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Converting to Law

I wanted to ask a few questions about training as a barrister. I’m currently a medical student coming towards the end of my medical degree. I’ll graduate with two degrees (hopefully) as I took the opportunity to intercalate a science BSc during my course.

I need to practice as a doctor for a few years after I graduate in order to get the money together to study again, but I am hoping to study law after that. By that stage I will be about 30/31 years old.

Now, I really would prefer to stay in/around London to study. What are the best options for CPE/GDL courses (eg BPP, College of Law, City). Which has the best reputation for getting students onto the BVC? Does the reputation of the CPE/GDL course matter as much as the reputation of the place where you studied your first undergraduate degree? My medical degree isn't classified (this is standard for all medical degrees, they are essentially pass/fail degrees) - is it likely to be accepted as a qualification for a CPE/GDL course?

Is it worth considering doing an undergraduate law course? By the time I apply I will have sat my A-levels over 10 years ago and would probably be short of the stated entry requirements for somewhere like King’s or UCL as I got ABBC – C in history (wasn’t essential to me getting in to med school at the time so I really only took it for interest and didn’t do much work for it), other subjects at A-level were biology, chemistry and music. Straight A/A*s at GCSE.

Do any of the UL colleges regularly offer lower offers than their stated A-level requirements? Would they take into account my degree-level qualifications when considering me for a normal law degree course, or is it likely that if I went down this road I would have to retake some A-levels?

Furthermore, is 30 too late to start studying law: would I stand a good chance of carving out a reasonable practice as a barrister? Would my age be likely to stand against me when applying for courses or pupillage?

Sorry for the many questions. Any help you can offer would be very gratefully received!

Reply 1

dragon_1706

30 certainly isn't too old. I'm doing the CPE at the moment and there are lots over 30 and apparently many firms are interested in candidates with experience of another field. Someone else may be able to tell you whether the same is true for prospective barristers.

I'd do the CPE rather than an undergraduate degree. It's a busy year, but after all the years of studying you've already done, I doubt you'll want to do more. The CPE is also perfectly well respected (or so I'm told).

Reply 2

PDJM

A CPE is more than sufficient for practice at the Bar, there is no need to take a law degree especially considering the age you will be when you are ready to re-commence study. If your sole aim is to practice rather than to appreciate law from a broader and deeper level then a CPE rather than a law degree will be more appropriate. You will find that numerous barristers have taken this route with degrees as variable from classics to medicine. Indeed your medical qualifications will be particularly marketable to any chambers specialising in professional negligence/clinical negligence, or with IP sets (which generally seem to favour those with a science background). If you do decide to go down the law degree route it would be advisable to take the senior status route rather than the traditional undergraduate three year course, since it is one year shorter.

Is your intercalculated degree classified, even if your M.B., B.Ch., isn’t? Even if not the problem should not be too great provided your marks are comparable to what would otherwise be the required classifications, but contact the relevant law schools to be sure.

Generally for transfer students into law it doesn't matter too greatly where you take the CPE, but for the Bar there seems to be a distinct bias towards City University, especially at the leading sets. This may be the fact that they use lecturers from highly regarded Universities. It would appear that despite this where you read for your undergraduate degree is still considered highly relevant, although if you are applying from the position of a practicing doctor this may not be applied to you so greatly.