Family / Welfare rights law - a viable second career?

[BeatieBourke]

Hi. I am a 38 year old mature student about to go into my third year of a Social Policy degree. I'm considering postgraduate options and feel a bit at sea. I'm hoping to find family or welfare rights lawyers that might offer me some genuine insight into realistic career prospects.

I have a background in the third sector, doing admin, project management and governance work for youth work and drug drug alcohol charities. I did this work for 15 yeas before starting a degree when my son was small. I started my degree because I wanted to focus on policy making/research rather than project delivery.

I'm enjoying my degree and I'm good at it. Despite lockdowns and school closures I've had firsts for all my work. I work hard, but it does play to my natural strengths.

I am a bit concerned by the lack of clear career paths with a social policy degree, and I'm not sure if a postgrad would add anything to my earning potential. I'm not looking for serious big bucks, but I do need to be able to support my family.

I'm interested in welfare rights and social.polocy related to family, and wondered whether moving into these areas of law would be a viable career move. I'd have to do a conversion course, so it's a big undertaking. But I think, from the information I've gathered, that it would suit my strengths, chime with my social justice values and give a decent, long term, structured career path.

The thing is, "The Law" is such a mystified career for people like me. I'm from a working class family where no one went to university. I flunked school because of mental health problems. All I see is high flying hot shot lawyrs on the telly earning megabucks. My gut tells me there just be 1000 everyday, jobbing lawyers, passionate about their work and fairly well renumerated, for every one of these, but they're never represented anywhere. How do I find out what realistic law careers are.like for someone coming to it as a second career, without an Oxbridge education and living outside of London?

Any advice/reality checks welcomed, but please be kind.

Jeez, sorry for the typos. Making the kids' tea.

Can you discuss your career path options at the University where you're doing your degree? They are delivering the course so will have experience in the lines of work their degree can lead to.

Thanks for the reply. My lectures have been helpful but are quite keen on my doing a postgrad in their area of expertise. They are understandably and openly biased about their chosen fields. The careers service is very geared towards young people at the start of their careers with no previous experience or family responsibilities. They suggested I try an unpaid internship in a law firm or relocate for various graduate schemes (neither an option with kids in school and financial responsibilities). Considered careers advice for someone at my stage of life seems very difficult to come by, hence me asking here.

@coffeetree tagging you in this thread incase this area of law crosses over with your quite recent experience!

Oh thanks Bob.

Well hello from the other side!

I'm 50 and just qualified as a solicitor after many years of being a paralegal for firms and legal charities.

My first piece of advice is don't bother unless you genuinely get a thrill out of the law. Not rules but living evolving law. Like if you literally get chills when you read a well-crafted determination or see a talented advocate at work.

Second piece of advice is make sure you get excited about helping people.

Those are the only two things that will sustain you through the drudgery.

In a legally aided firm doing social welfare law you will not make much money. I am newly qualified but a supervisor and make 27k. I don't want to say what area etc because I've done some venting on mumsnet about my job. But you can pm me if you want.

The job is about 80% drudge and 20% joy of seeing your efforts pay off by making a dramatic and durable improvement to the life of your client and their family.

I too came from a background of no lawyers. There is a lot of class anxiety that comes up in surprising ways. Some of my family think I'm loaded and so are nicer to me than they've ever been.. In a previous job I had had a really positive relationship with one of my bosses, until I got closer to qualifying as a solicitor when she suddenly turned against me, mincing around and saying "Ooh ssolicitor" and gleefully pawing through my files in search of mistakes. Just saying not everyone will be thrilled when you level up.

PS I did my GDL and LPC part time whilst working. Late nights but if you enjoy law you'll enjoy studying on both programmes.

Your degree and interests would fit with a career in the civil service. You say you're interested in policy relating to family... There are a huge number of policy roles in the civil service ranging from entry level to the senior civil service. If you were to go in at HEO level you'd be paid c.£30k per year and could then use that time to explore your interests further whilst doing your day job. There is Cafcas which may be up your street, otherwise so many other relevant depts. If you register on CS job email alert you'll get an email each day of jobs available.

I wouldn't recommend going straight into another qualification without being certain. Don't let your lecturers pressurise you - they are under pressure to recruit students!!