would want to know why you didn't just go down the regular route as most other prospective lawyers do. I for one have been asked many times in interview why I chose my university to study at, and they expect a well-reasoned argument why. I can understand if you are a mature student with a family etc, but for an 18 year old to choose the OU over a regular uni doesnt make sense.

I think you would also miss out on oppotunities such as taking part in mooting competitions, client interviewing competitions, debating etc...all good and important things to put on your CV.

mikeassured

Thanks for all your excellent replies.

Having looked at the paperwork that was handed out it does appear that she would be taking the ILEX route, and we thought that she would obviously be tied to the company for a fixed time when qualified.

I think it would be a good idea for her to do the weeks work experience with them to get a feel for the job, and I am going to try and get her a weeks work experience at our local hospital, that way she will have a more balanced view of which career path appeals the most.

Thanks

Sue