To want to start a new career

[LottieLou90]

Hi,
I hope this isn’t too long but wanted to give a bit of background.
Two weeks ago I gave birth to my DS. I also have a DD aged 6.
Before I found out I was pregnant with DD (I was 21) I applied to study Law which I then decided against after I found out I was pregnant as I didn’t think I would have time / money to study and look after a newborn on my own (DD has different dad to DS)
Anyway, I went back to work after 9 months with DD and have been at the same place ever since, been given a lot more responsibility without the pay rise, staying late, going in early etc. It pays the bills just about, together with my DP’s income.
Whilst I was on maternity, I started thinking about studying again and discussed this with DP and he has backed me whatever I decide, to help me to study.
I really would like to do it and ‘make something of myself’ but I have doubts that I’m possibly getting too old to do this now (28) I know there are some people that retrain who are older than this but I’m thinking that if a course takes 6 years to complete (studying part time as I would have to go back to work for money) I would be 34/35 starting at the bottom of the career ladder and not getting decent pay until I’m 40ish and that’s if I can even find a job after my studies.
AIBU in my way of thinking and should I go back to my office job or take the risk and study something I’m passionate about?

I know it seems that you'll be 'too old', but really, you won't be.

Go do what makes your heart sing and mind buzz lass.

Thank you MrsMozart

Go for it!

I probably wouldn’t go for Law though. Everyone has this thought in their head about Law. Plenty of threads on mumsnet. It’s not what it’s cracked up to be.

Do it. I've retrained at 49. Wish I'd done it when I first considered it way back, but I bottled out then as lacked the confidence in myself.

Go for it OP!

If it helps I'm training for a career change at 34. Once qualified late next year I'll be going from a 19 year, employed career to a new self employed one

Absolutely go for it. Law is hard because of the hours that you will need to put in as a trainee etc if you want one of the top grad schemes but as long as you are aware and have thought this through then do it.

I have been retraining for 9 years (I had no A-levels) some intro modules, a part time BA and now an MA in order to move into a new totally unrelated career with three children who were all under 5 when I started the BA. I am very lucky in that my DH is supportive and flexible but also have my parents around who have always helped out lots.

I have lots of friends in my current career who don't necessarily enjoy it but carry on because it is good money and finances the lifestyle they want. I crave satisfaction for at least a decent part of the time I am at work and am now less that a year away from making it a reality and I cannot tell you how happy I am.

Go for it.

Absolutely do it, if you are sure it's what you want. Mid 30s is no age, you have probably 30 years or more of working life to go which is a long time to be in a job that isn't very rewarding or fulfilling your potential. I have friends who have respectively retrained as a doctor, a public health professional, a counsellor and a teacher in their late 20s or 30s and whilst it hasn't exactly been plain sailing all the way I think they are all glad they did it.

However, Law is a tricky area to get into in today's climate, you are looking at several years university study which is a big drain on your finances and time as a family, and then there is big competition for training contracts, many of which will demand long hours for not as great pay as you'd imagine, and then depending on what specialism you'd be hoping to get into, things can still be difficult, e.g. family and crime work can be rewarding/fascinating but poorly paid, corporate better paid but ludicrous hours and not always very interesting etc etc. With the rise in tribunal fees, cuts in legal aid and increased automation 'bread and butter' stuff for high street solicitors like conveyancing, employment, family, crime etc. is on the downturn.

Don't want to put you off your passion, just make sure you've done your research before taking the plunge, e.g. do you know any lawyers who might be willing to chat to you about their work and career over coffee, could you look at getting some work experience/admin work in a solicitors office to see it first hand? Or if you can pinpoint what it is about law (is it the academic, legal, detailed, forensic side of the law or more the helping people and getting an insight into their lives, or the public speaking/argumentation/persuasion of a barrister?) that really interests/excites you, you could look at whether any other careers which don't require quite the same input and risk in terms of money/time would press the same buttons for you? Lots of different ways to skin a cat, I'm sure there are many different routes/jobs you would also be brilliant at...

My mother retrained in the 1960s/70s to be a solicitor, in the days when married women with kids often were SAHM or had a little p/t job rather than a career. If she could do it then so can you now, & she was 6 or 7 years older than you.

Ah thanks ladies! You’ve all given me the extra bit of confidence and kick up the arse I needed!
Law is probably not going to happen now due to the time and cost etc as PP have mentioned but I had been helping out HR over the past 2 years when I was at work (before may leave) and it interested me so I may consider that.
Thank you all again

You will certainly not be too old to start a new career in your mid thirties.
Plenty do but please work out in advance how much time and money you can devote to studying.

Good luck, nice to come across people with ambition.

Ah, good call OP, I was actually going to suggest HR up thread and then thought it might be a bit trumpet blowing . I work in HR and it's a good choice, it combines a lot of the skills/type of work of the law without the extensive qualifying period/costs and (usually) the insane hours. We actually get a few applications from solicitors for most senior HR positions we advertise, which is more of a sad indication of the state of the legal profession/industry than an advertisement for HR in itself, but shows the skills and type of person required are similar!

Unlike with law you should be able to get an entry level position in HR without a degree providing you've got some solid admin experience which it sounds like you do, and the CIPD qualifications are eminently do-able part time/alongside work. If you get lucky you might find an employer willing to contribute to your qualifications as well? There are also some HR apprenticeships out there, badly paid usually but a foot in the door and don't rule them out just because you're not a school leaver, most don't have an upper age limit, you just need to not already have the relevant qualifications.

Happy to answer any questions you might have!

I'm a law student and a mother of a newborn too with a seven year old. It's hard. I don't want to be a solicitor at the end of it though so that's pressure eased. What do you want to do with your law degree?

It's always law isn't it. I'm going to be brutally honest here because I think you need to hear it - training contracts for solicitors and pupils ages for barristers are REALLY hard to get these days. It's not just a long academic a lot of study but it's an application nightmare. Even on the high street the hours can be long and unpredictable. I'd choose something else.

28 is still really young. Law will take years of training and expense so it's worth factoring that in. Would you be interested in training as something other than a solicitor/barrister?

Thanks maxelly - that’s really useful to know and I really appreciate it.
I enquired about HR and was told I would have to complete CIPD level 3 then level 5 if I wanted to go into management so looking into that this evening.

HR is my career area and highly recommended if you enjoy law. You are certainly not too old! Life experience is am asset in HR.

If it helps, I'm looking at a complete career change too. I'm 33, so you've got a good 5 years headstart on me!

Go for it, I am!

Obvious and Lisabel - thank you. Law was something I was interested in 6/7 years ago. I just added it in as part of background story. I understand the hours I would need to put into the studying as well as the job itself - hours and of course cost and wages.
My question was just about studying and working towards something that I have an interest in.

Don't let your age be a deciding factor. As others have said, weigh up how much time you can commit and decide whether moving to something more related to what you do now might be a better bet. But definitely go for a change - be the best you can be and all that ! Very best wishes with it all.

I'm midway through training for a new career, I will be 36 when I qualify. You're not too old. My youngest was 2 and a half when I started my access course, and will be 7 when I finish. It's definitely hard going alongside a family, but not impossible. I manage as a single parent so with a supportive partner it should be doable.

Another lawyer here who says don't do law. I also say that to my dcs.

Do HR.