Law Degree - What to do??

pampers1

Hi Guys. I've just completed a 2 year Law Degree Course. I'm currently working in a Law Firm and wondered what I can do now I've got my degree. I've asked for a Legal Executive position with the firm but to no avail. They are just completely ignoring the fact that I have this now. I worked hard to get it and wondered if any of you knew what the best thing to do here would be. Get a new job? I would prefer somethign with more money but I just don't know where to start. As far as I'm aware not many legal executives are on much better money than I'm on now (I'm a legal secretary) so what could I go in to that would make it worth my while.

Mr. Incognito

Sit Kings Inn- Blackhall perhaps?

How did you get a law degree in two years? Mine took three and I think it's the same in most universities.

PS. I did a masters in law aswell, it's not really worth much tbh. I had to sit professional qualifications to get any recognition.

pampers1

DIT in Aungier Street do a two year course on it. I can't really sit Kings Inns as I have a child and mortgage so I wouldn't be able to work for any period of time without earning a salary so that's a bit of a no-go.

Electric

AFAIK you won't be able to enroll in Kings Inns as your degree isn't from a national university. You could however try sitting the FE1's to get into Blackhall.

Law firms are more likely to take you seriously if you are going for a professional qualification. And a lot of firms are supportive of employees going to Blackhall cos it will mean another solicitor who can bill for more time.

It is very unusual to get a degree in two years. Mine took four. Most certificates are 2 years, ordinary degrees are 3 years and honours degrees are 4 years.

Perhaps your employers are not willing to give you a Legal Executive position as there are other more qualified candidates?

pampers1

That's what I thought initially before I started it but the DIT has made the exams harder etc. and therefore bumped it up to a degree. its a BA (Ord) in Law. Do you still this this will be more or less unrecognisable. Have I wasted the last two years of my life doing this crap? I'm seriosly thinking about doing the FE1's now. Just need to get ball rolling really? Its a bit confusing reading the booklet on How to become a Solicitor from teh Law Soc's website. Not sure where to start!!

homeOwner

Can I advise you take a step back for a minute and think about what it is you want to do. You are surprised that people are telling you that your degree may not be recognised in the way you hoped it would be. Before you comit to doing more study you need to research where it is going to get you in terms of your career.

Can you talk to HR in your firm or a manager you get on well with and ask them for advice - if you take exam X and Y will they give you more responsibility and will it help you progress?

What is it you are aiming for? Sounds like solicitor and barrister are out of the question as both require unpaid apprenticeships (or they used to) and you cant afford that.

Mr. Incognito

BA (Ord) in Law

This is an arts degree in Legal Studies. It's not quite the same as a law degree, but I wouldn't sweat it as a law degree on it's own isn't going very far these day's anyway. (You're not really qualified in anything)

There are lots of jobs that this is suitable for.

Legal affairs journalist,
Legal Researcher, (The courts services tend to advertise these jobs, register with the civil service website)

etc. A good measure used be the Legal Diploma fro WIT and the suggested employment opportunities. Most important is that you are working in the industry. The FE1's are a lot of work and to be honest there are a lot, too many in fact, solicitors out there fighting for work as the floodgates really opened when you can sit them with any degree at all. I actually fecked off to specialise in tax (which is another three year qualification) just to make myself competative. It's a hard slog in law unfortunately with a big downturn in the industry recently.

Electric

SetantaL is right the FE1's are really tough and most people (though you don't necessarily have to) go to Griffith College or Stanhope to do their FE1 prep courses and they are really expensive

Then comes the fun of trying to find a placement. The bigger firms will pay you while you are an apprentice but it's not much, the hours are long and the competition to get these places are fierce. A friend of mine has her law degree and masters and passed her FE1's with flying colours and didn't get an interview for A&L Goodbody.

I would recommend taking stock of where you want to go and what areas you are interested in. I'd also factor in the kind of work environment you would like. You've mentioned that you've a small child. If you were to go down the FE1 route it would be A LOT of hard work and long hours for the next 3 to 5 years while you get your post qualification experience. This guy that who works with me has been qualified for about 6 years now. He used to work in William Fry and he did at least 60 hours a week.

We work 39 and he told me that he didn't mention this to his former colleagues cos they would slag him for being in a holiday camp!

I'm doing my Masters in Law at the moment and in work I've been specialising in anti-money laundering. It's a very hot topic at the moment and there's no sign that this is likely to change anytime soon.

Now is a good time to be looking around for courses to do as most of the closing dates will be coming up in April and May. If you can talk to a manager in work that you get on with and tell him that you are really interested in progressing in the company and ask them if they could recommend a course or area to specialise in. Check out the Irish Bankers Federation they do some really good specialist courses http://www.bankers.ie/prospectus/roi/flash/index.html#

pampers1

Thank you so much for that reply. I really appreciate it. I work in a large law firm now and have done so for 4 years so I'd imagine getting an apprenticeship wouldn't be too much of a problem for me. Its basically the hours and a cut in salary etc. that's the turn off. I work in the financial services department of this law firm so that website could be really handy for me. Thanks again this has all been really helpful.

Electric

No probs! Best of luck with whatever you decide to do