Open University law degree

[GMC2022]

Any advice/opinions welcome!

The basic question is, at 32 is it unrealistic of me to think I could make a successful career from completing a law degree at the open university at my age, or would it be a waste of money?

Bit of background, I currently have a job that pays 24k a year. The job is OK and I like it but don’t love it. My partner has a good job and this isn’t really about the money for me. I just have this feeling like I want to be doing something that I love, not just an OK job that pays the bills.

I started a degree a few years ago at Kings College in London. I got half way through with relatively good grades but injured by back which pushed me behind so much that I decided it was too stressful and so withdraw from the course. A decision I definitely regret now.

I can transfer my first year credits over and would only have to complete 2 years instead of 3. As I would be funding it myself (it would cost around £18,000 for a 2 year course) would it be worth spending that money? Would any law firms consider me as a graduate at my age with an Open university degree? If you are a mature student who has completed a degree with them, what were your experiences?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance!

I have no experience of OU, and I’m very aware that training routes into Law have changed recently - but I can tell you a little in general.

No, 32 is not too old to begin - but you should be prepared for a lot of studying. And for the fact that, once you have your academic qualifications, trainees are expected to do a good deal of very basic work (the 21st c equivalent of photocopying, etc) which you may feel is beneath you when you’re 35.

You don’t say whether you’re interested in becoming a barrister or solicitor - actually you mention law firms so presumably solicitor. Which is good because becoming a barrister is extremely competitive - even for people with firsts from Oxbridge and Harvard postgraduate qualifications. Getting beyond the first rung of the ladder as a solicitor is still a challenge because the institutions who sell professional courses really don’t care that there aren’t enough jobs to go round.

Have you managed to arrange any work experience / observation (not sure I know the current term for this) in solicitors’ firms? Do this before you apply for any course.

Make sure you have detailed knowledge of both traditional and new routes to entry and the earliest points from which a firm might pay for your training. Outside the handful of top firms that will only consider graduates from a handful of universities I doubt there’s any significant disadvantage in an OU Law degree. But it’s always going to be up to you to be proactive in engaging in career opportunities.

@TottersBlankly thank you for your reply!

You have given me some really useful guidance and its also reassuring to hear that you think an OU degree is still worth perusing.

I have actually been thinking about joining the Met police post degree and entering through one of their graduate routes.

Thank you again, I definitely have a lot more research to do.

The hardest part is getting a training contract after a law degree and the LPC. Training contracts don't pay well either.

You could look at trainee legal exec roles. You would do a qualification with cILEX and then if you wanted the title of solicitor could do the LPC. You'd be getting the practical experience as you earn.

Sorry just saw you mentioned met police graduate scheme. If it's not for a legal career I'd suggest looking at another subject that you're interested in. Law is a very dry subject. Criminal cases can be interesting, some litigation too but a lot of it is very very dull. I found land law particularly difficult to get through.

I have a law degree from a brick university. Very dry subject in a lot of the core modules but very interesting when you get into the depths of case law. Friend transferred from open university studying law to a brick uni and started getting very very different academic results. She used to score 80-90% and was now getting 40-50% per assignment.

Employers do note that the OU grade differently. You'll find an OU law degree is fine and then jump to the LPC and be extremely overwhelmed. The standard of referencing in law is OSCOLA but the OU use the Harvard referencing system. Quite different and a massive barrier to overcome in future legal study.

With your age and experience in other fields, you'll absolutely be able to find a paralegal job off the back of a good OU degree but it then depends on how good you are at the job to consider alternative training routes up to solicitor. However, law degrees are an incredible benefit to many employers in many different sectors.

Paralegals wage is shit. About £19k-22k max. Trainee solicitors around £24k unless you're in a magic circle or big London firm. Your wage as a fully trained solicitor won't be much better.

If you love the law, do it. If it's for the money, it's not worth it.

I agree with StarlingDarling and would suggest the CILEX route over the OU route tbh. I have done both. I started as a legal secretary in a law firm and then did my CILEX training alongside (evenings and weekends). As my firm were supporting the process they gave me more and more responsibilities until I qualified and then took over my own caseload. I never really considered doing the LPC afterwards as could do everything I needed to with my CILEX qualification, I just couldn't call myself a "solicitor" as that is a protected term, I could however call myself a "lawyer". You will need to pick an area to eventually specialise in with CILEX so its worth having a think about that. if you don't have any preference I would suggest private client (probate/wills etc) or conveyancing as they always need people in these areas.

The main thing for you is going to be getting your foot in the door, I'm not sure which industry you currently work in but if it's not law you are going to struggle to find a job even when you qualify if you don't have practical experience. This means changing your job now possibly (i.e. maybe becoming a legal secretary) or doing some unpaid work experience at a local firm. It is a hugely competitive industry and experience is going to count.

However, if you prefer to do the law degree with the OU then obviously you can do that, you will then need to do the LPC afterwards - I am not sure if the OU offer this? I don't think they do but best to give the OU a ring and ask them what the career path would be with a law degree from them.

I am currently doing a social science degree with the OU which I love but it is just for me, out of interest and with no real plan to use it for anything later. However, I have found that a degree from the OU is as respected as others because it means you are (usually) doing this later in life, alongside a job and probably whilst raising a family etc. That means you are fairly committed to it etc.

Whichever way you decide to go its best to get some advice from the institution itself first probably. For CILEX you can go to their website www.cilex.org.uk/ and they have loads of information on there. xx

Paralegals wage is shit. About £19k-22k max.

You’re not serious, surely??

I left a job as a paralegal in the City in 1989 on 19k! (Second job out of university, before taking a professional qualification.)

Thank you so much for all of your replies! This has been really helpful and has definitely made me think.

I did look at the CILEX route and it is something I would consider. I understand how even with a degree everything is so competitive now. I think based on my research and also what has been mentioned here, I would be better off completing a degree and applying for the Met which is what I initially wanted to do at the start of my previous degree.

Thank you again everyone!

I don't think she is. I started on 20k and finished on 30k (from starting CILEX as a paralegal to when I got my final results). Then became a legal executive. It wasn't a city firm and outside of the towns where the three offices were, nobody would recognise the name.

Still felt underpaid though. Regularly working evening or weekends to meet deadlines was the norm.

Just saw this and thought it worth leaving here:

Goodbye to the Bar aptitude test: ‘The bar for passing was too low’

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/305c7744-dc47-11ec-bcbd-e35b52e0266c?shareToken=6e4398cde04bcaf9e2ccbaf8a7df8ff4

I’m currently studying my LLB with the OU. In fact I have just this evening sent in my final assignment for my contract and tort module. I will be 39 when I graduate, although I’m not actually doing the degree for career reasons (long story!)

feel free to ask any questions if you want too!

Hi guys.
I have a 17 year old who wants to do a law degree. I'm reading it's a dull degree with low paid jobs at the end and very competitive. I'm trying to encourage her to gain an apprenticeship. Do we think that's a good idea? . She wants to work within human rights I think and is adamant a law degree is what she wants. I worry she is too quiet and polite and a law role needs a fiesty person.

You might want to transfer your query to the Higher Education board, TPMG:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/higher_education

Lots of info there more directed towards teens choosing degrees / apprenticeships.

It’s not dull at all and there are plenty of well paid (and extremely well paid) jobs out there. It is hard work and, as you say, competitive.

Law is a great degree if she wants to work in human rights. Does she intend to qualify as a lawyer? You don’t need to be feisty at all- quiet and polite works wonders. You do need a bit of grit though, although plenty of time to develop that.

Hi seadogs,
She likes law at A level and likes the idea of helping people. She has had some mental health issues but is in recovery now. It concerns me a high pressure high demand job will be too much but obviously she won't be listening to me.

Legal apprenticeships offer an alternative route to qualification as a solicitor. Lots of medium- large law firms do them now. You work at the firm and study for 6 years and you come out qualified. The firm pays the uni fees.

One of the hardest parts of working in law was not being able to help people who deserved it. Either they didn't have the money to fight their corner or the law contradicted common sense. It was tough going.

Valid point and I agree this will be hard for her to manage I think. Fundamentally I think her sweet nature doesn't align with the job but she wants what she wants. We are visiting 2 unis next week and I'm hoping that they change her mind.

I would ideally prefer this route but she says she is told they aren't seen as equal to a law degree.

Hi … I don’t mean to be the thread police but I do know that this board - Mature Study and Retraining - was set up last year to support adults past the traditional university age range who might be considering study or training. Often after years or decades away from study.

Almost every one of the women who arrive at this board is asking herself whether she is too old to begin, or to begin again. It takes an immense amount of bravery to invest emotionally, financially, domestically and intellectually in new study in one’s 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s and older. That is why there is a separate area, here, where people can come to see the experiences of other mature adults who have done the same.

If this board is gradually taken over by parents enquiring about prospects for their teenage children it will become indistinct and unwelcoming for its intended readers.

This is why, TPMG, I suggested you continue your query on the board dedicated to the traditional Higher Education route for teenage children and their parents. Not to be officious, but to preserve this thread, and this board, for the people who need it.

I’m sorry but where did you get this information from?
im currently doing a law degree with the OU and 100% use OSCOLA and where is your proof that says it’s easier to get 80-90 on a TMA?! It’s actually much harder for any distance learning degree, even with uni of law, and the grading system is much harder - to get a first you need 85+
it’s super irresponsible of you to put someone off of changing their life.
infact, an OU degree in law is more respected these days as it shows you can commit whilst still working and having other commitments like children etc which employers have started to appreciate more. I was speaking to gentleman that had just finished his training contract and had been offered a job as an newly qualified in a big firm - all at the age of 58.
I hate it when people down talk the OU like it’s somehow easier yet it’s fully accredited by the bar, why would the bar accredit it if it was “easy”

I interview for training contracts at a top law firm. I'd be bloody impressed by someone who had been brave enough to retrain in later life and juggled a degree and paid work to do so. Shows a lot of grit and determination.

Hi,

I’m 42 and am in my 3rd year of a law degree through the OU. I started in 2014, completed the first and second year but then had to postpone the 3rd year until now due to family commitments.

I am a qualified paralegal but gave up my legal career in 2008, after starting a family and haven’t been able to return to the role as I’m a single parent carer to a disabled child. I decided to bite the bullet and recommence the degree as I felt I was in the right frame of mind now.
It is a very compelling yet complex subject and does involve a lot of reading.

All I can say is that if you do decide to study with the OU, speak to them and see what they advise as the current undergraduate degree will be phased out in 2026, and if you study part time as I am doing, it is a six year course.

Hope this helps and good luck 😊

I just found this website and am considering applying for a Law degree at OU. I'm on 43k / year, and the degree (any degree) will help my professional development and progress to my next career stage. My question regarding OU are: 1. How many hours did you study per week? 2. The solicitor's route requires 2 FTE years work placement experience. Anyone who has done this with a full-time job? Can you choose to work for a charity in your free time, such as the citizen's advice or similar?

Hi Uk2023,
It’s been a while since I completed my OU law degree but most students study the degree part-time and it takes 6 years to complete. The OU suggests for a part-time degree that on average you will need to dedicate 18 hours per week to studying. This is assuming you start studying in October and complete the module in May, this includes two week breaks at Christmas and Easter.

You may be aware that the route to qualify has recently changed with the phasing out of the LPC and the introduction of the SQE and as far as I am aware, you can gain the Qualifying Work Experience working in a charity or advice centre but these places are often quite difficult to come but if it is possible.