Am I too late to retrain in Law??

[Dellabob123]

Just that really.
Had a successful career in marketing, had a few years break to have children and now thinking at 42 I’d really like to to do the GDL conversion course. It’s something I’ve always been interest in, but took a different route at uni. I really want to stidy again with a view to a new career.
I’m worried about age, I’m worried about managing family life- being there for the children, after school, cooking and general stuff that I might not have the time for.

What is realistic?? Has anyone done it and successfully navigated family life?

DifferentHair - it may depend what area the OP goes into but in commercial law she absolutely would be in competition with new grads and her experience would not necessarily be viewed favourably. The reality is that firms looking for juniors want that - juniors who are happy/willing to do grunt work. As someone on a second career she'll be up against an assumption that she won't be willing to, however much she says she is. Yes it's age discrimination but it's also reality. I am 90% certain I was turned down for a NQ job with a big name firm because of my age.

There are benefits to work experience but there are benefits to hiring fresh grads as well, as a start they normally have fewer outside work commitments and are willing to work harder/longer hours. If you're dealing with an environment which is already used to dealing with the challenges of hiring new grads (usually related to people not having experience of working life is like and expectations) then they're set up for a lot of the downsides.

Of course any good employer would be looking for a balance because different perspectives bring different skills.

The problem with looking at family and criminal law is that the OP's specific professional experience would be irrelevant. Tactically it would be better to work on a route which would make use of that.

Yes I'd mentioned you'd need a specific niche to overcome the age thing.

Also you would need the usual very good a levels and good degree results to get a role anyway.

So whilst it's very possible to re train and get a law degree and /or do the new exams - it's very expensive and no guarantee of any job -and with an existing degree, will have to be funded yourself.

OP have you thought to look at industry there are very few (but some) in-house training contracts - you could also consider the paralegal/contracts manager route. Your marketing knowledge will deffo be useful in-house as all companies need marketing support from their in-house lawyers

Finally some of the bigger companies breweries, retail companies etc even have in-house marketing lawyers!

You mentioned your previous career was in marketing. Have you thought about getting a marketing role in a law firm to see if it's an environment you enjoy working in?

I recommend in-house too. I trained in-house and have no plans to leave. I work hard, but not more hard than others in my organisation. In fact, I think those in sales roles are under far more pressure. The salaries are pretty good too - not Magic Circle by any stretch, but also nothing like the recent poster who had qualified into a high-stress role in £26k or so.

It used to be quite rare to get a TC with a company (or public sector, charity, etc.) but that has changed. Not only are there more TCs, but also many, many opportunities for NQ solicitors to move straight into in-house roles.

Only thing is that most in-house jobs are commercial. There are more niche roles, but if you like the sound of in-house you’ll be applying for TCs either with the sorts of organisations set up to offer them (and most will be large companies) or with firms doing commercial work in order to maximise the chances of moving on qualification.

I like it, but it’s also worth noting that it’s not all that dissimilar to any office job. I don’t go to court, for example. In fact, it’s possible to do work that is similar in many ways without legal qualifications- contract management, for example.

I wouldn't - I am an ex in-house lawyer who has left and is now a fitness instructor and yoga and pilates teacher. I trained in private practice. It remains ageist and sexist to some extent still. Competition is fierce, devotion and sacrifice required. Tough if you have kids or family. If you become a trainee solicitor with any large firm, you will be expected to work much longer than your contracted hours, sometimes through the night. I just would not do it again at 22 let alone 42, Sorry OP not trying to be gloomy just truthful. Plenty of my friends still in law as locked into with having large mortgages or kids at private school.
Leaving on time provokes comments about "only being part-time". In-house used to be more relaxed with no timesheets and more regular hours but even that has changed mostly now.
The stress too and the 24/7 emails and expectation of working at home eves and weekends. I really wouldn't.