Help Son has fucked up big time

[wellthatsitthen]

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

I know the show was, but we all know office politics happen usually in most companies etc and I would presume law would be no different but was not sure of the level of office politics that exist either within the firm or with in relation to other companies and third parties etc.

Yes there will be internal office politics and even department rivalries/jealousies and rivalry (usually more light hearted) with other firms (but not as exaggerated as on a TV show).

Fair points, and much appreciated

The SRA requires completion of a screening process. Drunk driving must be declared. The OP has contacted the SRA and found this is the case. Whether anyone then employs him is the issue when the competition is fierce. There’s 18,000 pa on law degree courses. Only 6000 get training contracts snd half of those go to non law grads. So it’s in the lap of the Gods.

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.

Came on here to say just this. I qualified in-house and it is much more about getting a foot in the door and then proving yourself by being useful. The legal department is always swamped, and so even someone who isn’t in a legal role will get their hand bitten off if they’re willing to learn and help out. And if that person has a good law degree…

This also ties in with what a pp said about being a quantity surveyor. I’ve worked with people from all sorts of professional backgrounds doing the same sort of work, some of whom have legal qualifications, some other professional backgrounds.

I would repeat what others have said and contact the SRA for advice. However, I would advise it can take a while to get a training contract so good to apply for paralegal jobs to boost his CV as unfortunately whilst his grades are really good, it can be that having the experience is what's needed on top. Also, a good record of experience working in the sector might mitigate his mistake