Becoming a Solicitor at 29/30

KwackerJack

Am I mad?

Am I wasting my time competing with younger more qualified people?

johnnyskeleton

Catch 22 says that if you are quesioning your own sanity, then you must actually be sane.

If you dont question your own sanity, then youve got nothing to be worrying about anyway.

So go with your gut and hope the rest of the world accommodates that choice.

KwackerJack

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

Catch 22 says that if you are questioning your own sanity, then you must actually be sane.

If you dont question your own sanity, then youve got nothing to be worrying about anyway.

So go with your gut and hope the rest of the world accommodates that choice.

Maybe I'm questioning my sanity?

I have always been interested but id like to see if there is a career at the end or just a lot of money and a piece of paper!

conorh91

No, not wasting your time.

At 35, you'll be older than most of your professional contemporaries and probably earning less than most of your contemporaries outside of law.

If you are aware of that and satisfied to proceed, there's a great opportunity to be had.

These things iron themselves out after a while. Almost nobody will notice the age or salary difference by the time you're 40.

KwackerJack

conorh91 wrote: »

No, not wasting your time.

At 35, you'll be older than most of your professional contemporaries and probably earning less than most of your contemporaries outside of law.

If you are aware of that and satisfied to proceed, there's a great opportunity to be had.

These things iron themselves out after a while. Almost nobody will notice the age or salary difference by the time you're 40.

There are people in my current job that are younger and better paid, That's just life so I'm not at all bothered by that.

Its the entrance exam that scares the jebus out of my. I'm Studying credit Management at preset and will being starting a short course in Criminology soon so studying is not an issue but the content of the preliminary exam!

nuac

At least it is your own decision.

Over the years I have met many parents saying their child has a great interest/aptitude/or even genius for law.

After interviewing the candidate, plus perhaps work experience often found that they were not really interested nor capable,

If you are really interested, go for it.

Good luck

johnnyskeleton

nuac wrote: »

Over the years I have met many parents saying their child has a great interest/aptitude/or even genius for law.

After interviewing the candidate, plus perhaps work experience often found that they were not really interested nor capable

"Whats that? You want to be a lawyer so that you can help people, argue new points of law, stand up for civil rights and make impassioned closing speeches after a blistering cross examination?

"Well thats good, because you can think about all of that while youre churning out page after page of contracts"

Uno my Uno.

johnnyskeleton wrote: »

"Whats that? You want to be a lawyer so that you can help people, argue new points of law, stand up for civil rights and make impassioned closing speeches after a blistering cross examination?

"Well thats good, because you can think about all of that while youre churning out page after page of contracts"

Ah now there is a bit of all that if you go looking for it and contracts are fun* a lot of the time!

On topic, 29/30 isn't too late at all, in fact you won't even be close to the oldest person in any class group you may find yourself in. Depending on your experience you may find employers value your maturity compared to other candidates. You might be at a disadvantage if you're looking to train with one of the big 5 commercial firms as they do show a preference for young and over achieving graduates (because they can use them as grist for the law mill that churns out the contracts).

As someone who has done what you're considering let me tell you that it is tougher than you planned, will take longer than you expect, leave you broker than you thought and result in a pay cheque much smaller than you had hoped. However it will result in a job that is more enjoyable, engaging and rewarding than you imagined. I used to dread going to work in the morning but now I bounce out of bed (not really) and am happy when I get to the office (really).

If it is what you want to do I say go for it.















*this is a subjective term

MarkAnthony

Probably a bit young IMHO!

If Blackhall is all bright young things there's always the Kings Inns

KwackerJack

I was looking at the Diploma in Legal Studies & Criminal Phycology and Criminology with City Colleges Dublin.

I am not sure what they are like but I am interested in the courses as they will help me understand certain sides of the profession I wish to enter into!

I will need to brush up ion Irish Politics and government for the preliminary exam

Uno my Uno.

KwackerJack wrote: »

I was looking at the Diploma in Legal Studies & Criminal Phycology and Criminology with City Colleges Dublin.

I am not sure what they are like but I am interested in the courses as they will help me understand certain sides of the profession I wish to enter into!

I will need to brush up ion Irish Politics and government for the preliminary exam

If you don't have a degree I would suggest doing one rather then taking on the preliminary exam, especially if you are considering a diploma anyway. It will massively increase your chances of passing all the various exams and securing a Training Contract. A good friend did the Part time Law Degree in Griffith College and he found it excellent in all areas of the teaching, convenience and cost. I think he managed to complete it in three years.

MarkAnthony

If you've a primary degree:

Prelim course - sit the FE1s go as you are. (Or see option 3)

If you've no primary degree:

GCD PT/FT if you can't get into a 'proper' uni. GCD is excellent but in terms of cost...

If you've a primary degree and want to do a Diploma anyway:

Kings Inns - Keep the options open. You may decide you want a cape.

In terms of understanding the profession, intern, intern, intern - contacts, contacts, contacts.

NoQuarter

Uno my Uno. wrote: »

I used to dread going to work in the morning but now I bounce out of bed (not really) and am happy when I get to the office (really).

I'll have a couple of bags of whatever you're smoking.

KwackerJack

If I completed a degree I would be 33/34 then by the time I qualify as a solicitor I will be 36/37

In that case the preliminary exam seem to be the best option.

I will check out the degrees of course

Uno my Uno.

NoQuarter wrote: »

I'll have a couple of bags of whatever you're smoking.

Well I was being a little bit ironical but I'm lucky in that I've a great boss, friendly workmates and get to actually use my brain in my work most of the time. Some days obviously I'd rather be somewhere else but they aren't have as bad or a quarter as frequent as they were in other jobs I've had.

KwackerJack wrote: »

If I completed a degree I would be 33/34 then by the time I qualify as a solicitor I will be 36/37

In that case the preliminary exam seem to be the best option.

I will check out the degrees of course

With the greatest of respect you could well be 36/37 before you qualify without a degree anyway. If you are hoping to qualify within 3 or 4 years via the preliminary exam that might be quite ambitious.

I don't mean to be condescending and I don't know you so I could well be wrong but without the experience of a degree you will most likely find the FE-1s an almost impossible challenge. Plenty of law graduates take multiple attempts and years to pass them, doing them without the benefit of years of third level exams under your belt is not something I would advise.

You also need to consider your job prospects, once you have passed the FE-1s you cannot progress to the next stage without a training contract. finding one is exceptionally competitive and not having a degree will count against you. As I said I don't know your circumstances so it may well be that my points aren't valid, I'm just trying to give the best advice I can from the information provided.

It is quite conceivable that trying to qualify without doing a degree will not actually save you the years you hope, for the sake of an extra year or two you will have a degree to show for it and perhaps better employment options in the future.

MarkAnthony

Option 4 if you have a primary degree but still want to do a law degree. Do your FE-1s while you do the law degree.

Rather you than me! :pac:

NoQuarter

What is your primary degree OP?

KwackerJack

NoQuarter wrote: »

What is your primary degree OP?

Credit management.......