Back
to top
Study law at 43! Watch
Announcements
Page 1 of 1
Go to first unread
Skip to page:
Hi, for a while I have been impressed upon to read heavily about the law to just navigate life.
Family law, Housing, EU consumer law, and probate.
I already have a degree and no funds to study.
On completing my law degree I would like to be helpful. Not necessarily being paid. But helping those at times of crisis, usually when a council keeps saying no (but is legally obligated to say yes or maybe).
Do I need to be qualified to give legal advice?
Can you suggest ways to get funded for study, if certification is actually needed?
And or ways to get certified to help at a Citizens advice or other public-facing legal advice centres?
I would like to be a barrister how can this fit a pathway to this goal?
Thanks in advance.
Family law, Housing, EU consumer law, and probate.
I already have a degree and no funds to study.
On completing my law degree I would like to be helpful. Not necessarily being paid. But helping those at times of crisis, usually when a council keeps saying no (but is legally obligated to say yes or maybe).
Do I need to be qualified to give legal advice?
Can you suggest ways to get funded for study, if certification is actually needed?
And or ways to get certified to help at a Citizens advice or other public-facing legal advice centres?
I would like to be a barrister how can this fit a pathway to this goal?
Thanks in advance.
0
reply
Report
#2
(Original post by Allcry)
Hi, for a while I have been impressed upon to read heavily about the law to just navigate life.
Family law, Housing, EU consumer law, and probate.
I already have a degree and no funds to study.
On completing my law degree I would like to be helpful. Not necessarily being paid. But helping those at times of crisis, usually when a council keeps saying no (but is legally obligated to say yes or maybe).
Do I need to be qualified to give legal advice?
Can you suggest ways to get funded for study, if certification is actually needed?
And or ways to get certified to help at a Citizens advice or other public-facing legal advice centres?
I would like to be a barrister how can this fit a pathway to this goal?
Thanks in advance.
Hi, for a while I have been impressed upon to read heavily about the law to just navigate life.
Family law, Housing, EU consumer law, and probate.
I already have a degree and no funds to study.
On completing my law degree I would like to be helpful. Not necessarily being paid. But helping those at times of crisis, usually when a council keeps saying no (but is legally obligated to say yes or maybe).
Do I need to be qualified to give legal advice?
Can you suggest ways to get funded for study, if certification is actually needed?
And or ways to get certified to help at a Citizens advice or other public-facing legal advice centres?
I would like to be a barrister how can this fit a pathway to this goal?
Thanks in advance.
https://www.progressionsolicitors.co...ments-company/
2. You could get funding for the LPC or the BPTC,
3. You could try and get a job as a paralegal.
4. Just go and volunteer at CAB.
5. If you have spent three years studying Law, then didnt you use your uni careers service? There are plenty of sites which list how to become a solicitor or barrister.
Your thread imo isnt clear if your degree is a non law degree or law.
0
reply
Report
#3
It hugely depentlfs on what you want to do, so it would help of you had a clearer idea of that before you embark on any studies. I think you can advise at some law centres or citizens' advice bureaus without a formal legal, qualifications, but of you want to be a barrister then obviously you need to study (lots of info about this career path online, just Google it).
As you already have a degree, you can do the GDL (conversion course) in a year rather than a full law degree; it's not cheap but obviously cheaper than studying for three years.
You'd have a bette chance of finding of you went the solicitor route - many firms pay for the conversion course and LPC - but the competition is very high, possibly even higher in those areas of law you mention.
Your best option is to try and get some unpaid work experience, whether in a law centre, solicitors' firm, and/or barristers' chambers - this will help you decide where your interest and skills lie, and you'll need it for your CV to apply for pupillage / training contracts / jobs.
As you already have a degree, you can do the GDL (conversion course) in a year rather than a full law degree; it's not cheap but obviously cheaper than studying for three years.
You'd have a bette chance of finding of you went the solicitor route - many firms pay for the conversion course and LPC - but the competition is very high, possibly even higher in those areas of law you mention.
Your best option is to try and get some unpaid work experience, whether in a law centre, solicitors' firm, and/or barristers' chambers - this will help you decide where your interest and skills lie, and you'll need it for your CV to apply for pupillage / training contracts / jobs.
0
reply
Report
#4
You don't need a qualification to work at CAB, however the Free Representation Unit does require you be a qualified lawyer (or be past the last term of a 3 year law degree before graduating).
To become a solicitor you don't require a first degree in law (it can be in any subject), nor do you even necessarily need a law qualification at all with the new SQE coming out. The become a barrister you do need a law qualification, which can either be a bachelors (e.g. senior status if you have a first degree) or a GDL. I believe there are some very competitive scholarships offered by some chambers for very promising applicants to undertake a GDL and/or BPTC. After this you need to do the BPTC, then get a pupillage. It is enormously competitive to get a pupillage, and very expensive to do the BPTC.
Neither the GDL nor the BPTC are eligible for any funding from Student Finance England in of themselves, although there are some GDL (and possibly BPTC) courses which can be "topped up" to a masters by writing a dissertation. If you can apply directly to this route that may be eligible for the graduate loan scheme.
To become a solicitor you don't require a first degree in law (it can be in any subject), nor do you even necessarily need a law qualification at all with the new SQE coming out. The become a barrister you do need a law qualification, which can either be a bachelors (e.g. senior status if you have a first degree) or a GDL. I believe there are some very competitive scholarships offered by some chambers for very promising applicants to undertake a GDL and/or BPTC. After this you need to do the BPTC, then get a pupillage. It is enormously competitive to get a pupillage, and very expensive to do the BPTC.
Neither the GDL nor the BPTC are eligible for any funding from Student Finance England in of themselves, although there are some GDL (and possibly BPTC) courses which can be "topped up" to a masters by writing a dissertation. If you can apply directly to this route that may be eligible for the graduate loan scheme.
1
reply
Report
#5
(Original post by Allcry)
Hi, for a while I have been impressed upon to read heavily about the law to just navigate life.
Family law, Housing, EU consumer law, and probate.
I already have a degree and no funds to study.
On completing my law degree I would like to be helpful. Not necessarily being paid. But helping those at times of crisis, usually when a council keeps saying no (but is legally obligated to say yes or maybe).
Do I need to be qualified to give legal advice?
Can you suggest ways to get funded for study, if certification is actually needed?
And or ways to get certified to help at a Citizens advice or other public-facing legal advice centres?
I would like to be a barrister how can this fit a pathway to this goal?
Thanks in advance.
Hi, for a while I have been impressed upon to read heavily about the law to just navigate life.
Family law, Housing, EU consumer law, and probate.
I already have a degree and no funds to study.
On completing my law degree I would like to be helpful. Not necessarily being paid. But helping those at times of crisis, usually when a council keeps saying no (but is legally obligated to say yes or maybe).
Do I need to be qualified to give legal advice?
Can you suggest ways to get funded for study, if certification is actually needed?
And or ways to get certified to help at a Citizens advice or other public-facing legal advice centres?
I would like to be a barrister how can this fit a pathway to this goal?
Thanks in advance.
I would suggest you do an LLM which covers the GDL material; get SLC funding for it. Really, I think you need to try to get as much practical experience as possible.
You can also go down the CILEx route.
Last edited by Notoriety; 2 months ago
1
reply
Report
#6
I an doing law senior status at 46. I am self funding but can continue current role 1 day a week to cover it.
In current role I know lawyers I have worked with so am hoping that assists with any summer placements (though it would be a bit odd to do 2 weeks of photocopying with people I have been on other side of corporate deals) .
I also consider cab afterwards or maybe the cps side if I want to help people. I will also volunteer at university pro bono clinics.
Good luck!
In current role I know lawyers I have worked with so am hoping that assists with any summer placements (though it would be a bit odd to do 2 weeks of photocopying with people I have been on other side of corporate deals) .
I also consider cab afterwards or maybe the cps side if I want to help people. I will also volunteer at university pro bono clinics.
Good luck!
1
reply
Report
#7
(Original post by artful_lounger)
I believe there are some very competitive scholarships offered by some chambers for very promising applicants to undertake a GDL and/or BPTC.
I believe there are some very competitive scholarships offered by some chambers for very promising applicants to undertake a GDL and/or BPTC.
1
reply
Report
#8
(Original post by Crazy Jamie)
Kind of. Sets with high pupillage awards sometimes allow a portion of the award to be drawn down to fund academic study. Though those are, unsurprisingly, sets that are out of the reach of all but the best candidates.
Kind of. Sets with high pupillage awards sometimes allow a portion of the award to be drawn down to fund academic study. Though those are, unsurprisingly, sets that are out of the reach of all but the best candidates.
0
reply
Report
#9
(Original post by Notoriety)
I think he was referring to Inns rather than chambers. Though a lot of the Inns scholarships are only partial; a few grand or even less.
I think he was referring to Inns rather than chambers. Though a lot of the Inns scholarships are only partial; a few grand or even less.
0
reply
X
Page 1 of 1
Go to first unread
Skip to page:
Quick Reply
