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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why someone would do a law degree

144 replies

ACatCalledColin · 24/03/2014 22:22

if they had no intention of becoming a lawyer?

A friends daughter is starting university in September, she's going to be reading law. She's going to an ex-poly, not a 'bad' one by any means, it's more in the middle of the league table.

Anyways I was talking to her today and the subject of university came up and I asked her if she was worried about what might happen after university - if she would struggle to get a training contract because she went to an ex poly and she said 'oh, I don't want to be a lawyer, actually, I just like law. I'll probably end up working in PR or something like that anyways'.

Maybe it's just me but I genuinely don't understand why someone would study law if they weren't even slightly interested in a career in law. It's not like it's an interesting subject, is it? It's very boring and dull so it's not like anyone can use the excuse that you simply like the subject.

I would have thought a humanities degree or even a business one would be more relevant for PR anyways (and more interesting too. Smile)

OP posts:
Original poster
ACatCalledColin · 24/03/2014 23:35

I don't think your law A level makes you an expert on the recruitment practices of major law firms. You sound like you have a major chip on your shoulder about the legal profession.

You know this is why MN is so interesting. In other threads I've read everyone seemed to pretty much agree that the university where you go to is very important and it's even more important if you want to be a lawyer because "firms only recruit from the best universities". That was the general agreement throughout the threads. One poster even went as far as to say that everyone who goes to an ex-poly is only good enough to work in a call centre or other "crap jobs" Grin. Obviously not true as I went to an ex-poly yet I've never worked in a call centre.

Yet on this thread the general train of thought seems to be that it really doesn't matter at all.

Anyway, I have several lawyers in my family, a couple who work for top firms and according to them applications from ex-poly's usually go straight in the bin. There are some exceptions though. I believe one of their newest trainee solicitors went to Sunderland university but that is the exception to the rule. Most of them have come from places like Oxbridge, Durham, UCL and some other RG universities.

OP posts:
EATmum · 24/03/2014 23:37

I studied law a few years ago - one of the conversion courses you can do in a couple of years part time if you have ANOther degree. At the time I was thinking of a career change but when it came down to it decided that the life of a trainee solicitor would be much less compatible with family life than my v flexible employer. Anyway, it was an intensive course designed to give you the basics but I ended up really interested in some of the legal concepts. I really wished I'd been able to do a full law degree and have the time to get really into it never land law though, not ever again And while I didn't make the switch my role (which includes responsibility for PR within a charity) has definitely been helped by my studies.

Scarletbanner · 24/03/2014 23:37

YABU.
I did an economics degree, but I'm not an economist. I'm a lawyer

Caitlin17 · 24/03/2014 23:38

The university the degree is from is extremely important. Not all are equal by any means.

Original poster
ACatCalledColin · 24/03/2014 23:38

Status, I imagine. People respect a law degree more than a humanities or business degree, unfortunately.

True. I've had people snigger at my English degree before, claiming it wasn't worth the paper it was printed on and how their Maths/Science degree was better.

OP posts:
RhondaJean · 24/03/2014 23:39
DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 24/03/2014 23:43

I have a law degree, and I drive an HGV. I did have an ambition to train, but I got a 2:2 and I'm fucked if I'm going on half the money for double the hours.

However, it got my brain working, it's a fascinating subject and it makes my employers nervous.

NigellasDealer · 24/03/2014 23:46

it makes my employers nervous Grin i bet it does

PolkadotsAndMoonbeams · 24/03/2014 23:47

I think the thing with science degrees is you tend to write some essays, articles and abstracts as well as doing a fair chunk of maths. There's also often preparing presentations, both talks and posters so you can spin it depending on want you want to do.

Not all degrees make you use such a wide range of skills, so going into say banking with an English degree would be harder to demonstrate your excellent maths skills than with, say, a physics degree.

DisgraceToTheYChromosome · 24/03/2014 23:49

EATmum: Land law is horrible. Did you do diluvion and accretion? Incredibly abstruse bollocks only of interest to people living in the Ganges delta.

MsAspreyDiamonds · 25/03/2014 01:20

My SIL did an LLB & is a senior social worker

My friend is a university lecturer who teaches Law. She did an LLB, an LLM & a PhD in Law. She has never practiced law but is teaching it to students who may in the future.

Toadinthehole · 25/03/2014 05:35

I have a law degree (and am in fact a solicitor). TBH I think there are better alternatives to an LLB for those who don't intend to go into practice.

Yes it is true that a law degree demonstrates industriousness, but so does a first class honours in any arts discipline. Yes I'd agree that law is interesting, but it's a fair but less mind-expanding than Eng Lit or foreign languages. I suppose law teaches analytical skills, but probably less well than philosophy. It's a vocational degree, and I think a person who chooses it for reasons other than entering the legal profession is missing out.

StealthPolarBear · 25/03/2014 06:12

I agree with op. I always thought law was quite vocational, bit like medicine

daisychain01 · 25/03/2014 06:15

The trouble with post-Industrial education is that it has influenced us to think about subjects in 'silos', instead of recognising the vast span of subjects a particular qualification takes on board. Just saying "why bother studying law if you aren't going to be a lawyer" is evidence of that thinking!

I have never studied law to degree level, but I'm sure it must take on board (if only in terms of influence) such divert topics as

History
Politics
Philosophy and ethics
Culture

So, with a law degree, you will become a well-rounded individual who will be able to 'hold their own' in many job interviews.

Education is more than just the certificate at the end of it.

JessieMcJessie · 25/03/2014 06:23

I chose law without intending to practise, but ended up a solicitor and am fairly happy with my choice. My classmate on the course was Mishal Husain, who now presents the Today programme. She never worked as a lawyer, doesn't seem to have done her any harm having a law degree...

akachan · 25/03/2014 06:44

Each to their own but I wouldn't do a law degree with no intention to qualify. In fact I'm not sure if recommend it at all. I tend to find candidates who converted are more interesting. I did a conversion, obviously!

I also went to a poor university and trained in the city but I'll admit I was lucky!

KenDoddsDadsDog · 25/03/2014 06:45

This just gets more bizarre OP. I have a Russell Group degree and have worked in call centres for 15 plus years. I earn a lot more than an average solicitor , head teacher , police inspector.
What do you do ?

Egusta · 25/03/2014 07:26

I am in the middle of doing a law conversion course and I have no intention of being a lawyer. I am doing it because I am 40, have spent my entire career working in the developing world in human rights and realised I would never progress in my career unless I had 'something extra' that gave me a bit more gravitas.

I am finding it fascinating too.

AramintaDeWinter · 25/03/2014 08:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheArticFunky · 25/03/2014 08:50

A Law degree is highly regarded by employers, it's interesting to study etc etc. Its personal choice isn't it? I wouldn't want to study English or a Science subject at degree level but plenty of people do and enjoy it.

If she does change her mind and wants to train to be a solicitor all is not lost. My friends niece gained a 2:1 in Law from the University of Hertfordshire and she has a training contract with a large regional law firm.

NigellasDealer · 25/03/2014 08:53

the University of Hertfordshire isn't that an.....(gasp) ex poly?

TheArticFunky · 25/03/2014 08:59

Absolutely Nigella. There is life outside the Russell Group.

NigellasDealer · 25/03/2014 09:01

Grin you would think not after reading some mumsnet posts!
what a lot of people do not seem to realise is that 'russell group universities' are a self appointed group of research universities and it has nothing to do with eg student experience, employability, teaching quality etc etc.

fascicle · 25/03/2014 09:09

ACat, what do you do with your English degree from an ex poly? Do you teach English, write, give speeches, edit...?

MoreBeta · 25/03/2014 09:18

I studied biochemistry at university then went to be a commodity trader. Any good degree from a good university can lead in many directions.

However, if you want to be a well paid lawyer - a Russel Group university degree from a very well regarded law school and then working in one of the Magic Circle London law firms (solicitors) or pupillage at one of the leading chambers (barrister) is the only way to go.