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Original poster

Help Son has fucked up big time

56 replies

wellthatsitthen · 10/08/2023 17:50

Please do not scream about how bad this is.

My son has just graduated with a BA in Law, from a Russell Group Uni and got a 2:1, just missed out on a first. At the beginning of his second year he foolishly, like a total idiot, went out in his car and got a drink driving conviction.

He was totally ashamed and there have been many tears, and conversations about how stupid and reckless his actions were.

For context it wasn't driving back from the pub or a club, but at after going home and staying there for some time, he made the rash decision to get food at 4am. I have seen the video of him outside a chicken shop waiting for food.

He currently trying to apply for Training Contracts, and he will have to be regulated by the SRA. I doubt he will get a position. If he does then will it all be for nothing.

My question to MN legal, has he totally fucked up his potential career?

Help

OP posts:
Nevermay · 10/08/2023 17:54

All he can do is be completely upfront on every application and go from there. If half of all employers disqualify him on those grounds, he will need to make twice the normal number of applications throughout his life, so maybe he should just start with this in mind, and apply for many more positions than he otherwise would.

You have my sympathy, I dread hearing one of mine has done something like this.

Winter2020 · 10/08/2023 17:56

I think he should tackle the issue head on in his applications and say he has learned the hard way how a foolish decision can impact your life. Try to turn it into a life lesson and how it has made him more mature and responsible/empathetic to people making poor decisions. I know that's risky but I don't think it would go down well to try to brush over it - it will come up in checks and disclosures. He can only try.

BellaEllaWella · 10/08/2023 18:01

He should contact the SRA now and ask if he apply for suitability screening or at least take their advice - it’s better knowing now than getting a training contract and then being disqualified when he applies for suitability screening. It is hugely competitive to get training contracts so I think they’d be looking for any reason not to recruit you

Justcallmebebes · 10/08/2023 18:08

I agree with contacting the SRA and asking for advice. Rules are a little more lax than when I started in law 30 odd years ago.

I also agree, he needs to be totally upfront and show remorse and that he's learnt from this. I wish him luck x

RhymesWithTangerine · 10/08/2023 18:09

Contact the SRA before dealing with the firms. The applications are long and competitive, if the SRA won’t stand behind him then he’s better off not spending the energy trying to get a TC

Eileen101 · 10/08/2023 18:10

Call SRA and ask regarding suitability. A friend I did the LPC with had a minor driving conviction and had to get character references. She is now a qualified solicitor.

Idgaff · 10/08/2023 18:11

I’m a solicitor and director of a high street legal practice. Smaller firms may be more accommodating in these circumstances than larger firms. If I saw someone in interview in these circumstances and they were up front, if other boxes were ticked I’d be minded to give them a chance. Would it be an option for your son to do some work experience / paralegal type work as it may be a foot in the door? There’s also the new route to qualification apart from the training contract - SQE - which could be worth exploring.

VisionsOfSplendour · 10/08/2023 18:13

From what I hear from friends whose children are trying to get into law firms it is extremely competitive and a long process so I'd be realistic and say that any of the good firms are going to have so many good candidates to choose from that unfortunately for him heks not going to get a look in

MrsGalloway · 10/08/2023 18:22

I don’t think it’s necessarily a problem, I know a lot of lawyers with a drink drive conviction. Obviously not ideal at the start of your career (or at any time) but I recruit lawyers and I’d look seriously at someone with excellent academics who’d fucked up whilst a student and learned from it. I think being upfront about it is probably the best way forward.

CoachBeardsJane · 10/08/2023 18:39

I don't think it will be an issue. My DH owns his own firm and said

'It’s a potential issue as to his suitability but unlikely to be a major one as it is not a dishonesty offence '

Just be open about it

Arobase · 10/08/2023 18:42

For what it's worth, I knew a Bar student who got convicted of fare fraud. He threw himself on the Bar Council's mercy and was allowed to be called to the Bar, apparently because the offence had happened before he actually became a barrister. However, the fact that he had some good connections in the law no doubt helped. Apparently it didn't harm his subsequent career.

So the fact that this happened before your son finished his degree rather than after he qualified may well make a difference.

caringcarer · 10/08/2023 18:43

Winter2020 · 10/08/2023 17:56

I think he should tackle the issue head on in his applications and say he has learned the hard way how a foolish decision can impact your life. Try to turn it into a life lesson and how it has made him more mature and responsible/empathetic to people making poor decisions. I know that's risky but I don't think it would go down well to try to brush over it - it will come up in checks and disclosures. He can only try.

I think this is his best hope.

HiHoHiHoltsOffToWorkWeGo · 10/08/2023 18:48

SRA Guidance here https://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/standards-regulations/assessment-character-suitability-rules/

It looks like it would fall into the category which may result in a refusal (not definitely would) so would suggest contacting the SRA for further advice.

SRA Assessment of Character and Suitability Rules

Our criteria for assessing character and suitability.

https://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/standards-regulations/assessment-character-suitability-rules

AuditAngel · 10/08/2023 18:54

Not quite the same situation as we are accountants rather than lawyers, but I recently had to contact one of the CCAB accounting bodies to determine if a trainees conviction would prevent their qualification. If it was going to, it might have impacted on our decision whether to retain him or not.

The relevant body told us that they had no process for something that happened prior to qualification.

he may be ok, the best plan is for him to contact the SRA

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 10/08/2023 18:58

Even if he can’t practice as a lawyer, @wellthatsitthen, he will still be able to find a fulfilling job. Ds1 did a law degree, but decided he didn’t want to be a lawyer, so got a job as a Quantity Surveyor. He was particularly interested in commercial and contract law, and he has made good use of his law degree in his job - and he is building a very successful career.

So please don’t despair - I’m sure there are a lot of potential careers where someone who has done well at a really hard degree like law, will be able to work and thrive.

purpletrees16 · 10/08/2023 19:01

Happened to a friend - he ended up doing commercial / financial work that it was useful to know the law about but not qualifying as a lawyer. Still had a professional well paid career though.

HiHoHiHoltsOffToWorkWeGo · 10/08/2023 19:05

He currently trying to apply for Training Contracts, and he will have to be regulated by the SRA. I doubt he will get a position. If he does then will it all be for nothing.

This is over dramatic. A great many good graduate jobs only require a degree in any subject at 2:1 or above.

Being a solicitor or barrister is not the only acceptable use of a law degree.

Hopefully he's always had a back up plan for if he didn't get a training contract? They're notoriously competitive and not everyone gets one.

If he hasn't got a back up plan, then conviction or no conviction he should be applying to other graduate jobs as a back up plan.

Beeboobaby · 10/08/2023 19:34

Hi

A friend of mine was in exactly the same position. Pretty much identical - a drink driving offence, driving yards down the road to drop off a friend so she didn’t have to walk in the dark in the early hours. Police stopped her (it was a student road in a dodgy part big UK City so police presence was strong)

He didn’t have a training contract to lose but could not get one with a law firm. However, he did get one of the in house training contracts in a specific sector after about 8 years as a paralegal in that sector.

this was about 20 years ago but he is doing very well now as a qualified in house lawyer. Private practice was not open to him because of the offence.

zurala · 10/08/2023 19:36

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 10/08/2023 18:58

Even if he can’t practice as a lawyer, @wellthatsitthen, he will still be able to find a fulfilling job. Ds1 did a law degree, but decided he didn’t want to be a lawyer, so got a job as a Quantity Surveyor. He was particularly interested in commercial and contract law, and he has made good use of his law degree in his job - and he is building a very successful career.

So please don’t despair - I’m sure there are a lot of potential careers where someone who has done well at a really hard degree like law, will be able to work and thrive.

This is a good point. A friend did a law degree as a mature student and is now a project manager earning a very good wage.

mommybear1 · 10/08/2023 19:42

Hi I'd speak to the SRA directly I did my training contract with a chap who also had a conviction for drink driving - he did not disclose it and was found out mid way through our contracts and dismissed. As far as I know he did not complete his training contract and re qualified as a Barrister but I am not sure if he practiced as one.

Original poster
wellthatsitthen · 10/08/2023 19:57

thank you everyone, yes to bring open with the SRA

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Original poster
wellthatsitthen · 10/08/2023 19:59

Thank you Nevemay, he knows how bad it is but is up for working his backside off x

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Original poster
wellthatsitthen · 10/08/2023 20:10

@Beeboobaby thank you!

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Original poster
wellthatsitthen · 10/08/2023 20:14

@HiHoHiHoltsOffToWorkWeGo yes, I so agree, when he first started out I did say what’s your backup plan it not all about being a lawyer/solicitor - a law degree is a transferable qualification 🤞🤞

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Original poster
wellthatsitthen · 10/08/2023 20:16

@purpletrees16 thanks purple x

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