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Too old to retrain?

11 replies

lilacclaire · 13/10/2009 12:55

Im nearly 34 and want to be a solicitor, i've wanted to do this for a long time and now seems a good time in my life to train for it.
Problem is I would be at least 40 when I qualify.
Have I missed the boat here?

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overmydeadbody · 13/10/2009 12:59

No, you are never too old to retrain. Go for it if you can.

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theDeadPirateRoberts · 13/10/2009 13:00

You'll be 40 in 6 years anyway - why not spend the time training?

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AvengingGerbil · 13/10/2009 13:01

I started retraining as a solicitor 2 years ago. I am now 44.

If you've missed the boat, I must be several feet under by now...

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Katisha · 13/10/2009 13:01

No it would be fine.
I thought about it when I was 40 but decided on balance I was better off in the job I had. But the age wasn't an issue.

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lilacclaire · 13/10/2009 13:02

I can definetly go for it, no probs there, but have just realised for the first time in my life that at 40 I may not be taken seriously careerwise to be starting out.

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stickylittlefingers · 13/10/2009 13:03

No! Depending what sort of solr you're planning on being, life experience can count for a lot. There are a lot of post-having-done-something-else solrs (ex army and ex secretaries are very common indeed).

The only thing I would warn about (if you're not already aware) is that there have been huge numbers of redundancies and deferrals of trainees. It's not an easy time - although of course it might be by the time you've "come through"

Where are you starting from?

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lilacclaire · 13/10/2009 13:05

AvengingGerbil - thats brilliant, I will now set the wheels in motion.

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lilacclaire · 13/10/2009 13:09

SLF Im not sure where i'll be starting from, will need to talk to the uni's regarding that.
I was a paralegal for 5 years and gave it up shortly after having ds who has now just started school. I have recently done a course in social care (scqf level 6 if that makes any difference).
Im hoping past work experience and my recent (albiet small) qualification means I can skip a foundation/access course.

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AvengingGerbil · 13/10/2009 13:09

Go for it Lila!

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overmydeadbody · 13/10/2009 13:15

My mum went to university and retrained qhen she was 50!! and is now very succesful and taken very seriously in her field.

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lilacclaire · 13/10/2009 13:20

Thats brill OMDB and AG, I wasn't sure if it would be a problem, it has really only occured to me that it actually might be.
Im definetly going to go for it, I'll still have 25 odd working years left in me by the time im qualified anyway.