Unsure about what I want to do after university?

rageagainstessays

Hi Guys,
For basically 10 years, since I was about 8 I've wanted to be a lawyer, however- now I'm having doubts about my capacity to make it in the law industry given that there are many excellent candidates with relevant experience and excellent qualifications who are left sitting on the shelf.
I'm only 6 weeks into my degree so stating what I want to do, after abandoning my plan of 10 years is a little bit difficult. Yet, the University are suggesting that it would be a good idea for us to make applications for summer internships. Given that my degree is a focused at a leading university, it has no clear defined path that runs from it. Most people who graduated from this course have gone on to work in accounting, or as political or business/economic analysts (or at least as Linkedin suggests). And to be honest, I could see myself going down one of those paths, or trying to get a masters and apply for stock broking/IB jobs.

So really what I guess I'm asking is as follows- would it be better to get a general work experience/internship placement in a professional service industry or would it just be better to focus on my degree till I work out what it is I want to do?

What do you guys think?
The advice here is normally pretty good, if not a little too brutal

GwylimT

Try not to doubt yourself. Anyway, I do think summer placements are a good idea, they are good for the CV but they allow you to test various roles to see if they actually suit you. So why not sit down and think about various careers that might be appealing to you, then attempt to get some work experience in that area.

Annisele

If you think you want to be a lawyer, try to get summer placements in law firms. Failing that, any kind of placement in a firm you think you might like to work for would be a good idea.

easilydistracted

To be honest, without wanting to sound patronising, your 18. Of course you don't know what you want to do yet.

Law is very difficult to get into but clearly you are getting the sort of educational opportunities and achievements that will give you a head start (rich parents also help I believe).

A law internship sounds like a good idea to help decide, including seeing if you can hack the culture. However it's a long time till summer, can you try and get at least a few days shadowing before then. I think the internships are also pretty competitive.

You could also try experience in a related area such as government or local authority. I wouldn't close down options for yourself this early on. There are numerous areas of law, it is mainly the expensive top firms where training contracts are extremely competitive.

My perspective is from working for the Local Authority in various roles related to child protection, which involves working alongside the law. I would love to qualify in law but age, money and time are all against me. You seem to have all these on your side.

Missme

It never fails to amaze me that people work stuff out by18 - and your dream started at 8!!!

Where did you think your course of study would get you and why do you think you need to rethink that now?

I really just want to clutch you nto my motherly bosom but I appreciate that's more because I'm not sure what to say...

Lokolo

I fully recommend internship or placement programme.

Ever since I was a youngun I wanted to be a games developer. I studied Computing at GCSE and A Level and went to university to study Games Development.

I did a year in industry and thought to myself I don't want to limit my skillset to just games, so went into a very generic development role. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy it. Well it turns out I loved it, even if the job was focused around testing and nothing to do with games I still enjoyed it.

I then decided I didn't want a job in games (salary, job safety etc.) and now work in the city for an investment firm as a developer. This site actually helped me decide I wanted to work in the city.

I think going on an internship or placement will open your eyes and help you decide where you want to end up.

Southend1

I wouldn't worry too much. The way things are these days you don't choose a career, you just take whatever you can get. Particularly if you are a recent school leaver or graduate with little or no experience.

Just relax and enjoy your uni days and let life take you where it will.

theoretica

A summer internship or job can be great for the CV, even if it isn't all that close a match to where you end up going - and also lets you explore different avenues.

Thriftysaver

I was a mature student and I graduated last year with a 2:1 in Law. I had wanted to do a law degree since I left school many years ago, after my first job was working in a solicitors. I finally achieved it and I am glad I did it. The course gears you towards the LPC or BVTC but there are more options, as has already been said.

I thought I wanted to be a solicitor, but if I had been younger I may have tried the Bar, (just my insecurities stopped me lol) Any how I am now working within the civil service, still within the law, and I am now looking at the graduate fast track scheme.

Law is used in so many organisations. I would say if you have a passion for it, then go for it. You have three years to find out if you are suitable. Most of your future employers want commercial accumen, so gain as much experience as you can during this time.

Oh and some of my friends at uni had no intention of entering into the law profession. Some used it as a means to assist in their business, others entered the media.

Good luck in whatever you decide.

AlexLK

You're a fresher, for goodness sake.

Frankly, the last thing you want to be worrying about is what comes after university and concentrate on what are potentially the best three / four years of your life. If you want to work towards something "productive"; put in some extra work towards your assignments, wider reading will show in your marks and the better foundation you can get now will help you in years two and three when your marks count towards your actual degree classification.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

Campaign on Save UK Justice loads of lawyers there,one common aim to SAVE the Legal System you aspire to enter?