To ask my parents for financial help

And just to add, having had lots of friends who did law your situation and expenses make total sense to me. Have you got a young persons railcard for any rail travel?

Why aren’t the firm providing you with a laptop? I can understand that some don’t pay exam fees (the tight bastards) but they need to supply you with tools to do the job. Presumably you aren’t tied to them after qualifying which is the silver lining to them not funding you.

so you’re saving £650 per month towards exams? How long have you been doing this for? How much do you have saved already? It sounds like you’re doing really well. If I were you I’d slow the rate of saving down and see if you can get a small personal loan for whatever you need at the end, or ask your parents.

As I said - you are a fool for taking a TC that isn't paying your fees. You will likely find they don't have a job for you when the TC ends.

If you are only bringing in 1,300 on a TC they are paying you barely more than min wage. What the hell law firm is this?

YANBU at all. I am not well-off but always want my children to let me know when they are struggling and I do whatever I can to help. I'm especially concerned that you don't have money to go out with friends. You're young, you need contact with ypur friends regularly as a safety valve, especially in a stressful career.

You sound as if you're managing the money you do have very well and maybe they just assume you are OK?

Can't you apply for a bursary or student loan?

In the meantime please remember this is temporary. You will be earning a lot very soon

I'm currently on a training contract

I think their point was that if you're on a training contract, the firm should be paying your course fees?

I would hate to think my daughter felt she was 'sinking'. If she wasn't being extravagant with her spending then I would be happy to help her out.

Literally the only person i know who self funded their law school never got a training contract. It had been a complete waste of 10k.

Okay you need a proper budget or to redo your budget.
£2800 for a laptop, train ticket and a hotel room doesn't make sense unless you are buying a mac.

Saving for exams are whats crippling you as £1300 with no rent or bills is more than sufficient to live on.
I'd stop or reduce "saving" for solicitors exams. Build your credit score and you can put some of it on 0% credit this goves you a bigger time frame in which to pay it off as it enables you to pay it down later.

If your parents are well off crack on and ask for help paying for the exams but at 24 providing accommodation bills utilies and food IS significant help. in fact its about 50% of most 20 something year old outgoings

First of all you're not a failure and you're not behind anyone else. You are exactly where you are supposed to be.

Ask your parents. They see your not going out drinking and partying you are working or studying. Maybe they will help and maybe they won't but all you can do is ask.

Also this is not forever once you qualify you will be able to get a job and then you could pay them back.

Have a look online about student swooping. You can use other students rooms for a night when you go to other towns and have to stay the night

Can you offer your parents things like lifts? Do cooking for them etc for a bit of help with money?

What about babysitting for your neighbours, do the shopping for elderly neighbours or even ironing? This would unlikely effect your terms of employment

Do your parents have £5k to lend you? If so, you're better asking them than getting a bank loan. It's not like you're pissing it up the wall, presumably they're supportive of your studies and career plan and know you're on a low income for now, so why wouldn't they help you if they're able to? I'd just set it out very clearly so they can see where your money is going and the genuine need, as they may think you're doing fine living there and able to save.

OP, I have a daughter your age and I would absolutely help you out if you were struggling (and I have). As someone else said, why not ask your parents for a loan if you don’t feel comfortable to ask outright for money? It’s not like you’re peeing money away and it will come good in the end so look at it as an investment in your future?

Im confused about your sums.

If its a first degree you should be able to access student finance.

If its the law school part after the degree, you are supposed to get a training contract and the firm pay the law school costs.

If no one was willing to give you a training contract, you've taken a huge risk paying the fees without the employment. If you've agreed to a training contract without them funding your LPC you are a fool, easily parted from your money.

There are too many law students around, the good ones who will survive, are not paying for their LPC themselves.

Ask them OP. The SQE is stressful enough and it sounds like this situation is making you absolutely miserable. I'd definitely help my DD if I could. Best of luck with your exams.

, as well as other savings.

What are you saving each month?
You know this is short term, so you will have to make sacrifices

I would ask your parents if they can afford it they will help you . It’s a sad reality that professional trainees do so much work for very little financial gain but it will pay off in the long run so hold firm .

if your parents cannot help out do as others suggested and get a loan . Sounds like you only have another year of fees . Best of luck

I want my kids to be able to ask us for help however old they are. I’m sure they don't want to see you struggling OP.

OP, I think you have another thread where you're talking about doing absolutely everything for your parents at home, including washing, cleaning and cooking.

If it's the same story (and this is true) then no, YANB. If you weren't there they'd need to buy in help from a cleaner, washing service etc. So it's only fair they help you out financially while you are doing so much for them. If they are entitled to Attendance Allowance, this is what it's for - to get help to do everyday tasks.

I would definitely look into getting a loan for the exams, pay it back over 5 years maybe, that's a huge chunk of money freed up per month, and you could pay it back earlier.

I knew it was law from your first post.

you can but ask, I helped my dd out during this period. If they say no start looking around for professional development loans. You should be able to get a loan to cover the uni costs the payments of which will be easier than what you’re doing at the moment and some living help which will be much easier to pay back once you’ve qualified

Apologies I thought you had a choice.

Well no choice then you're gonna have to ask and swallow your pride. I would.