Career options from kings inn degree

number13 · 19-04-2014 11:12pm #1

I have a law degree and seriously considering doing the entrance exam for the inns. However due to financial constraints I couldn't possibly devil and receive no wages. I am just looking for people's perspectives on doing the degree and not practising and what they are doing now. Or is this just a mad idea

johnnyskeleton · 19-04-2014 11:26pm

It's a lot of money to spend on a professional course it you're not going to practice as a barrister. But on the other hand it's probably as good as a law masters

Mr. Incognito · 20-04-2014 2:05pm

I know plenty of barristers that have never practiced at the bar. You need serious financial backing to devil for two years for nothing and after even hope to get work.

And the course is designed for practicing barristers.

number13 · 21-04-2014 12:44pm

So it's a bad idea then ?

johnnyskeleton · 21-04-2014 3:30pm

number13 wrote: »

So it's a bad idea then ?

Not necessarily, but it is if money is tight it might be. You could get a job as a legal exec / inhouse counsel and do the degree in the evenings and weekends if you like, and that might improve your chances of promotion within the organisation.

Or, if you want to work as a lawyer you could look for a training contract as a solicitor or consider prospects abroad.

There are lots of factors to be considered but if you can't do without a steady wage for any period of time, then becoming a lawyer will be difficult. But that's true of most professions / occupations where you are self employed or have to exercise an independent role.

NoQuarter · 21-04-2014 7:32pm

its better than a masters in that you become a qualified lawyer after it. Lots of people do it and dont go down to the bar.

impr0v · 21-04-2014 9:21pm

Some solicitors' firms will hire you to work in the capacity of a solicitor with the BL degree, though they obviously can't call you a solicitor. It is not that common and it is mostly the bigger firms that do it. You would likely need some experience in a previous career to make it a viable option.

swervring · 23-04-2014 11:46am

I'm currently doing final exams in KI - and won't be going down to the bar next year, the same as a good number of my classmates. That said, I am in the Modular degree so many of my classmates are older and already in careers which they are intending to bolster with the qualification.

Personally I would like to go down to the bar but it's not a financially viable option for me at the moment. I do have a good full time job so I will be sticking with that for the time being at least. I think in-house options for people with a BL tend to require PQE, although I do wonder if PRE-qualification experience in the field might count?? - any views?

Tom Young · 23-04-2014 2:02pm

Usually 3 - 5 PQE. Pre if you've a heap of career experience to hand from some industry, e.g., construction, used to attract persons to the BL who were capable and hired straight in to certain boutique and top 5 firms to work on large disputes, Nama and Arbitration/mediations.

swervring · 23-04-2014 3:53pm

Tom Young wrote: »

Usually 3 - 5 PQE. Pre if you've a heap of career experience to hand from some industry, e.g., construction, used to attract persons to the BL who were capable and hired straight in to certain boutique and top 5 firms to work on large disputes, Nama and Arbitration/mediations.

I've been in Construction the last 6 years, the majority of it in administration [although a specialised area] so I may be in with a shot... I'm not holding out much hope but my current job will continue to increase that experience so eventually I may get somewhere - thanks!

LutherBlissett · 23-04-2014 10:33pm

Is it really impossible to devil without major financial backing though? I know of a few people who, while they weren't poor/ didn't come from disadvantaged backgrounds, weren't exactly rich either and worked part time to get themselves up and running. I think they ran things on a shoestring budget, but they did manage to keep things going somehow..

number13 · 23-04-2014 11:23pm

So being realistic there would be no real graduate jobs opportunities for this course. I was thinking about the modular course but don't want to throw 13k
Down the sink as well as 2 years of weekends if I wast going to get a good job out of . Any advice appreciated !

NoQuarter · 23-04-2014 11:29pm

LutherBlissett wrote: »

Is it really impossible to devil without major financial backing though? I know of a few people who, while they weren't poor/ didn't come from disadvantaged backgrounds, weren't exactly rich either and worked part time to get themselves up and running. I think they ran things on a shoestring budget, but they did manage to keep things going somehow..

Not impossible to devil for a year on a shoestring budget but after 2 years of devilling, you effectively start at zero and that's when being poor (or working every weekend and weekday) starts to annoy people. Its not only devilling thats financially tough, you wont make any money in your first 5 years worth writing home about, if at all.

number13 wrote: »

So being realistic there would be no real graduate jobs opportunities for this course. I was thinking about the modular course but don't want to throw 13k
Down the sink as well as 2 years of weekends if I wast going to get a good job out of . Any advice appreciated !

The BL alone wont entitle you to any graduate job. There are jobs out there for people with the BL if they either have experience or find a way to sell themselves.

number13 · 23-04-2014 11:31pm

Ah experience ! How do you get that? Ha ha

swervring · 24-04-2014 4:17pm

Well, if you're considering the Modular course then you can work full time and either save money for devilling and the years afterwards, or gain experience that will help you secure a different job when you're qualified.

As for the weekends, its not every weekend, its every 2-3 weeks - you can find the timetable on the KI website for a better idea of how its scheduled. It is hard work as you're fitting into a weekend what the full time students cover in a week. It gets really tough around the exams and optional subjects however as all students are timetabled together so it can mean taking a lot of time off work.

Claw Hammer · 24-04-2014 4:41pm

LutherBlissett wrote: »

Is it really impossible to devil without major financial backing though? I know of a few people who, while they weren't poor/ didn't come from disadvantaged backgrounds, weren't exactly rich either and worked part time to get themselves up and running. I think they ran things on a shoestring budget, but they did manage to keep things going somehow..

A lot depends on a persons committments. DO they have to maintain dependants? Do they have outstanding loans. Do they have high housing costs.
A person allowed live with their parents rent free with no loan repayments and a part time job could well manage if they got a break or two in getting instructions.

cclittlec · 28-04-2014 8:12pm

Has anyone on boards obtained a KI degree and moved directly to in-house? I am also considering doing the KI degree. I have a law degree but have worked in education for the past 3/4 years. I was wondering if there is any point in studying for the degree given that I don't see myself practicing in the courts and would prefer to be based in-house. Am I fooling myself thinking that I could get a job given I have no pre-qualification experience in industry?

Claw Hammer · 29-04-2014 12:32pm

cclittlec wrote: »

Has anyone on boards obtained a KI degree and moved directly to in-house? I am also considering doing the KI degree. I have a law degree but have worked in education for the past 3/4 years. I was wondering if there is any point in studying for the degree given that I don't see myself practicing in the courts and would prefer to be based in-house. Am I fooling myself thinking that I could get a job given I have no pre-qualification experience in industry?

That is a bit like asking will a particular horse win a race. You have to look at all of the horses running in order to decide what chance anyone of them has of winning.
At the present time there are many candidates presenting for in-house positions with some or all of the following, primary degrees, Masters degrees, professional qualifications, professional experience, background in a cognate discipline. Candidates are naturally evaluated with weighting given to their education, work background and experience. Who knows what the market will be like in a few years time? Maybe there will be jobs for the asking or maybe would there will be many more highly qualified candidates than there are jobs available.

the culture of deference · 29-04-2014 1:55pm

Can you use the title barrister without deviling

toughapple · 29-04-2014 2:49pm

the culture of deference wrote: »

Can you use the title barrister without deviling

barrister isn't a title. Esquire is the title associated with barristers but it is probably unconstitutional to use it.

swervring · 12-05-2014 1:02pm

Yes you can use the title Barrister-at-Law once you are conferred with the degree

An Ri rua · 15-05-2014 3:23am

toughapple wrote: »

barrister isn't a title. Esquire is the title associated with barristers but it is probably unconstitutional to use it.

Yeah, probably. In the good ol US of A. But not here folks. Hate to be pedantic but we are in a 'Legal Discussion' forum after all :rolleyes:

number13 · 25-06-2014 7:47pm

So has anyone on here done a law degree then done the inns and not devil? What are you at now ? I'm trying to convince myself to do it rather than the solicitor route please help

cclittlec · 26-06-2014 12:25am

I work in education so I have taken a totally different route! I knew a girl in my law degree who did Kings Inns and was then accepted onto a graduate programme of a large multinational.

Another worked in Brussels for a while and went back there after qualification. She was hoping to get a job with the EU but I don't know whether she did or not.

Someone else I know got the KI qual and is now working for an NGO.

number13 · 26-06-2014 8:51am

cclittlec wrote: »

I work in education so I have taken a totally different route! I knew a girl in my law degree who did Kings Inns and was then accepted onto a graduate programme of a large multinational.

Another worked in Brussels for a while and went back there after qualification. She was hoping to get a job with the EU but I don't know whether she did or not.

Someone else I know got the KI qual and is now working for an NGO.

When you say you work in education is that as a lecturer ? Sounds interesting. Also it's a lot of money to spend I just want to make sure I'm spending it wisely.

Career options from kings inn degree

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