To ask my parents for financial help

I agree with this. My DDs got minimum loan and we topped up the rest. To me, it was one of my obligations as a parent. We also paid for things like driving lessons.

If we couldn't afford something then we explained what we could afford.

My DCs are in their mid 20s and we still happily help out with things.

I wonder if your parents are a little under-informed about how things work now? Do they know how your training contract works or how much taking these exams costs?

My parents were very much stuck in the past. They wouldnt have understood how expensive it could be to take exams in another city.

Your DF's response suggests they have seen you stressed and have been worrying about you but didn't like to ask what the problem was.

Honestly I would be surprised if they didn’t just gift it to you, I would if I were in their position.

Your working hard, setting yourself up for life, It’s not like your wasting money.

You deserve a basic standard of living which you currently don’t have, their your parents, they should be supporting you if they can.

If they are such high earners that you get no/little student grant(?) surely they should be paying certain costs for you?

You don't need to ask for it as a gift. You can just lay it out and ask for their help.

Why does it make you feel gross? I think it's gross for 2 people to be sat on pots of money whilst their child suffers serious financial hardship. Your parents might feel the same.

I think your parents would be upset that you didn’t talk to them sooner. They are in a position to able to help and you are not being unreasonable at all. It’s a good worthwhile career you are studying for and I’m sure they’re very proud.

As for hotel expenses esp train fares book in advance as soon as you know the dates location, they will be much cheaper.

Can’t you get student loans?

Why don’t you also show them a spreadsheet of your income and expenses so they understand exactly how difficult it is for you, as well as the repayment plan.
Good luck. Don’t feel guilty. Parents are supposed to help fund their kids study. They should have topped your minimum loan up to the maximum loan each year. Thats what the government expects when they calculate the loan amount. Obviously some parents can’t afford it at all, but it sounds like yours could, and they should have. It’s not easy for many parents to find the money but most try to help if we can.

Maybe you’ve been too good at hiding how difficult you’ve found it. Accept any help offered tonight. Even if they offer to give it to you. Don’t feel guilty. It’s only what is expected from the government(albeit it is further study not your first degree).

I haven't read every reply but just wanted to compliment you OP. Please don't feel like a failure - thats the last thing you should feel.

What people outside of law don't realise is that training contracts are like gold dust. There are so many law graduates all fighting for TCs that you've done amazingly well to get not just the initial one but the replacement.

I'd also agree that people have no idea how difficult it is at the start of a law degree - even when I graduated only the top law firms paid for courses so regional / high street trainees had to find £8k + living expenses for the LPC (back in the late 90s - that was alot of money), and then starting salaries for trainees were lower than most other similar professions.

Well done for approaching your parents OP and good luck with the conversation. I would also see if there is any scope to speak to your employer. As other parents have said, I would hate to know my DD was struggling and you do need to open up to them about your predicament - I bet they are incredibly proud of you and this conversation will lead to better communication all round xx

OP, in your parents' position with hundreds of thousands of pounds, I would 100% sort you out. I would simply pay all your course fees and exam fees and charge you nothing for living at home. I hope they help you - and not with a loan - with a big gift. I wouldn't sit on all that money whilst my child was miserable and couldn't afford to even see friends.

You need to lay out all your costs and entire financial situation, rather than asking them for a loan.

I did my LLB in the early 80s and spent 9 months working for Allen &Overy as an intern (it was a sandwich degree). I then did a PGDL in about 2002 as it was rusty (I lived abroad for about 10 years) whilst working as a legal clerk. Ultimately I decided not to carry on with law though I passed the PGDL as I didn't really enjoy working for a small firm. My elder dds do help me out sometimes but I always pay back promptly.
If I were your parents and had money I would probably pay for your exam outright as it's part of your education. Dd1 is a gynaecologist and she has to pay for her own exams but she's never mentioned them being so expensive. Also she's in her 30s and left home years ago so a different story.

You can think I'm trying to swindle my parents out of £5k, but I'm not.

Er, where exactly did I say this? Please tell me - but of course you won't be able to, because I didn't. 🙄

If you are training to be a solicitor, you will be asked much more searching questions by the other side, so it might be an idea not to jump to wrong conclusions or put words in people's mouths. That won't end well.

No no! Not at all!
So sorry it came across that way.
I did post up thread saying you should ask and I’d want my daughter to ask. I just don’t think your parents are actively being unkind. Perhaps genuinely they are naive and thoughtless.
it’s clear you’re working very hard and have a plan. I’d absolutely help my daughter in these circumstances and I’d be proud of you. :)

@concernedchild
PLEASE, please don't see yourself as a failure at the absolutely ancient age of 24! (I'm joking about the ancient of course).
My son was working and living independently in another city, but came home to live with us in his early 30's because of health issues he needed help with. He worried about what people would think of him, but I didn't give a toss as long as he was ok. I hate people who prescribe that adult children have no right to be living with their parents, as if that makes them defective or failures in some way. Things happen, circumstances change, and I'm glad we could help as he is on his way to being independent again.
Different circumstances to yours, but it was the fact that you felt a failure for still living at home that made me want to say, "no, you're not".

Does your university have a hardship fund?

As a parent of adult children, I know how hard it is out there for your generation, nothing is cheap. I am more than sure your parents will want to know and want to help you. They would much rather alleviate the financial strain on you than watch you suffer mentally and give it all up. Also sending you a big hug, you are not failure, you have a lot of things on your plate and you are doing your best. Please ask your parents for help.

"Spotify etc"? Get rid of Spotify for starters! And "etc"? how much is that? ok, these are minimal expenses but have you ever heard of the saying "Look after the pennies ..."?

I got professional development loan for mine

Doesn't really answer my questions, does it?