To ask my parents for financial help

Good grief. If your parents have money of course ask them. I’m suprised they haven’t offered to help you out already. I would prob have offered to pay your fees so you can afford to live. It’s a temporary situation you’ll be much more comfortable in a couple of years. By that I mean they’d only be helping you temporarily and it wouldn’t be for more than a couple of years when you qualify

OP, I really wanted to come on this thread and let you know that you are not, contrary to what some PPs seem to be suggesting, in some kind of odd position that you've been foolish to find yourself in.

There are lots of firms that expect to you to self-fund for all sorts of reasons, and going down that route doesn't make you a fool by any means, nor does it mean you'll end up without a job on qualification or working for a two bit firm.

I self-funded and although it was financially tough, on qualification I wasn't beholden to any firm and was able to move where I wanted to. This included twice in the first few years for health salary increases, while my funded peers were still tied to their firms or in some cases got out of law altogether because they hitched their wagon to a horrible firm. In the recruitment process I've only ever had positive comments about self-funding (most people expressing a view that it indicated a real dedication to the process).

Now I'm doing extremely well, working as a Senior Associate in a very reputable firm (which by the way has decided from this year it is no longer funding), having paid off all my LPC debt from my NQ salary in the first couple of years.

If you have any questions or just want to chat, send me a message.

Hi OP,

My sister trained as a solicitor and was paid peanuts during her training and paid for exams etc. My uncle was able to help but only because my sister asked. So if you have a good relationship with your parents, I would ask for help and see what they say.

I received the minimum amount of student loan because of their earnings
did they support you at all?

Absolutely ask. I’d definitely help my kids if I could without hesitation. It’s not like you’re wasting money so yes ask.

I'm surprised that you live at home with quite wealthy parents and they're unaware that you're struggling or that they've never offered help.

Re the babysitting, find out the local rate for babysitting, and ask for a bit below that, or what you feel is affordable for them. Say you are sorry but you have limited time available with studying, and you need to earn as much extra as you can because you're having to self-fund the course, so you do have to start charging a little. Why should you be being taken advantage of when you need the ££?

You’re 24, in uni and working, that’s a lot in your plate. I don’t know what’s your family situation but if your parents have money they should absolutely help you out, if they are poor and can’t help you out then I understand.

Good luck OP with your chat tonight with mum and dad. I am sure you will feel a sense of relief once you have spoken to them.

If you were my child I would help you.

You're studying and working as hard as you can, budgeting and living a really frugal lifestyle while keeping a really worthwhile target in sight. Please don't call yourself a failure when you're doing so well.

Don't be afraid to ask for help!

Well I can only speak for myself and my husband, but we have always supported our children through education. They both have student loans but we also paid for DC's masters.
Your parents can see that you are hardworking and will have a good job when you qualify.
You sound mature and switched on and I am sure they know that and will hopefully support in your future plans.
If you were mine, I would be very proud of you.
Good Luck X

I would ask and have asked for multiple occasions where we have needed help over the years and if my kids ask me in the future I will do everything I can to help to help them out.

I don't get the Mumsnet Mantra of being essentially cut off for support from your family at 18 and that it only means something if you paid for it all by yourself - absolute BS. Life is expensive and even working your arse off can get you absolutely nowhere financially

Absolutely ask your parents for a loan/gift sit down with them work through your finances together and possible repayment options that allow you to live a bit!

Also don't forget your student loan amount would have been impacted by their earnings/savings so it is expected parents help their children

Good luck in your exams

Stick at it OP. Every qualified solicitor here will tell you it's no mean feat if your not at a large firm where they throw money at all your fees etc.

The smaller firms outside of of main cities really do get to take the piss with their TC offerings, as they know graduates are so desperate for one.

Your nearly there do not pack it in.

24 is such an awkward age for professional careers. By the time you’re 30 you’ll be in such a good place earning wise and the struggles of 24 will be a distant memory this is just the tricky bit! Especially when you have friends on grad jobs who aren’t working towards extra qualifications.

My kids are little at the moment but if I had the money and they were struggling I would just pay for the exams. Not a loan, this is part of your education. In the same way I would have paid for nursery, wrap around care, tutors, sports, driving lessons, student halls etc without expecting to be paid back.

You’re still in education, you aren’t quite able to be financially independent yet and that’s okay, very soon you will be.

I'm sure they just have no idea how bad the situation is, and you're thinking the absolute worst because you're stressed and exhausted.

You seem like you are doing everything you can. You deserve to have some respite like seeing friends! I hope the conversation will go well, your request is very reasonable.

This is entirely wrong. It might have been the case 20 years ago but now, unless you come from Oxbridge and get in with the big five, you are highly unlikely to get a firm to pay for LPC/SQE.

The other horrendous thing is the sheer pittance law firms pay paralegals and trainees, often minimum wage, for the opportunity of working for a firm where you might get a training xonteact.

There are loans available (post grad loan could pay LPC/SQE). They also have online campus at University of Law, meaning you wouldn't need to travel for exams and classes.

Hi OP! I work within a recruitment team at a large law firm - have you tried reaching out the early careers teams within other companies to see if there is anyway to transfer your training contract across?
You are working hard and doing well! You will look back on all this as worthwhile!

Speak to them. Give full and Frank disclosure. They may not realise how much you are struggling and may be horrified.

If they are in a position to help I very much suspect they will.