Can I retrain in law starting with a masters or do I need to do an undergraduate degree?

[Lampkinandthecoachman]

Just that really. I have an undergraduate degree in social work and have been thinking about starting an open university masters degree in law, but I'm not sure whether I need to start with the undergraduate degree or not? Any help or advice greatly appreciated!

The OU now do a graduate entry law degree LLB details here basically it removes the requirement for the first year so instead of six years (based on 60 credits a year part time) it would be four years. That would be necessary if you wanted to be a solicitor or barrister (not sure from what you have posted here - sorry if Ive misunderstood).

When I was looking at retraining I was advised to do a graduate conversion course and then a masters. I didn't because of cost and illness.

What is the ultimate aim here?

I'me interested in this too, I have an undergrad degree. The ultimate aim for me would be a training contract with a city law firm.

Can't you just do a law conversion course? That's what people I went to uni did.

allaboutlaw.co.uk/stage/law-conversion-course

Have a read through all the threads about law and the reality of becoming a lawyer at the moment especially before you embark on the expense of a law conversion course (upwards of £8,000). You would also then need to do the LPC (upwards of £12,000) before you start your training contract (if you can secure one).

It's highly competitive, basically to get into a half decent firm or set you need a top degree from a Russell Group University, then there is the law conversion course and LPC. If you get taken on somewhere it is a massive slog, 75 hour weeks are the norm. Just don't do it, it isn't all it's cracked up to be.

I would say that an undergraduate degree is much more useful than a vocational course (GDL/LPC) or a master's degree for learning the thinking pattern of lawyers (which is what will help you the most when you apply for lawyer jobs at law firms later on). Some universities offer 'law as a second degree' which only takes 2 years instead of 1. A master's degree may be too narrow in focus and the most highly regarded master's degrees require an undergraduate degree in law in any case. Even whilst doing an undergraduate degree in law, you may find the course confusing and that is when you reach out for private help (eg koreanfuturelawyers.com). Hope this was helpful!

OP you can do a conversion course. Google “law pgdl.” That takes one year (or 2 years if you want part time to fit around work).

After your Pgdl you need another one year course to specialise as either a solicitor or a barrister.

Then after that, if you want to be a solicitor, you will need to complete a paid 2 yr training contract job (or a 1 yr pupillage job to be a barrister) - google it, there is so much info.

Training contracts at ‘city’ law firms are highly paid, very hard work and hard to get (but quite possible if you have a good cv). The job is long hours. Look at the website rollonfriday for gossip.

Training contracts at a small firm can be more interesting and not long hours, but the pay would be much lower and they’d expect you to self fund your pdgl.

Good luck with your choices xx

I totally disagree with Beacons advice (sorry Beacon), thinking like a lawyer is not really something you learn during your degree, it’s during the vocational qualification (so LPC or BVC) and as you train on the job.

I am probably out of date but to get on the LPC you need the GDL don’t you? If so a two year undergraduate degree when you already have a degree would just add a further 2 years to qualifying.

I would also ask what is your ultimate aim here is though? Law is often appealing to people who think it is either easy money or proves intelligence, neither true.

As someone who has gone through the process and been successful, nopetryagain is incorrect. The surest way of becoming a lawyer is to do a law degree of some sort, get a training contract place while you are doing the course. If you do so, the law firm who hires you will pay for your LPC costs. And no, you don't have to do the GDL if you have a qualifying law degree. GDL is a conversion course for people who have never done law degrees. Thousands of people just do the GDL out of their own pocket and they struggle to convince law firms that they have good reasons for being a lawyer. It is a far easier case if you just study a law degree to justify your reasons for a legal career. And sorry but vocational courses like LPC or memorisation-based courses like the GDL are nothing compared to a full law degree..