Calling on MN lawyers - advice please on retraining at 38

[ninah]

Hello
I've worked in legal education and legal publishing in the past and would love to qualify as a solicitor. I'm thinking of a GDL by distance learning when the children are small with a view to practising when they are older. Thing is, I'm 38 in July ... realistically, do you think I've left it too late?

agree with nearly40. you have to shell out a lot of money on conversion course and legal practice course, with no guarantee that you'll get a training contract. if you are limited geographically (which I imagine you are as a mum) then that also cuts down your access to training contracts. why not look into qualifying as an accountant instead?

the firm I was at was keen on mature applicants (particularly people from insurance/healthcare backgrounds) so I don't think age will necessarily be a barrier. am not around on here much - CAT me if you want to chat further (I'm a disillusioned former solicitor(!))