Retrain as Solicitor age 44

[ilovetomatoes]

I’ve had a long career in banking. Thinking about retraining as a solicitor now focusing on family law or as a complete outlier sports law (I’m mad about sport).

any advice? I would have a few lean years financially but could manage.

Absolutely do it!
Why not? Say you qualify at what, 50 latest? (Not sure how long it would take so roughly 5 years) then you've got possibly 20 years of doing the job you truly want! Sounds ideal to me.
I've so many friends in their 40s who I've worked with in nursing homes who are now doing nurse training that their kids are old enough for them to be less dependent on their mum, so mid 40s is probably a usual age for retraining.
Good luck x

2 friends of mine recently got out of this profession as said it was just endless emails and zoom meetings nd pretty soul destroying. Just my experience. Maybe chat to a couple if you know any and see their thoughts.

Would you do the SQE? Are you ready to absorb all that stuff from scratch? I'm considering doing it myself now and gosh it looks terrifying

Don't do it! Law was a great profession when I got into it 20 years ago but it is really not fun anymore. The drive for ever greater profits has ruined the profession. There is so much pressure out on associates to bill bill bill.

Kind've agree with the other jaded lawyers, sorry - so much pressure. Maybe if you are coming to it late and not as concerned about getting to partnership etc though perhaps could be enjoyable.

I came to law as a second career from the insurance industry. Although I love my job (medical negligence) I do think you have to be realistic about how hard it is, both to qualify and to climb the career ladder.

At age 34 I did a GDL part time whilst working (2 years) which cost £13,000. Then the LPC (2 years part time) at a cost of £15,000. I missed a lot of time with my family because I was studying and working full time. The current SQE seems much easier...

I left my £40k management job to become a paralegal on £20k. After 2 years I got a training contract on £23k.

I qualified in 2017 on a salary of £32k. In 2019 I was promoted to Associate on £45k. In 2022 I made Partner at £70k. Plan to go for equity partner in next few years which should earn £100k upwards.

Law can be a rewarding career but you're expected to work long hours to hit chargeable hours and billing targets. The court system is utterly broken, which makes the work incredibly frustrating. As a Family lawyer, you'll have clients regularly crying down the phone but you won't have the time or energy to counsel them. Very few clients will be happy with the outcome; even if you do a stirling job for them they'll be pissed off at having to pay your fees.

What attracts you to the work? Are you sure your expectations are realistic?

God, no! All my lawyer friends are MISERABLE!

Nobody hires a 50 year old lawyer with 30 years of experience let alone a 50 year old newly qualified lawyer. You are at least 10 years too late. Sorry.

Serious question, nobody wants 50yo lawyers anymore? Is the law profession really ageist?

Uh mean the legal profession. It’s been a long day

Absolutely categorically untrue.

I qualified as a solicitor at 42, and have moved twice, headhunted for my current position- I'm 45. If you aren't bothered about partnership (although still doable at your age when you qualify), and are willing to take a pay dip and a good few years of hard graft whilst working and studying, it's actually a pretty good job, find a decent firm, you can really have a worthwhile career. Good luck!

There is a big difference between qualifying at 42 and thinking about starting to qualify at 44, ergo probably not qualifying until you are 50.
if OP has money and time to burn then go for it but remember my brutal but accurate advice when you are paralegalling aged 52 for pennies.

Yes

Wow thanks for all the candid advice. I’m on comfortable six figures now so would be giving up a lot I guess.

I’ve worked with lawyers in my current role so I have some idea of what it entails but don’t want to do banking/corporate law. The folks I work with are so smart, I love all the analytical thinking and how they advise us.

I also wouldn't do it. Too expensive and it is all so target based. It takes the fun out of whatever bit of fun was left in the job!

Don’t get me wrong law is a fab job and I still love it after 30 years but you have just come to it too late. I was at my smartest and quickest in my late 20s - 40s and am able currently to stay right at the top of my profession because I have seen everything in those 30 years. There is a reason city partners transition to board positions and KCs to judges at 52-54 Their experience and knowledge is still hugely valuable valuable but their abilities to deal with the cut and thrust of transactional or full on advisory work is reduced.

nobody wants a newly qualified 50yr old lawyer.

I retained in mid thirties. 15 years ago. GDL then LPC
Cost £20k
4 years part time while working and lost all my free time to it. Quite stressful too
Applied for 50 training contract and got nowhere - it's very very competitive.
Would have had to reduce my salary by half for several years.
Those who made it that I know hate their careers and are trying to get out.

In your shoes with hindsight I wouldn't do it again.

@meatbaseddessert ok this is very clear thank you. Really making me think.

@meatbaseddessert so are you saying that you didn’t pursue it even after completing the studies?

isn’t it easier now to get PQE as training contracts for 2 years aren’t required?

I qualified at 50. Had worked straight from university at 43 as a legal assistant. Did a research Masters part time in my chosen area of law, then the LPC. Still with the same firm upon qualification and loving it. Yes, I have targets I need to meet but that hasn't ever been a problem. Mostly work Monday to Friday 9-5.

In my experience this is simply nonsense. I know several heavily in-demand lawyers who are over 50.

@lazarusb that sounds great. Would you mind sharing what area of law you’re in?

Don’t.

DD with a string of outstanding qualifications, excellent law degree from a prestigious university, glowing references from former tutors and a self-funded master’s with distinction in legal practice, has applied for a string of training contracts and legal jobs to get a foot in the door and so far, got nowhere.

The other day she said sadly: “I have better qualifications than any of my friends and I am the least employable.”

Do you know many heavily in demand newly qualified lawyers who are 50 by chance?

You have got to be kidding.
What salary will you be on, how many years training ? My closest friend who is a partner and employment lawyer says salary for juniors now is not that great. You honestly realise what you're getting into?