Becoming a Soliciter (SP!)

[jofeb04]

Im thinking of becoming a soliciter, its something that ive been interested in for some time, but i never have done anything about it.
I dont even know where to start, what uni course should i need to be looking at etc. This may sound stupid, but im 24, is this too old to be looking into a total change of direction?

[dinny]

Hi, Jofeb04, my sister is a solicitor and she did a law-conversion after her BA (in English). Then you have to win a traineeship at a firm after that to become qualified.

You're not too old though, no way.

[catinthehat]

Channelling Judge Flounce eh?

[CountessDracula]

no you are not too young

Contact the College of Law and ask about CPEs (common professional examination, is conversion course from first degree, takes a year, then you need to do a year's LPC or Bar finals, then two years traineeship)

\link{http://www.lawcabs.ac.uk/cabonline/cpelist.html\These places} do the CPE as well as the college of law

What is your first degree and did you get at least a 2:1, it is usually needed I think.

[CountessDracula]

Also try and do placements in law firms in the holidays you have to be seen to be a right girly swot now

[Kelly1978]

I've been thinkign about his too, I'm in the third year of a law degree with the OU. I'm not too sure of my chances though! It seems to be impossible with kids in tow! I've also looked at the possibility of becoming a legal executive which seems easier.

[cod]

you REALLY need ot be a ble to spell it first though

[Kelly1978]

anniemac, what if you don't want a top job, but are happy to plod along witha reasonable wage? I really couldn't put in long hours yet as I have four kids.

[Chloe55]

I don't know Cod, I'm a veterinary nurse and it's amazing how many of our profession can't spell that either

[jofeb04]

lol cod, good point, but that was typed in the dark (my dd wont fall asleep if its to light!).
I am concerned about the thing with the really long hours with my two kids, (dd 5months, and ds 2years).

[Hulababy]

My Dh is a solicitor, and my sister is in her final 6 months of her training contract. They did it straight from school/uni and did Law exams. Hower, a friend of ours is also a solicitor and he did it later on, probably around your age. He did a Law degree PT first.

You need a degree (a 2.1 really) and then a conversion course (if not in law). You then need to do a 2 year course - the solicitor's exams.

You then do a 2 year training contract, working in different areas of law within a firm. Sadly training contracts are highly sought after and can be hard to come by, especially if you are not in a big major city. I have never know PT training contracts, so you really would need to be looking at working full time.

You are not oo old though and it can be done :)

[Piffle]

MY friend did her law degree at age 38
She is now nappily working in a family law firm in her local town
Hard slog but she is reaping the rewards now
It cost her her marriage though....

[Kelly1978]

thanks anniemac, that is really useful to know. I have four kids and they are my priority for now, but I wont complete my degree until next year so would be looking at doing the first year by the time they are all in school. So the training contract would be when my youngest two are 5 and i am 31. Eeek! I'm not retraining like jo, but lookign for a career that will stimulate me and earn me enough to be (financially) worth finding childcare for four children. I had considered family law as an interest. It seems that the money is in commercial law, but that involves the long hours! Dp is supportive so it would be doable, but I'm worried about the kids.

[Hulababy]

Dh and my sister did their TC in small firms. My sister is still there. And yes, their experience and the experience of peple they know in simialr situations, is that small firms are very often not great places for trainees and they get treated pretty rubbish. Not all small firms, just the ones they have experience with. However small firms are easier to get TC with often and have less rigourous procedures to go through.

Dh now works for a very reputable and large local firm and the difference int he way they treat their trainees is amazing.

[Kelly1978]

jsut wondering how it is they get treated crap? Long hours or something more?

[Freckle]

Have you looked into going down the Legal Executive route at all? Once qualified as a Fellow, you can either continue as that, in some cases earning just as much as a solicitor, or then go on to qualify as a solicitor. You need to find a firm which is willing to take you on in that role as you study and qualify whilst working (bit like becoming a chartered accountant). I have a friend who started out as a Legal Exec and he is now a solicitor and a partner in dh's firm. I qualified as a fellow but gave up work when I had the boys. Would probably have continued to solicitor if I'd carried on working, but good Legal Execs can be as valuable and valued as solicitors and earn equivalent salaries.

It might be an easier, if slightly longer, way of achieving what you want.

[trix1]

Freckle - Where would you start if you wanted to become a legal executive? I would be interested in this.

[cod]

id bvecome a mag clerk( legal advisor) much mroe child friendly

[cod]

you haev to do a voational training