Retraining as a solicitor

[Londre]

Has anyone done this? I am currently an accountant which I hate and don’t think I can do this for much longer! I have a degree in Computer Science but didn’t want to go into IT so decided to become an accountant. I enjoyed it at first but I no longer enjoy it. I studied an AAT & ACCA.

What is your job like? I have always been interested in law and have been thinking about retraining for the past 6 months.

Thanks

This comes up a lot, maybe try the retraining board.

Eg

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students/4662975-47-and-thinking-about-law-instead-of-writing?reply=121061004

What do you hate about accountancy and what is it about law that you think will be different/ better?

I am a solicitor so can answer any Qs but as PP said what is it about law you think will be better? And what kind of law are you looking to practice?

Are you sure it's the entire accountancy profession you hate not your current workplace?

Come and work at HMRC! If you are a qualified accountant there will likely be opportunities. Happy to tell you about it if you are interested, PM me if so.

PS I am an ex solicitor and have retrained in tax.

I agree with the above. What do you hate about accountancy? If it's being up to your eyeballs in tedious bureaucracy then law probably isn't for you.

Having said that, law can be a really rewarding career so if you really want it then go for it. What area of law do you fancy?

Have you thought about leaving practice, but staying in accounts ? Though got to admit I have loved Law since A level so if you really want and can afford pay cut etc go for it.

I moved from accountancy into law, absolutely love my job now! If you can afford the payout while you retrain its worth it.

What is it that you hate about accountancy?

The law is hugely diverse, the job is incredibly different depending which area you go into/what type of firm or in house organisation you work for

I did it at 32. Spent 20k and four years part time doing GDL and LPC.

It's fucking hard work learning part time and ridiculously competitive to get into a job. Of my cohort I would say 4 out of 60 managed to get a job in law. 2 remain in law 10 years later.

I didn't get a sniff of a training contract despite 50 applications, decent A levels and first degree, 8 years directly relevant job experience and connections in the law firms I applied to

It's even more oversubscribed and competitive now.

Solicitor apprenticeships are worth looking into as well. I have one in my team and she'll qualify without any debt (and it doesn't cost me either as the govt pays)

Law firms love hiring trainee solicitors who are former accountants, as being able to read and understand a set of accounts is a very valuable skill that many lawyers don't have.

Law is a high pressure job OP. Most law firms have a longer hours culture than accountancy firms. The pay is usually a little higher though.

I'm a burnt out and stressed corporate lawyer. If I had the opportunity for a do-over I'd choose a different career.

I think that's the thing @thinkfast I wouldn't enjoy corporate law or probably many areas of the law, but have been lucky to find a niche that I love. "The law" is so wide that different types of practice require widely different skill sets and suit very different people