Mumsnet Talk

As the title says really. After much deliberation on returning to the job market when my youngest starts school this September, I think I'd like to work as a Legal Secretary or train as a Paralegal, but am wondering at this stage where I am still claiming Income Support and not working, if the course fees would be waived or subsidised.

I'll post this on a few different boards to get more responses hopefully.

I can't help you but just wanted to say good luck. I looked into doing that course but can't afford to change careers.

Hope you manage to get on it and get a job xxx

What did you do before kids?

Dull, unskilled jobs, Dededum, hence change of career desired

Some useful info on their website

www.cilex.org.uk/for_centres/support_for_students/funding.aspx

A legal secretary is quite a skilled job. Other than the secretarial skills, which you would have to train for, there is a lot of lingo, form filling, general filing, fielding client queries. A legal secretary can be paid pretty well.

Also the legal profession is moving more towards computerised systems, case management and solicitors doing their own WP.

Don't see it as a growth area to be honest. If you are looking to retrain - IT / technology would seem a better bet.

I'd say it was unlikely. Last I heard, DWP would only fund courses where it was of a short duration (preferably 6 months maximum) and led directly to employment rather than more courses IYSWIM, so they would possibly fund a book keeping course, or a literacy/maths course for adult learners, but not a GCSE because a GCSE wouldn't necessarily lead directly into employment and would more than likely lead to further education.