Can you gain legal qualifications at an older age (40s)?

[gangzoom]

Totally random question, having just witness an incredibly effective barrister doing their job first hand, it's got me intrigued. I'm currently about to finish a Level 7 apprenticeship Diploma in Senior Leadership and was planning to take it to MsC level on the basis of my own career planning.

However the legal aspects of developing an efficient narrative around the facts has always intrigued me, and it seems like post graduate/apprenticeship entrance into law is possible? Clearly there will be costs involved but I wonder any PHs here have experience of gaining formal legal qualifications in their 40s?

The Senior Leaders Diploma is my 5th postgraduate qualification since leavimg Uni, so I'm quite comfortable with academic study whilst working a full time job.

https://www.thelawyerportal.com/study-law/what-is-...

Edited by gangzoom on Saturday 2nd March 05:42

[aproctor1]

Perfectly possible, but I would question what you want to achieve.

Most of the learning is, "on the job" and the difference between having an LLB and being a first class barrister, is like comparing somebody who has just passed their driving test, with Nigel Mansell.

[Earthdweller]

My wife’s sister did exactly this

Went to secretarial college .. had a few dead end jobs, then got a job as a live in carer for an elderly chap. When he died his daughter a barrister got her a secretarial job in her law firm which led to her doing paralegal work

She then quit work and went back to uni as a mature student and did a law degree, sat the bar exam here and then also in the US and now a barrister is a senior VP in the corporate law team based in NYC for a major bank

So yes it can be done, she worked her ass off and has my utmost respect for what she has achieved

[MBVitoria]

What aspect of legal work do you fancy? Barrister or solicitor / CILEx. Any particular area of law that appeals?

I'm a solicitor (dispute resolution and employment) and one thing I've found is how diverse the legal profession is in terms of what a typical day (and earning potential) looks like.

I'd say your age is no barrier and I've worked with many lawyers who have transferred later in life.

Edited by MBVitoria on Monday 4th March 14:00

[hungry_hog]

I think if you look at most Universities where people are doing a second undergraduate degree, the most common choices will be Medicine and Law and there will be plenty of people in their 30s doing them. 40s less common but I am sure there are some.

From what I can see there are three exit paths:

Barrister
Solicitor
In house (for for example you do Law at a Corporate or Bank as an in house counsel)
Other e.g. patent law for example if you have a science background

I can't see why you wouldn't be able to do these after 40, however I would suggest you run the numbers

How many years study?
What is the career afterwards - immediate and path
Where are the firms located, is it just London? e.g. if you want Magic Circle and don't want to work in London it's probably tough

[RabidGranny]

Yeah Id agree with the above, no issue with your age. When I qualified as a Barrister in 2007 there were plenty in my class who were in their 50's. Usually senior civil servants etc.

Its a good career and with your experience to date you have a distinct advantage,

[gangzoom]

Thanks for the comments. My wife had told me she has banned me from doing anymore post graduate courses.....Law qualification wouldn't count as a postgraduate course though.

Need to do more research but sounds very possible.

[Jasandjules]

Age is not a barrier in law and there are firms who actively look for the more "mature" candidate because life experience can be a benefit.....

[RabidGranny]

Let us know how you get on. There are plenty of Lawyers here (inc myself) to help you on your way.

[gangzoom]

Just spent the morning getting exposed to the differences between statuary, common, and case law, but also thinking about a quote regarding 'justice'.

A jury consists of twelve persons chosen to decide who has the better lawyer.

Really interesting/intellectually challenging stuff, I can easily see my self getting lost in this stuff......all I need to do now is work out how to do/fit this learning into the day job, though part of the day job is not insubstantial amount of conversations with our legal team, and attending court.

The difference between justice and the law is something I've never considered either .

[Countdown]

My eldest is a Solicitor and one of my cousins is a Barrister.

IIRC once she had got her law degree my daughter had to get a training contract with a firm of Solicitors. Theses were as rare as hen's teeth but she eventually found one. She then had to do her LPC at the University of Law which would have cost her £12k if she didn't have the training contract. IIRC the LPC took 2/3 years on a parttime basis

My cousin's was similar except she had to do something called a Pupillage and the Bar version of the LPC. She also had to go down to London 12 times for formal dinners at her Inns.

[Shnozz]

CILEX route might be worth a consideration.

[RabidGranny]

Countdown said:

My eldest is a Solicitor and one of my cousins is a Barrister.

IIRC once she had got her law degree my daughter had to get a training contract with a firm of Solicitors. Theses were as rare as hen's teeth but she eventually found one. She then had to do her LPC at the University of Law which would have cost her £12k if she didn't have the training contract. IIRC the LPC took 2/3 years on a parttime basis

My cousin's was similar except she had to do something called a Pupillage and the Bar version of the LPC. She also had to go down to London 12 times for formal dinners at her Inns.

I did the same. Food was always nice. Place reminded me of Hogwarts

[hungry_hog]

RabidGranny said:

I did the same. Food was always nice. Place reminded me of Hogwarts

Same formal hall traditions as oxbridge colleges, which reflects the demographic