[ALBA76]

Hi,

I am 36 year old single parent.
Having been in the sales profession for over 10 years, I want to provide a more stable future for my family.

I have considered law for a few years and have some questions I hope could be answered.

1 - Am I too old??

2 - What are the entry requirements for someone like myself. I was previously informed that qualifications are not necessary for mature students?

3 - I understand the coursework would be intense. How many hours a week studying would be the average? Furthermore how many years would the course be?

4 - Do law firms have any issues when taking on board mature students have qualified??

5 - How much could I expect to earn once qualified?
Obviously important as I have a young child.

Any advice would greatly be appreciated. I am very interested in employment law.

Cheers

[FDCR]

1) No.

2) Entry requirements; depends on what qualifications you have already and what work experience you have. It's really hard to generalise, as all universities have their own entry criteria and they have a certain amount of discretion even in applying their own criteria. I will say that at 33, every uni I queried about this wanted some evidence of recent study, even though I already had professional qualifications which are at the same level as a degree. A lot of them will want to interview you too.

3) Depends on your own capacity to read at speed and absorb information. I'd say as a rough estimate, double the amount of lectures/seminars you have per week. Many universities suggest you treat it as a full time job. Number of years Depends on what qualifications you start with, and whether you want to be a solicitor, a barrister, or follow one of the other entry points into the legal profession, such as ILEX. Assuming you already have a degree, another 4 years, or without a degree, 6 to become a solicitor. To become a barrister, with degree another 3 years, without 5. The ILEX route is complicated and usually taken by those already working in law; others might be able to explain it better. I believe it's technically possible to take the GDL/CPE directly without already having a degree, but tbh, I don't know anyone who has done so, and I don't think it's common.

4) You may find your age a hindrance as your application will not necessarily fit the standard criteria which are tailored towards standard applicants. However, alternatively, there are firms which have a minor positive preference for older applicants. Other posters may have facts & figures for you on this.

5) Earning potential, like everything else is hugely variable and as with 3) will depend greatly upon which area of the law you want to go into. It is probably not a good point to bring up at uni and/or firm interviews though. I should point out that even after you have done your degree, as a pupil barrister / trainee solicitor, the wages at the bottom level are no better than minimum wage (from 2014 anyway for solicitors) for a great deal more than ordinary working hours.

It would be easier to give you more specific advice if you had any idea of what you wanted to do, although I suspect the solicitor route is probably likely the most practicable.