any one studieing for a diploma in law

[jesica]

Hi I am finishing my degree in history and have just applied for a diploma in law, whats the hours like?, whats the work like? are you enjoying it?

yes, the GDL used to be the CPE. Don't know why they renamed it...

hi every one, I'm so pleased to see so many messages. Thanks ameli, Im relieved about not having to be a maths wizz. I hope that my degree in history has developed my analyitical skills (not my spelling though) I'd like to do the CPL after the diploma. The diploma is a course designed to convert your non law degree, in my case history. If any one is worrieing about funding Natwest can offer a professional training loan of £20,000, a huge committment i know, but I am sure it will be worth it in the end. bye for now x

hi jessica, its that time again for me...exams! hubbie has taken baby to his mums for a few days...have do ne some work but im still exhuasted and panicky.What did i say abvout loving the course

I did my law degree many many many years ago and it has been a good career with good money but it comes after a few years, don't expect to roll in the bucks right away. Also it is very tough on families. I went the government lawyer route with less pay but better hours and it had good leave policies for when I had kids. I left practice a few years ago because I wanted to be home with the kids. My only advice would be to think hard about what you are able to do in terms of hours and ask around about what will be expected of you, maybe call a few local lawyers who are doing work you may be interested in to get a feel for how it really is. LIke I said, my friend who work in big commerical firms found it financially rewarding but grueling and hard on family time.

yes, i can completely understand that. Law is tough, although im not in it for the money and know it's a long haul before i start reeping the rewards of a lawyers salary. Human rights is the area that interests me.Totally respect that you left to concentrate on kids, in the end i think family is the most important thing.

Maybe contact some groups/agencies that focus on humans rights and see what opportunities there are. I am actually doing my masters in law right now at LSE, getting ready to go back to work in a few years, and one of my courses is in human rights. A women in my class has a really interesting job with the civil service in london and her job is to work on legal issues relating to homelessness. Good luck. It is a long haul but it is very rewarding.

Thankyou, im studying at uel. Not the best uni but hey it well hopefully get me a qualifying degree. I plan to do the lpc, then live in the hope of getting a training contract, scare as they are. I really enjoyed my human rights module and achieved my best marks in this area. Do let me know if you need any help in fing any info which may be useful. I plan to finish this degree in 2008, then onto the lpc, then training contract for two years i think . i will be 31 by the time i do the lpc, need to fit in another child in there somewhere. lol. what am i thinking?

i have contacted human rights watch and Mary Ward legal Centre re some volountary work, i also work part time in a crap but well paid civil service area. 3 days a week

My daughter.

By the way it makes more sense to apply before you start the course for jobs 2 yeras after at law firms because they then pay the course fees and maintenance fot eh GDL and the year's course after that. That package is worth about £20k a year for 2 years with the guaranteed training job at the end.

Good law firms pay for those 2 years but only if you apply in time. There's an argument it's a huge risk and not worth doing the course, although lots of people do, if you don't know you're going to be able to get that kind of job after which would be £30kpa when you finish those 2 years in your first training contract job which lasts 2 years, and then about £50pa once you qualify, if you want to be a solicitor.

my daughter?

I dont understand, forgive me for soundiong rude,unfortunately i cannot predict the future, so dont know if i can expect that kind of money for sure.

ok, so I read your message again, are you refering to me as you daughter? if so thats very lovely and kind of you...Do you know any firms in particular that would pay for me to do the LPC? EXCEPT CPS

I mean my own daughter who is doing the GDL, sorry, I wasn't saying you were my daughter, no.

Most students at university apply to solicitors firms for training contracts before they start the GDL and the course you do the year after that. The firms agree to pay for the GDL and that second year, the legal practice course - pay the fees plus maintenance. That means you're funded in the 2 years and you have the 2 years training job lined up too. That usually the best advice from careers advisers.

They usually like to assess you by doing a vacation placement before you start the GDL so usually students do that in their 2nd year of their first non law degree I think. It's like an extended interview in a sense and a good system.

This is just one from the big firms where you start on £31k and I think after the 2 years working as a trainee you start on £51k:

"Future trainees

We like to keep in touch with you before you join us and you will be invited to a number of events, will be given regular updates on the firms news and will receive financial assistance during law school. See below for more details.

• We will cover your full tuition fees at law school.
• You will receive a maintenance grant of £7,500 during your LPC.
• If you need to take the GDL, you will receive a maintenance grant of £6,500 in London or £5,000 elsewhere.
• There is an option of a £2,000 advance payment on your annual salary. This interest free loan can be taken up to two months before the start of your training contract, to help with expenditure on everything from rental deposits to a new suit!"

etc...
www.simmons-simmons.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=trainee.lawyer&page=2451&dz=493

Xenia - are you in law yourself? I think I remember reading that you are. If so, have you any idea how law colleges/firms would view applications from someone who did the PgDL a few years back (not yet expired) and hasn't done the LPC as yet. Would I need legal work experience to have a chance? Also are all law firms (large and small) very family unfriendly? I'm not into commercial law myself - see myself more in a high street solicitors. I have to go back to work but hate my current field and I'm have nagging thoughts about resurrecting my potential law career. Thanks.

Not at all. Huge efforts to attract women and better paid maternity leave than most companies in the UK I think. On the timing I suppose one uses the age discrimination new-ish laws if one has to but I know someone who trained at one of those firmst at 40 (had her babies at 18 and 19 years of age). You just have to try. Those type of firms that pay obviously are very different from the high street firms so there's no point in being trained there unless you like that kind of work and environment.
You don't need to do previous vacation work experience with them but it's sensible if you do as a lot of trainees are recruited after that. It makes sense because in 2 weeks you see a lot more of a candidate than in a short interview. If you look on all their web sites they have a section on "vacation" work experience.

For a lot of students obviously it makes more sense to do those two years, GDL/LPC with a firm paying and a job at the end of it which was I suppose my point on what was raised on the thread.

You shouldn't worry too much on the age point. I was once told by a partner of one of the bigger firms that he would rather hire someone in their late twenties/early thirties than someone who was 23 and straight out of college because their life experience and maturity are very valuable to him.

Getting a training contract is the hardest part, but once you've done that getting a job on qualification should be easy. You really must try to get a 2:1, though, as many firms will now not look at someone who has not, unless they have a masters or something as well. If your degree was ages ago, then you may since have picked up some experience at work that makes you an attractive potential recruit for firms instead.

It's best to get as much work experience as you can. Don't just try law firms - big companies, local government and central government departments all have legal departments (as, I think, do NHS trusts and other organisations), and they might be willing to let someone keen come in for a couple of weeks, especially if you are willing to do it for free!

HTH, and good luck.

Thank you all for the advice. I am due to graduate in 2008 but i will start applying in advance, i reallly could do with the money. Today im feeling really down actually, i have an exam on the 11th, Equity and Trusts and Tterrorism studies on the 17th. I cant concentrate, i have a son who is two and he keeps me busy. Tommorrow im off to the library, i know 1 subject out of three so far for exam on 11th and hope that i can cram. Sometimes i just waste time worrying about things and should just give it my best shot, any tips from those of you who have been through all this?

If you graduate in 2008 you presumably do the legal practice course if you want to be a solicitor, from 2008 to 2009. So you want a training contract from 2009 and I think apply this year for then and often try to do a vacation placement before applying...

...They split an infinitive below, I see. What is it with these HR people? Don't they cringe to see it?

One example from London law firm on vacation placements and deadlines

"Our vacation scheme is one of our primary means of selecting candidates for a career at Simmons & Simmons. It provides us with the chance to test out your suitability for a training contract. It is also a unique opportunity for you to get to know our firm, decide if we are the best firm for you and for you to prove your worth during your time with us.

Your placement will enable you to gain first-hand experience of a busy, dynamic international law firm and gain exposure in everything from our service areas to the kind of deals and transactions we work on.

Our scheme is valued particularly highly because of its four-week duration. Its length is designed to enable you to really feel a part of our firm and get a genuine insight into what it is like to work with us. In addition, you will also receive a weekly salary of £250.
The scheme in action

The dates of our summer 2007 scheme are as follows:

• Monday 18 June - Friday 13 July
• Monday 16 July - Friday 10 August

We place you in two practice areas, with two weeks spent in each area. You will work alongside a partner or associate, who will supervise, direct, encourage and coach you during your time with us. You will also be matched with a current trainee, who will help you to settle in, become part of the team and involve you in a range of interesting, challenging work.

You will be included in every aspect of working life, from departmental events to firm-wide training sessions. You will be involved in research, drafting documents and letters, minute taking and arranging meetings ? and you will also work directly with our clients. You and other members of the vacation scheme will also be assigned a project, which will be presented to members of the firm at the end of your stay. In addition, we hold a full programme of lectures and skills sessions to show you how we prepare our trainees to become worldclass lawyers.

We also hold informal forums, where you can chat to and get to know partners, associates and other trainees. It is also possible to get involved in our social events, sports fixtures and Pro Bono activities.

When to apply

We will be accepting applications for our vacation scheme from 01 November 2006 - 31 January 2007. Undergraduates usually apply for vacation schemes in their penultimate or final year. However, we also welcome applications from graduates, mature and international students and career changers. We offer 40 placements each year.

Successful candidates will be invited to attend an interview, either at our offices, or your university or college.

Competition for the limited places on our vacation scheme is high and as a result we are not able to offer places to all the candidates that we would like to. However, if we think you've got what it takes, you may be invited to join us on one of our open days."

thankyou xenia,

so kind of you to put that on for me. I love the bit about proving your worth.lol. May apply here, what do you xenia?