Fastest way to attain a law degree (age 25)

L3V

I have just completed a Bsc in Bio Science at the age of 25,
over the time that it has taken me to do this I have come to realise that I would like to study law and become a solicitor.

I am looking to get a worth while degree (as opposed to having a law degree that is useless in the real world).

I am able to enter into courses as a mature student, I would like to go to one of the more prestigious colleges (ie. TCD) so that its got more value, as I have been informed that can be a great help in getting more place and therefore a better career.

I would like to know does anyone know anything about a more expedient way of doing this? as i would like to avoid it taking four years to complete this. . .

Robbo

Just beat into the FE1s, you have a degree so go for it.

If you search around these parts, you'll find plenty of threads on the merits of entering the legal profession as a solicitor, the difficulty in securing a worthwhile training contract, prospects for the profession etc.

If you really want it, sell yourself right and have a bit of luck, you can make it happen in less than 4 years.

L3V

I guess the only problem that I have is that I have no legal background or training and jumping straight into the FE1's may be a tad beyond my reach. .

littlemac1980

There is a two year LLB graduate entry Law Degree in UL that I did and found very good. UL may not be considered as prestigious as TCD, but I met plenty of UL graduates at Blackhall Place - many of whom were working in the top 5 firms.

Its an pretty intense course, effectively cramming the 4 year undergraduate degree into two years, but as far as I know its the shortest level 8 qualification you can get - at least it was when I applied in 2007.

Places are quite limited with a max of 20 students I believe, so if your interested I'd advise you to get in contact with the Law Department, and the Head of the Postgraduate Course relatively quickly to register your interest.

You have to have an undergraduate degree from a non-law discipline - so you'd qualify on that basis, but the level achieved would also have some bearing on whether or not you are ultimately accepted - and this might depend on how many applicants that they have.

L3V

My degree is an ordinary Bachelor and is considered a pass due to my course being broken up by two years (took some time to look after my family after a bereavement).

So it doesn't look great. I hope they give me an opportunity to explain that

littlemac1980

You should speak with the Course Director - generally the more interest you show the more favorably your application will be viewed.

blindsider

L3V wrote: »

I have just completed a Bsc in Bio Science at the age of 25,
over the time that it has taken me to do this I have come to realise that I would like to study law and become a solicitor.

I am looking to get a worth while degree (as opposed to having a law degree that is useless in the real world).

I am able to enter into courses as a mature student, I would like to go to one of the more prestigious colleges (ie. TCD) so that its got more value, as I have been informed that can be a great help in getting more place and therefore a better career.

I would like to know does anyone know anything about a more expedient way of doing this? as i would like to avoid it taking four years to complete this. . .

Big generalised assumption there - personally I'd say that theory has lots of holes, but that's just me.

As Robbo says, you don't NEED a Law degree. Lots of people go straight for the FE1's having completed a degree in a different discipline. If you can do a science degree, you can do the FE1's - you just need to put lots of work in.

Depending on where you are, there a colleges which offer FE1 classes - Griffith college do it in Dublin, Cork and Limerick (?) - Independent Colleges do it ans do several others - google FE1 course.....also look here

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=55319616

for more genreal info.

L3V

blindsider wrote: »

Big generalised assumption there - personally I'd say that theory has lots of holes, but that's just me.

In terms of it not being true that I would be able to go in as a mature candidate or that its more valuable?

Procrastastudy

There are about a bazzilion thread on this, one or two this week alone - I'm not having a go just a search may throw up some answers that don;t appear in this thread.

You need to ask yourself a few questions if you haven't already;

Are you ready to enter a profession that is probably the most competitive and with about as much work as acting?

Do you want to qualify in Ireland? (I'd head to England if you're going to study from scratch)

Have you discounted the Bar?

Can your degree get you in the door in somewhere to train as a solicitor? I know of one guy who was hired with no legal background in London as he had a microbiology/chemical engineering degree of some-sort and the company was willing to train him as a lawyer.

EDIT: While going to a prestigious university is fine and does you no harm - you need to engage with extracurricular activities to set yourself apart. TCD and UCD between them could probably fill every TC in Dublin with their students in the 1 and 2.1 categories. Add in the people just punting thorugh FE-1s with firsts in other disciplines and you've the makings of a very, very competitive application process.

L3V

Procrastastudy wrote: »

Do you want to qualify in Ireland? (I'd head to England if you're going to study from scratch)
Have you discounted the Bar?

Just two questions why would you suggest going to england over staying here?
And why would you pose the possibility of the bar?!

SubBusted

Procrastastudy wrote: »

TCD and UCD between them could easily fill every TC in Dublin with their students in the 1 and 2.1 categories.

How many or % of TCD law graduates actually go into law?

L3V

Isnt that true of any course. Most courses have a massive attrition rate and also a very low employment value for most who complete them.

Procrastastudy

L3V wrote: »

Just two questions why would you suggest going to england over staying here?
And why would you pose the possibility of the bar?!

From what I can gather there are opportunities for solicitors in England. There are also firms doing specialist work which might link into your current degree. Again a search might be an idea as most of my information comes from here plus a few bits I get from friends and family back home. Wages are not what you would call stellar - a friend of the family was hired on 19K from Cambridge. That said she ramped up quite quickly.

Why discount the bar?!

Procrastastudy

L3V wrote: »

Isnt that true of any course. Most courses have a massive attrition rate and also a very low employment value for most who complete them.

Yes but law especially so. You've also the added issue that although law degrees are portable at some levels they're not universal. A spanner is a spanner in any country... well apart form the yanks.

Also as pointed out you don't a law degree to enter professional law. Engineers/Doctors - both common entrants.

chops018

As Procras has said there has been lots of threads on such a topic, not to mention this probably being the third this week of a similar vein.

Anyway, if it is a Solicitor you're looking to become and you have a level 8 degree (in any area) then I would just go straight into one of the professional colleges and do the FE1 prep courses - Griffith, IC, City. Procedural law is nothing like academic law, so a law firm doesn't really care if you did your degree in law, in fact sometimes you're better off if you didn't do academic law.

If you don't have a level 8 degree then the postgrad entry level 8 LLB in UL sounds like the best option (as was recommended above already) the two years will fly by.

Procrastastudy

I think DIT do a post grad LLB also. Again DIT isn't TCD but has an excellent reputation from what I can gather.

Tom Young

Buy one on the Internet. That's the fastest way.

L3V

Tom Young wrote: »

Buy one on the Internet. That's the fastest way.

In regards to doing an online course?!

Tom Young

L3V wrote: »

In regards to doing an online course?!

No. I was being smart. Minimum 3 years full time study,

blindsider

L3V wrote: »

In terms of it not being true that I would be able to go in as a mature candidate or that its more valuable?

If you're interviewing for a Training Contract, the Partner (usually) will look at your complete application.

Your overall results will be far more important than where you went to college/uni.

I REALLY don't want to start a 'which HEI is better?' argument, but at the same time, I would not advise you to put one HEI above another because of some perceived value. A good degree (2:1 or better) will stand out no matter which HEI it's from.

If you live in Dublin and can get to TCD easily (as well as being accepted etc) then great - but if you're miles away, I'd be looking at options.

Fe1exams

L3V wrote: »

I have just completed a Bsc in Bio Science at the age of 25,
over the time that it has taken me to do this I have come to realise that I would like to study law and become a solicitor.

I am looking to get a worth while degree (as opposed to having a law degree that is useless in the real world).

I am able to enter into courses as a mature student, I would like to go to one of the more prestigious colleges (ie. TCD) so that its got more value, as I have been informed that can be a great help in getting more place and therefore a better career.

I would like to know does anyone know anything about a more expedient way of doing this? as i would like to avoid it taking four years to complete this. . .

The quickest way is to do an fe1 prep course - grinds - blood - sweat - pain tears and money. These fe1 prep courses are designed for law graduates!(also theres a lot of distance in distant learning in comparisson with the likes of a well established Uni)tread carefully as what you decide upon will have huge bearing on your life for the next few years... I hope you opt for an easier route, to that which i took.

I would advise you that the quickest way is not necessarily the best way. I learnt the hard way!
In Cork the Holy Trinity College is the only prep course designed for non law undergrad! I havent heard any reports as to how good or bad they are.