to start a postgraduate conversion course in law?

[Lifeisabeach09]

At the ripe age of 40?

Hit me with the negatives. Unsure of branch of law I want to get into.

I did mine at 38. Loved it, really interesting. I'm now a solicitor, qualified at age 41! I would say of the 'older' contingent on the course not that many went on to work in law. Good luck!

Honestly I wouldn’t start a career in law that late. It takes 10+ years to get into the interesting work if you are really successful.

I did a law conversion and the LPC at 23. Very very few of us without a trainee solicitor place by the end of the LPC went on to get one.

Too many lawyers being trained and not enough jobs.
However it depends what you want to do and what experience you already have that could give you an edge when looking for a job in law.
We are all going to work until at least 70 so why not refrain if you have the opportunity?!

Saying that tho a It's not something I would do with another recession looming, unless I did not need to get into debt to do the course.

I left law school as a mini recession hit. I had a lot of debt so took a graduate job doing something else at the end. Of course I never got back to law. Just like everyone else that did the same!
I do enjoy my job but I didn't need to spend 2 years at law school to get it!

Negatives?

Expensive
A year of your life (if ft) with opportunity cost
No point really unless go on to do LPC or BVC

I really wouldn’t unless you have a clear career path and either have a training contract lined up or are a very strong candidate for the Bar. Otherwise it will be an expensive folly.

Thanks for the replies. Mulling over.

What's your plan for after? Lpc? Would you still be able to or would you be looking at sqe now? Don't write it off on the basis of no training contract, the cilex route is becoming increasingly popular.
Are you set on traditional law firm work or would you consider insurance companies, loss adjusters etc who take on law grads.

Ex-lawyer here. At this stage if you want to be a lawyer I’d focus on getting legal work experience in a few different practice areas that spark your interest, then seeking out a few vacation schemes with relevant firms. Then do the LPC. There are many more LPC graduates than training contract places...

*Then do the GDL and LPC

Hello

I did already have my law degree from when I was 20-23 I did the LPC part time when I was 32-34 then worked as a Paralegal from when I finished in a medium sized law firm, when they advertised for Trainees I was offered one (usually every June) I then did my TC and qualified into Commercial Property at the age of 38.

You’re never too old!

@BogglesGoggles that’s an interesting view, I was doing decent work from even when I was a Paralegal!

@namechangeymcnamechange11, I'm open to anything (law-wise) at this stage. Considered LPC but this might wouldn't be compulsory by the time I'd graduate, so SQE. Depends also on what's attractive to employers.
This is just at the idea stage--I'd be doing the degree part-time whilst working in my current line of work (healthcare).

Thanks for the info, y'all.:)

@EssentialHummus, did you give up law altogether?

did you give up law altogether?

Mostly. I do something niche in legal recruitment, which uses the skills I learnt in practice. But I worked in the City and didn't find it compatible with either my career goals or family life.

A friend did a law conversion degree at age 50. She was previously a social worker. I'm not sure of the details but she got a job as a solicitor for the council (local authority), advising them on family law cases. So she was able to apply the experience from her previous role. Depending on your previous experience, you may be able to do similar.

What Hummus said. I’m a partner in a full service firm and do grad recruitment. I did the GDL & LPC without a training contract lined up and whilst it has worked out for me it is a hard, v competitive slog. I’m your age and would not want to do it now. Even with the likely SQE changes it is not going to be as straightforward to qualify as some people seem to think, so I would say unless you really want it, your time and energy could be spent better elsewhere. Good luck.

Much depends on where you are, too. Are there a lot of opportunities, or would you have to move sticks? Is that something you'd be up for doing?

I did the GDL a bit later than average (27) and qualified at 32. I've loved my job ever since I started as a trainee (public sector) and I'm lucky in that the pay is really good. But I had to move a long way away to get the training contract, and I had to fund the GDL/LPC myself. Might be worth seeing if you can get a TC offer which will sponsor your studies. That'll also give you an idea of how employable you are. On the plus side, law firms often like older candidates who have experience in an area that they practice, so that could go in your favour.

In short: it wasn't for the faint-hearted and a lot of my family told me not to do it, but I'm so glad I did.