If you're a lawyer,

I have a BA in Criminology and an MA I social work. Been a practising social worker for 15 years and love the legal/law side of stuff I do - DoLs/LPS, COP, MCA, MHA.

I've recently been 'what iffing' about the routes I took and wondering of it would be too hard to convert to law in some way. This thread has been very inspiring.

Many lawyers discourage their own children from becoming lawyers because it is so ultra competitive now, especially if you want to make it as a solicitor in the City. It is not unheard of for aspiring solicitors with great degrees from top tier universities to have to start as paralegals first to be able to get their foot through the door.

Nowadays, it is much easier to qualify because you no longer need a training contract, just 2 years' qualifying work experience which is much broader and take an exam called the Solicitors Qualifying Exam (SQE).

sqe.sra.org.uk/about-sqe/what-is-the-sqe

You don't have to do a law undergraduate degree, just take a course to help prepare for and pass the SQE.

@Okki
DD did MFL undergrad. Play to your strengths! Then convert. She’s now a family barrister. It’s extremely competitive. It’s also very important, when you start out, to know where your strengths lie. If it’s not commercial, look for alternative avenues. Criminal law doesn’t pay well. Be realistic and don’t look at niche areas. in real life, few are human rights barristers!

If you do law, or don’t do law, go to a top university. If you are not a career changer with years of relevant experience, it is vital. The law, as a career, can be choosy so RG university is best and top RG better. Regional universities are good for regional law firms. London has a slightly different view snd apart from Oxbridge it’s vital to look at what universities give the best chance.

Also do an academic subject if it’s not law. That’s just going to get you to the starting line. Then do everything you can to get a training agreement or pupilage. There is help and guidance so follow it to the letter.

There are law apprenticeships but be aware that career changers of any age can get them. They will also be ultra competitive.

Undergrad was PPE - now a commercial barrister and chair of pupillage committee. We find no difference in pupillage success between those coming from law or non-law undergraduate backgrounds. (NB many, including me, also have postgrad and/or prior professional experience, but we do have some very good people coming through younger).

I have had quite a varied career within law (corporate City / high street/ private client) and have found having a law degree has really helped me as I have a broad grounding in criminal / family / property which I still use today. Less likely to be the case if you specialised in one area your whole career.

my daughter did law, is magic circle, focuses on commercial litigation,

Undergrad was Psychology.
Now Financial services lawyer.

Straight from school I meant!

DH did an engineering degree, worked as an engineer, then did a law conversion and now specialises in litigation that focuses on engineering/construction.

Non-law undergrad degree make better lawyers IMO but then I would say that wouldn’t I.

but worth remembering in many other commonwealth jurisdictions inc us and Canada you can only study law once you have got an undergrad degree in another subject

Went straight into law from university. Trained in corporate, spent 10 years in criminal and now in regulation.

History of art BA then intellectual property, it, media and telecoms specialist in magic circle law

these days you would need a science/CS undergrad

My husband (managing partner at big London law firm) actually preferred if they didn't do law as an undergraduate. He himself did as he had a passion for law since he was a kid.

Law. But you can do any degree and go on to do law if you have a strong degree though sadly there is still some snobbery and your first degree needs to be conventionally academic only - maths / English / history / chemistry etc. I had a great paralegal and petitioned the firm to give her a training contract they wouldn’t because she had done American Studies.

Law and I now work in employment law. But you can study anything at uni and do the GDL conversion course, so I'd suggest something she's interested in (and therefore is more likely to do well in) that is reasonably academic (history, English, etc).

My personal view is that I can usually tell when a trainee/newly qualified hasn't studied law at undergraduate level as their knowledge of case law tends to be weaker, but it evens out in the end and many of the bigger firms seem to actually prefer non-law grads, perhaps as more rounded individuals?

Obviously taking another course is more time and money, but if she can secure a training contract with a larger firm, they will likely pay for the GDL anyway.

I did a law degree without intending to qualify, but ended up becoming a solicitor in a roundabout way.

Some firms do offer apprenticeships and from what I’ve seen they look brilliant, you get pays, get study leave and get loads of good experience along the way (after 6 years in a law firm!).

Most firms don’t care whether you do a law degree or not, but the conversion course adds time and potentially money (for fees & living expenses) if she doesn’t find a firm to pay for her.

I’d say a law degree is more interesting than the conversion course, but it depends what her other options are.

Undergrad was in nursing, worked for 4 years then trained as barrister in family law.
You can do law straight out of school. I wish I had done it instead of doing another degree first but I was only 18 and wasn't sure what I wanted. I think undergrad entry may be more competitive than postgrad entry?