Hi I am new.. I need some career advice from a legal god!!!

[NewLawJo]

I am new to this site and couldn't work out where to post an introduction... so.. as I need to post on this area I thought I would combine the two.

My name is Jo, I am in my late 30's and have 3 daughters, 13, 11 and 7. I have not worked since my youngest was born, but have been doing a full time degree in Law for the past 2 years.

I am nearing the end of my degree and will graduate next June. I have really struggled to combine the Uni work with raising my children but have managed. I go to Uni for 12 hours a week... come home love and raise my kids and when they go to bed I burn the midnight oil!!!

Anyway,I am set for a good degree ( a low 1st or a very high 2;1) and Sept 2008 I am doing the legal practice course at the College of Law in Chester.

My question is...... to any lega/ non legal employers...

I have sent out so many applications for Training Contracts and not even got an interview... Is this down to my age???

I think my CV is pretty hot ( my careers advisor says so too!!), I have ran my own business, gained valuble work experience in Chambers and Solicitors. I have mooted in the OUP competition and worked voluntarily for the CAB. I was my Uni's Law Socity President in my 1st year too!!!

I have tried to make up for my lack of qualifications in earlier life... but to no avail.

I would really appreciate comments from anyone !!!!

I initially posted this thread on going back to work and have been directed here!!!

Great Site BTW!!!!

Jo x

what am I doing wrong????

jo - try www.rollonfriday.com for some advice on everything to do solicitors. A friend became a trainee lawyer at 30. I work in law in the city - and it's very hard to get a position with the big firms. I'm guessing you're looking up north, but our firm doesn't discriminate on age at all.

It can be done - so good luck.

it is a very difficult mareket for trainees i think at the moment . i work in local govt and we had 200+ applicants for a traineeship recently but your experience sounds fantastic and should stand you in good stead . maybe you will need to think about a paralegal type job to start with and then get yourself known and apply for traineeship from there ...with even more valuable revcetn pratical expereience you will stand a better chance. good luck - it is worth persevering - it is a great career in the end !

Hi NewLawJo and congratulations on your great results!

Getting a training contract is really difficult at the moment and while law firms cannot discriminate on the grounds of age (which you know) a lot of law firms are wary of women with children. Sad but very true, especially in commercial law firms. What area do you want work in, family, commercial, criminal? I can only speak for commercial really.

I am still in practice and used to interview candidates for training contracts at a Magic Circle firm, so I have some insight into this from the point of view of a large, commercial firm in the City, which is maybe not be the sort of firm you are applying to? It is a very, very competative process 5000 applications, 100 trainees taken on every year.

I think you will find it tough, but there is a job out there with your name on it, I am sure . I can't really offer you any CV tips, because you sound very clued up, that it looks pretty good and you have asked for advice and second opinions. I hesitated to post because I can really see the enthusiasm and potential you have, but I would say that as a result of your age and family circumstance, it will be much harder for you. There are lots of lawyers on here who can give the benefit of their experiences, but in general I would say the following:

Law firms get their incomes from the number of hours billed to clients. They get more money by employing people who can work far in excess of their contracted hours, so those people are preferred. As a woman of childbearing age with kids, you may be viewed as a less attractive candidate compared to a man of 24. It will be assumed that you'll need to get home to the kids and/or take maternity leave. This costs the firms money. Especially as a junior or trainee, you will be expected to be very flexible with your time, able to drop your social life and other commitments in a flash and dash off to Jersey to get documents signed - clients demand it and pay through the nose for it. Law firms will think that you'll be unable to do the work unless you have a very understanding stay at home partner or bullet proof childcare arrangements. If you can, you have to stress your complete flexibility on your CV and ability to work longer hours, if necessary at short notice. Any (unspoken) hint of "I have to leave at 5pm every day to pick up the kids from the childminder" and they will view you less favourably. You are competing with people of 24 who have no children.

You are not obliged to disclose anything about your children or marital status and interviewers are allowed to ask you about them. i would not admit that you have really struggled to combine family and studying even though it must have been difficult and you have clearly triumphed. They will not see you as the brilliant multi-tasker with resourcefulness and energy you are, but only as someone with other commitments. They want someone who is going to put the job first.

Sadly, all law firms look at A level results and date you got them. They prefer people they can mould (i.e. young). The fact you ran your own business may scare them too. You can stress your commercial awareness, ability to communicate and business acumen but they may see someone trying to be the boss.

Please don;t be disheartened. Having said all that, I always enjoyed interviewing potential trainees and have argued hard to offer training contracts to candidates who were from "non-traditional" educational backgrounds, but I was usually unsuccessful. I can only remember one 30-something woman with children who was taken on in seven years at the firm, taking 100+ trainees a year. I don't defend the (unspoken) stance many law firms take or agree with it, but it is, sadly, the reality.