Dd wobbling about her degree choice

[moralberyll]

Dd has chosen to study for a degree in criminology and social policy at a good Russel group university, her plan was to do the degree and then do something such as a law conversion, social work masters or a pgce as she can't decide on a specific career path at the moment. However, she is considering trying to find an alternative course in clearing as lots of people have scared her by saying she will not find a job with that degree and she needs to do something 'proper'. She has researched the course and the modules and she really likes the look of it. Is she really doomed in the employment market if she studies this course?

And she can still be a solicitor. Myd aughers did not do law at unviersity and both work in Londo as solicitors. It has not held them back. If she does want to do law after timing is absolutely key. Before next summer she should be applying to law firms for placements - some of these are paid at £400 a week - most are recruited from them and the law firms recruit years in advance - the dates are all on their websites. Yoo many students do not think aboutt his and end up being 2 years too late. If you get in in time and have good grades a law firm will pay for your post grad law year and the LPC course or the new course that is coming out SPE or whatever it will be called - there is a new system coming with some kind of super law exam to be done from about 3 years' time.

Thank you for that information Lucy, it is very useful to know, I am going to encourage her to try and go for every bit of work experience that she can possibly get her hands on and hope that it works its self out.

That is a very good idea. At the least it h elps them see what some of these careers are really like so make a better decisoin about whether it is for them.

lucysky. What subjects did your DDs study and where? Non Law is a very wide range of degrees. My DD did MFL and is a barrister. Not one of her barrister friends did Criminology.

They might kill me for disclosing it... but Geography BSc (science A levels mostly)(Notts)
Ancient History BA (Bristol)

They have a cousin doing criminology and law - I think it may be a 4 year course and he is planning to go into the police force at the end. He already is a special constable or something. I might have that wrong.

I agree it is not a common degree to do if you go into law. the only person I know who is doing it is their cousin.

My twins are about to go to Bristol - thank God the uncertainty is now over.... but have no idea what careers they will do.

Just to say - if she's genuinely interested in law she should connect with the student Law Society at Nottingham. They ought to accept members who are not lawyers but even if they don't they will have lots of careers events etc - law firms very often target student societies rather than/as well as careers services. Recruitment is 2 years in advance, which means non-law students do tend to apply in their final year (rather than in the 2nd year like law students) - so there is an extra year to think (and plenty of law students leave it a year and take a year out to get more experience, which is completely fine).
In theory, SQE (new qualification route) could be introduced by 2020, which would mean she'd be covered by it - but I'm laying money it won't be ready by that stage, so she'll probably be OK - but just to keep an eye on new qualification routes.
Or she might decide to do something different. (But criminology is fine for law - barrister or solicitor. I have 18 years experience talking to legal employers and watching people go through into legal professions, and I know what they are looking for. Criminology is a relatively new discipline and most programmes are pretty new, so it won't be represented in great numbers, but anyone who thinks it's a soft subject doesn't know what they are talking about - it's academically tough and demanding, particularly when taught at an excellent university like Nottingham).

Thanks for that info gannet, it is very useful to know.

It also puts my mind at rest a little that she isn't completely screwed already!

That is very helpful of gannet and if she does want to do law and will apply in her final year then I think it is probably the year before she woudl do vacation placements at law firms - you kind of have to work backwards on timing. They often pick trainees from the placements as they get a week to observe you and then the better firms will then pay for your 2 years post grad and employee you as a trainee after that. (not all lawyers by any means go to law firms that will pay for their 2 years post grad courses but it certainly helps when they do).

I think our undergrads are preparing for jobs and careers that don't exit yet. It's a period of change and fuilidity. A degree in an area she loves studying at a university she's chosen will be a solid foundation for whatever the future throws at her.

MOre and more we need to think about skill sets and approaches (research methods) rather than studying for a specific job.

Your daughter has a very sensible plan. She should stick with it. She'll be fine.