Balancing Financial Challenges and Legal Career Goals as an International Student

Hi everyone,

I'm an international student currently studying the PGDL (law conversion) course in the UK. Becoming a barrister has always been my dream, and this course was a crucial step toward that goal. However, my situation has become financially uncertain. My father is my sponsor for the PGDL, but due to recent circumstances, I’m not sure he’ll be able to support my future Bar training financially.

Given that the Bar course is quite costly and has limited work opportunities during training, I’m exploring alternative routes. I'm considering finding a sponsored job in a non-legal field, which would allow me to work full-time on a skilled worker visa for five years. My hope is to save enough to eventually fund the Bar training myself.

But I’m worried about two main issues:

Time Limit for Bar Training: I’ve read that one needs to complete the Bar training within five years of finishing the PGDL. If I work full-time for five years, I might miss this window.
Staying Connected to Law: Since my sponsored job would likely be in a non-legal field, I’m concerned about how this gap will look to future legal employers or in my Bar course application. Are there any short courses, volunteer opportunities, or other ways to stay engaged with the legal field during these years?
I would appreciate any advice on how to navigate this situation. Has anyone else faced something similar or found a way to balance financial needs with staying on a legal career path?

Thanks so much for any insights!

Reply 1

Stiffy Byng

You might find that five years in a non legal job would enhance your chance of obtaining a pupillage. Candidates with life experience can be attractive to chambers.

You could maintain legal currency by taking a part time LLM, part time tutoring, volunteering in a free legal advice organisation, and reading.

Reply 2

TasTam

Original post

by Stiffy Byng

You might find that five years in a non legal job would enhance your chance of obtaining a pupillage. Candidates with life experience can be attractive to chambers.
You could maintain legal currency by taking a part time LLM, part time tutoring, volunteering in a free legal advice organisation, and reading.

Hi, and thanks for all the insights! I have a few follow-up questions regarding my options as an international student:

Are part-time law courses (like an LLM or other short legal courses) available to international students working full-time in the UK, given that part-time courses typically aren’t an option for us?

Can working in a non-legal field (for example, as a business professional) actually strengthen my future applications for pupillage? If so, how could that experience be relevant?

I’ve been searching for answers on these topics but haven’t had much luck. Any advice would be hugely appreciated!

Reply 3

Stiffy Byng

Original post

by TasTam

Hi, and thanks for all the insights! I have a few follow-up questions regarding my options as an international student:

Are part-time law courses (like an LLM or other short legal courses) available to international students working full-time in the UK, given that part-time courses typically aren’t an option for us?

Can working in a non-legal field (for example, as a business professional) actually strengthen my future applications for pupillage? If so, how could that experience be relevant?

I’ve been searching for answers on these topics but haven’t had much luck. Any advice would be hugely appreciated!

I am off out schmoozing (BD, BD, BD), and shall answer tomorrow if I have time before going to Court to cross-examine some lying toerag.

Reply 4

Stiffy Byng

Original post

by TasTam

Hi, and thanks for all the insights! I have a few follow-up questions regarding my options as an international student:

Are part-time law courses (like an LLM or other short legal courses) available to international students working full-time in the UK, given that part-time courses typically aren’t an option for us?

Can working in a non-legal field (for example, as a business professional) actually strengthen my future applications for pupillage? If so, how could that experience be relevant?

I’ve been searching for answers on these topics but haven’t had much luck. Any advice would be hugely appreciated!

As to 1, I don't know, sorry. I had overlooked the limitations which immigration law might impose on an international student.

Perhaps check with Birkbeck, the Open University, and other universities whether you could take an LLM part time while working within the terms of a work permit. You would need to take advice from an immigration lawyer to check that you would not contravene any condition of entry to the UK.

As to 2, experience in a field other than law could be helpful in general by familiarising you with decision making, management systems, practical economics, accounting, and business patterns. Having an understanding of how everyday business is conducted can be of great value to a barrister. Every barrister should know how to read a balance sheet closely and spot what is up with a company.

Being a bit older might improve your judgment overall, and judgment is a barrister's main product.

Experience in a particular field might be relevant to some types of legal practice. For example, I know of ex investment bankers who are now commercial barristers acting for investment banks, and of ex journalists who now do media law, and ex doctors who do medico-legal work.