To consider upskilling/reskilling

[feelingalittlestuck]

I did my undergraduate in law and from university went and worked in a one man band criminal law firm. I was his assistant and loved it, but he was very clear that he couldn’t offer me the required work experience due to the nature of his firm.

I left after five years and secured a training contract at a regional firm. I instantly hated it, but stuck it out and studied my SQE, I passed and qualified and promptly handed in my notice because it was absolutely draining me, I was verging on suicidal.

I have been working since in a band 2 NHS role. It’s been the best two years of my life, I’m so much happier, but I can’t help but feel a little stagnant and like I’m starting to waste my life and talents. I’m very academic, I adore studying and learning and applying my brain to difficult things.

I have recently found out about the second undergraduate student loan for upskilling into certain areas. A few really stick out to me and although I accept I’d need to do a lot more research and consideration, I am considering it.

AIBU to do this? I think I’d start with some free OU courses and go from there, before deciding whether I can commit to part time studying alongside work. I’d be in my 30s by the time I finished.

AIBU to consider it?

Go for it! There are lots of opportunities out there. The NHS also has some apprenticeships at different levels and may also fund some other learning if you can link it with your work PDP.
30s is not old at all!

If it would make you happy and open doors to other careers then go for it. You've got about 40 years of work ahead of you so you might as well do things you enjoy if you can.

I think I’d really need to do some research and establish exactly what I’d go into, but I think something psychological would really interest me. I got to do some psychology modules at uni and loved it!

I started my first degree when I was 32. Graduated my clinical science masters at 37. Band 7 NHS job by the age of 39. Couldn't be happier.
As my granny said - time will pass no matter what you do with it, so do what you heart calls for.

Check that the new skills are needed in our increasingly AI-dominated workplaces. After all that retraining, you want to ensure you can earn.

Is there not some lateral move you can make with your law degree? Legal advisor to a charity in a field you care about? How about a mental health/health law specialist, representing patients in tribunals or gross misconduct cases or similar?

Going back to practicing law is off the table. The mental health impacts were awful.

Honestly, be really really careful about taking on a lot of student debt without thorough research into the labour market and what qualifications are really needed to access better paid work. Otherwise you could fall into the expensive trap of repaying 9% of your earnings for the rest of your working life for a degree that hasnt increased your wage much.

Try not to be drawn into areas that are "interesting" but dont lead anywhere workwise. Treat student debt as an investment that needs to deliver a return.

Theres a lot of demand in construction & engineering.

Have you considered becoming a mediator? You would have to brush up your family law but it might be a good way of working with people whilst also using your qualifications. I'm currently looking to appoint a mediator for the financial settlement of my divorce and I can't believe how many accredited mediators are not legally qualified. I won't consider appointing one who isn't.

Law in practice can be awful. Law as part of an inhouse team can be much nicer. I work a lot with our in house legal team (large ftse 100 corporate) and they seem happy enough

Have you thought about nursing? I'm a band 7 mental health nurse in a GP practice and love it. Lots of opportunities for extra training etc. A colleague of mine has just started a masters in research, fully funded by her workplace.

Absolutely go for it @feelingalittlestuck! I did a degree in my 30’s (qualified at 38) and I doubled my wages within 5 years. Most of us will be working well into our 70’s so you might as well do something you enjoy.
If you do end up going for a psychology degree make sure you research what you can go straight into from it; a lot of my friends did psychology degrees and ended up having to do some sort of top up qualification to work.

What are the areas they need people in pls?

After my experience anything legal is off the cards for a long time

I can’t lie it does interest me but I have such a weak stomach 😂

If you enjoyed law but not the bigger private practice firm maybe look at options. Local government legal is low pay but very flexible and gives that sense of giving back to community. There’s enforcement work similar to criminal.
Some organisations like national highways actively recruit for women returners.