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.

@CatChant im so sorry to hear that, it sounds so tough. What area of law is she hoping for ?

why don’t you take your finance experience and leverage a few NEDs, much more likely to achieve that, much more lucrative on a £ per day basis and much more fun. Good women NEDs are much in demand so once you get a couple some interesting offers are likely to start flowing.

@ilovetomatoes It is disheartening, I have to admit. She really isn’t that fussy. She likes intellectual property, real property, equity and trusts, wills and probate, employment, tort, contract - you get the idea. The one area she’s not keen on is family law.

Law used to be seen as a dead cert for decent employment prospects. I really can’t say that it is any more.

Jaded lawyer here. I wouldn't touch this with a barge pole OP. Especially if you're not clear what area you want to practice in. If it had always been a burning ambition and you were really really clear about where you wanted to end up, my advice might be different.

Family law and sports law are VERY different so it seems like you haven't got an end target in mind.

It will be a lot of work and you'll end up as a NQ lawyer close to the end of your career. Many many law firm roles are very stressful and demanding with long hours cultures. IMO you need at least 5 yrs PQE before you start to feel comfortable in the role by which time you'll be mid 50s.

I’d look into family law- more reasonable hours, interesting work and an area in which your maturity might count in your favour.

I do share some of PP’s concerns about how attractive a late 40s trainee is going to be to firms or clients for anything more corporate. Trainees and NQ lawyers are v much cannon fodder for firms- it’s incredibly demanding in terms of hours and you are expected to be always available as a resource. I certainly wouldn’t want to do it in middle age. It’s not true that no one wants a 50yo lawyer (at my old firm partners generally retired late 50s) but I do wonder whether it’s a life you’d want as a 50yo trainer or junior. Remember that in sports law your clients might seem more interesting but they are generally just businesses needing sector-specific advice on commercial contracts, IP, regulatory, employment etc etc. It’s much more like straight City work than you might think.

Sorry for all the typos.

As you'd be coming into law from a "numbers" background have you considered becoming a Costs Lawyer? The time it takes to qualify together with the cost of training is much less then the GDL / SQE routes. The qualifying course takes two years, and you can gain your qualifying experience before, during or after your studies.

@Delphigirl yes good point I’ve been looking at this for a while but always got distracted with “real” work. May be time to put some focus into it

@thinkfast i guess I was just thinking that working life seems to be extending past the old retire at 60 philosophy. I expect to be working full time until at least 65 then probably part time after that.

@YesLittleElephant im not aware of costs law but this sounds intriguing. Off to do some Googling!

@Sunflowering my thoughts re family law were exactly that. Life experience etc would add to my skills as a lawyer in this field.

Ahhh I love my job as a solicitor. But I do know I am lucky to have found a niche that suits me.

@ilovetomatoes have a look into solicitor apprenticeships. I',ve got one starting in September and just recruited my next one...

I don't know if they have found their way into family law yet in fairness but it's worth looking into

I would definitely try and shadow some solicitors in fields you are interested in before making up your mind -and also just talk to as many as you can.

The law is so diverse that different fields are going to suit very different people

I’m a solicitor and this isn’t my experience. It very much depends on which area you practise in and the type of firm you join.

Sorry I thought I was replying to the poster who said it was all emails and zoom meetings.

Move into banking regulation op and see where you go from there. More legal type work, you use your skills and it won’t be such a pay cut.

Another jaded ex lawyer saying don’t do it. And I enjoyed being a lawyer, mostly, but wouldn’t advise anyone to go into it now.

I agree the NED route would be perfect. You could dip your toe in by being a charity trustee with a finance remit - unpaid but gets the right experience on your CV. Or a school governor. I am trying to get DH (also finance) to go this route but as a PP said women are far more in demand. Milk it!

I would have someone look over her CV and also coach her on interview technique.

I have seen some dreadful CVs/interviews from people who ought to be good based on their academics

@ilovetomatoes

How old will you be when you qualify and become a full-time solicitor?

@DreamTheMoors id be pushing 50

@OuiLaLa I am applying for lots of risk/regulation type roles at the moment and getting nowhere. Despite employers saying they are looking for “skills” these days the number one criteria is always 10 plus years of experience in some niche part of the business! Infuriating!

@CatChant your daughter might like to look at compliance in law firms. No billing, genuinely excellent career prospects right now, very interesting and varied and easier to get into. Plus you get to think about the legal sector itself, no pretending you care about a clients industry.

Some firms offer full training contracts in regulation.

I qualified in corporate law after starting in regulation and then came back to it. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Good luck to her!

Hahaha you’ll be pushing 50 without qualifying and becoming a full-time solicitor.

Do it. And kick ass & take names.
Good luck.

This would be age discrimination and is illegal. Interested where you found this "fact" though- do you have a source or is it your opinion based on no evidence, passed off as a fact?

No it is not all emails and zoom meetings. I wish. You actually got to read and digest tons of information, analyse it then summarise your advice for your client, a layperson to understand. There is also agreements to draft and negotiate. Deadlines to meet.

On top of that, there are emails and zoom meetings. That is the easy part.