Work Experience for Law

[ElephantsStreetParty]

Hi,

Apologies for asking something that's almost identical to a recent thread. I've been wondering about doing the Scottish equivalent of the Law Conversion, which normally takes two years but can be done in three. There's at least one place here where it can be done by distance, part-time, so can be fitted around a full-time job. So far, so good. I know it would be hard work but I'm prepared for that.

However, I'm assuming one needs work experience before applying, which is where I'm stuck. I'm working ft, 9-5, so really can't see where I'd be able to fit work exp in. I could use holiday leave, but that would a) have to wait til next year and b) would mean less time to spend with my elderly mother, who lives 500 miles away and sees me little enough as it is.

So, do I give up before I've started, on the basis that I'm clearly not committed enough if I can' find a solution / am prepared to make the sacrifices needed? I live and work in the middle of nowhere, so it's not as if I can use my lunch-breaks to pop into the nearest solicitors' then.

TIA

Not the same area of work, but when I wanted to get a place on teacher training I gave up two weeks of my annual leave to get experience in a local school. It wasn't ideal, but had to be done.

If two weeks was enough I'd do it. I was worried they'd want more than that.

Thanks for replying!

You shouldn't need work experience before applying to do the conversion course if you are prepared to fund it yourself. You will struggle to get a firm to fund it for you though if you can't show an ongoing interest in legal practice. Similarly, you may find once you have done the course that you are one of many in a similar position and have real problems getting a training contract because you haven't made any links with law firms or barristers.

My advice would be not to do it unless you are very sure this is the career for you and are prepared to fight very hard (and potentially for quite some time) to get a job. Without wishing to sound rude (as I understand and sympathise with your situation), if you are not prepared to sacrifice some time now to see if this is the right step for you, law might not be the right career for you. It's very hard out there at the moment and competition is very fierce. That's the sad reality of the current market.

Thanks for that, Suburb. I was planning on fund the course myself, somehow, on the basis that it'll be worth it in the long-run. I also have less problem sacrificing holiday during the next three years (have used too much this year as it is) whilst I'm doing the course, but if I needed work exp beforehand I would have to put my plans back a year as I have just enough time to send in an application for this year's start without experience. As it will take me 3 years anyway, I'll be mid - late 30s before I'm fully qualified with the diploma etc. If I am going to do it I'd be better to start sooner rather than later.

I have a friend who's a reader in law. Hopefully I'll see him next week and can discuss it with him, but at least I know there's something to discuss.

Many, many thanks.

You would be mad to pay all that money to convert to law without doing some work experience first. You might hate the reality of it.

My experience is a bit out of date now (I started my training contract in 2003) but back in those days, the key thing was to have done enough vacation placements or work experience that you could show you understood what legal work was really like and that you knew what you were getting into and were committed to a career in law. I only did a week's placement at a local commercial firm and that was enough. I don't think most larger firms are looking for 'work experience' in the sense that they will expect you to know anything that will help you do the job as a trainee when you first start, more that they want to know that you are aware of how a law firm works and can show how you would fit in.

I did a qualifying law degree so didn't do the conversion course, but those I know who did reported that it was very tough, in terms of the amount of information to take in and the amount of time available to do so. It may be different in Scotland, I don't know what the course covers (I'm England & Wales qualified, not Scots) but distance learning will make it much harder in my opinion. How much face to face tuition would you get?