Mature students and career changers Start planning your future today

Transcription

1 Mature students and career changers Start planning your future today Supported by Legal process outsourcing: what you should know 1

2 Contents 2 Challenging assumptions and overcoming barriers 3 Research, think and plan ahead 4 Routes to qualifying 5 Funding opportunities 6 Increase your chances of success 8 Finding a period of recognised training 10 What does the law say? 11 Useful contacts 12 Case studies 2

3 Mature students and career changers Challenging assumptions and overcoming barriers The legal market is an extremely challenging one for aspiring solicitors with relentless competition for outstanding academic results, training positions and placements for that essential legal work experience. This environment can become even more challenging if you are a mature applicant and a career changer. However, mature entrants currently make up one of the fastest growing areas of admissions to the solicitors profession. Statistics from the Law Society Annual Statistical Report show that 8 per cent of solicitors admitted to the roll of solicitors in the year July 2013-July 2014 were over the age of 40. MALE FEMALE ALL ADMISSIONS AGE NO % NO % NO % Age is not a barrier to qualifying as a solicitor. Firms/organisations are increasingly recognising the invaluable insight and experience, beyond the law, that mature students and career changers can bring to a firm to help shape a dynamic and diverse workforce. An executive summary of the Law Society Annual Statistical Report is available on the Law Society website (see useful links). If you have decided to break into law it is very important to remain realistic about what the next few years ahead will require of you; strong commitment, time, hard work and perseverance. You should also ask yourself some questions like; what do I want to achieve, why do I want to achieve this, is it realistic and how am I going to achieve it? Be mindful that there are many qualified applicants pursuing a career as a solicitor, the environment is extremely competitive. You will need to work very hard on not only gaining relevant legal work experience but also on demonstrating how your knowledge and previous experience are relevant and can be transferred to the solicitors profession. Individuals often underestimate the level of research and time needed to prepare a quality application. It is strongly advised that you spend quality time preparing your applications for training positions. This is your opportunity to demonstrate to a firm/organisation that whilst you may not fit the mould of their usual recruits the breadth of life and work experience you bring with you would be a great asset. It is important when conducting your research that you choose your selected firms/organisations wisely. Many firms run open days, this will give you an insight into the culture of the firm and will help you decide to which firms your range of experience, qualities, knowledge and skills are best suited. The journey is long with many barriers but it is not impossible and your hard work can be rewarded with a satisfying and rewarding career in law. 2

4 Research, think and plan ahead Before making any big decisions or changes, take some time out to think about what you really want to get out of this change. Law is a very broad subject, you should give thought to the areas of law in which you have a genuine interest and may wish to practise. This will give you a clear steer to focus on firms that carry out these areas of work when applying for a training position. Given the extremely competitive environment, forward planning and preparation is essential. It might feel difficult to make these types of decisions so far in advance, but it is highly recommended that you very early on start conducting your research on potential law firms that you might want to apply to. Early and thorough research will give you an understanding of the type of work a law firm undertakes and which clients they work with, this can help you establish the type of law firm that you can see yourself working in. Unless your desire for a career in law has been triggered by previous experience and events that created a special interest in a specific area of the law, it is advisable to spend some time getting a better feel for and understanding of the legal environment and its various areas. A few ways of increasing your knowledge of the legal market might include: visiting libraries for advice on relevant literature spending time in a court and sitting in on a trial reading the legal press visiting law fairs speaking to professionals attending open days and evenings hosted by various law firms volunteering in legal environments Any time and effort spent will be for your own benefit in understanding and realising where your specific interests lie. It is also worth looking back at your previous experience and knowledge, depending on what industries and roles you have worked in before. You might be able to build your legal career on this by combining first hand industry insight with knowledge of the law. Find out what motivates you and where your interests are, as working as a solicitor will feel much more rewarding if you have an interest in the work that you do. If you have family or work commitments managing your time will be a challenge. You will need to have a long think about how you will prioritise your time as the journey is extremely time consuming with a lot of devoted time needed for studying, researching, gaining legal work experience and writing applications. You will also need to consider your financial situation as tuition fees are high and with the amount of dedicated hours required, you will need to evaluate whether you will be able to keep up a full time job. You might decide to work part-time or not at all and if so, make sure that you have done the financial calculations beforehand. It is also worth bearing in mind that from 1 August 2014, firms were no longer obliged to pay trainees a minimum salary above the national minimum wage which may mean you earning just above 11,000pa, this equates to less than 900 a month. The Law Society recommends that as a matter of good practice providers of training positions should pay their trainees a minimum salary of 20,276 in London and 18,183 outside of London, although you will find that the larger firms offer a starting salary higher than this. For some, this is likely to be a massive pay cut compared to previous earnings, something you must take into account when considering your financial situation over the next few years. Knowledge is key, the more time you spend researching what lies ahead of you and understanding the legal environment the more you will understand and can evaluate if this really is something for you. Studying law is difficult, it requires time and dedication and a whole new way of thinking. Make sure that you spend enough time evaluating what the next few years and your future life will look like, being a solicitor is rarely a 9-5 job. The more insight and knowledge that you have, the better equipped you will be to make an informed decision on whether the change is worth making. Further information on becoming a solicitor can be found on the Law Society website (see useful contacts). 3

5 Mature students and career changers Routes to qualifying If you do not hold a university degree nor the qualifications to apply for university you can undertake a Quality Assurance Agency recognised Access to Higher Education Diploma. This qualification prepares you for studying at university and most universities and colleges accept it as an equivalent to other level 3 qualifications. Most diplomas can be completed in a year but if you prefer to study over a longer period of time, some courses are offered in the evenings and some by distance learning. To find out more, visit the Access to Higher Education website (see useful contacts). Depending on your previous academic qualifications there are various routes to qualifying as a solicitor: Equivalent means Equivalent means allows the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) to recognise the knowledge, skills, outcomes and standards which may have been achieved through other assessed and work-based learning. In these cases the SRA may grant exemption from all or part of the academic or vocational stages. To find out more visit the SRA website (see useful contacts). Qualifying law degree route The stages include: Law degree Legal Practice Course Period of recognised training including Professional Skills course Admission to the roll of solicitors Non-qualifying law degree route The stages include: Degree in any subject Common Professional Examination / Graduate Diploma in Law Legal Practice Course Period of recognised training including Professional Skills Course Admission to the roll of solicitors Chartered Institute of Legal Executive (CILEx) route This route involves taking examinations set by CILEx. Degree in law If you decide to undertake an undergraduate law degree, with the intention of qualifying as a solicitor, it is important that you study a qualifying law degree as this covers the required foundation subjects (Contract, Tort, Criminal law, Equity and Trusts, Law of the European Union, Property law, Constitutional and Administrative law). Make sure that you research the universities you are applying to as this can have an impact on your future legal career; search their website, prospectus and make time to go and visit them. If you are applying for undergraduate law programmes at universities such as Oxford, King s College and UCL you must also take a National Admissions Test for Law, known as LNAT. To find out more visit the LNAT website (see useful contacts). 4

6 Common Professional Examination / Graduate Diploma in law If you hold a non-law degree from a UK institution (or a foreign institution which the SRA considers to be an equivalent), to qualify as a solicitor you will be required to undertake a conversion course known as the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL) or Common Professional Examination (CPE). You have up to three years to complete the conversion course. The cost of undertaking the course can be high with some institutions charging up to 10,000 depending on where you study. Further information on the conversion course can be found on the SRA website (see useful contacts). This course is also suitable for those that have acquired career experience or academic/vocational qualifications that the SRA consider to be equivalent to an undergraduate degree. This is known as accreditation of prior learning. You should formally apply to your CPE/GDL provider if you think you may be eligible. Further information on eligibility can be found on the SRA website (see useful contacts). Legal Practice Course Once you are academically qualified you will need to undertake the Legal Practice Course (LPC) and secure a period of recognised training before you can refer to yourself as a trainee solicitor. It is advisable to secure a training position before enrolling on the LPC. Many larger firms provide sponsorship for the whole course fee or contribute towards it once you have secured training with them. Some institutions charge over 14,000 for the course, it is therefore worth giving careful consideration if you are considering self funding the LPC. CILEx routes Another option is to qualify as a solicitor through the Chartered Institute of Legal Executive (CILEx) routes. These routes involve undertaking examinations set by CILEx whilst working within a legal environment. There are various routes to qualifying via CILEx, depending on whether you have a qualifying law degree or not. The recommended minimum qualification requirement is 4 GCSEs or equivalent, including English Language or English Literature. You would initially qualify as a chartered legal executive, you can then decide to work as a chartered legal executive or go on to qualify as a solicitor. Whilst you would still be required to undertake the LPC you might, at the SRA s discretion, be exempt from the mandatory practicebased training if it is deemed that the work experience you have gained is relevant and sufficient. This is however not a guarantee and you would need to contact the SRA directly to obtain full details. This route is attractive to some students as they feel better equipped to fund their studies as you earn as you learn, effectively studying part-time whilst working in a qualifying employment of a legal nature. To find out more about this route to qualification, visit the CILEx website (see useful contacts). Funding opportunities The Government s Student Loan Scheme is not available for post-graduate study but there are other funding options available such as scholarships, grants, loans and trust funds. The Law Society operates a Diversity Access Scheme which offers help to exceptional individuals who face or have overcome exceptional obstacles to qualify as a solicitor. There are three elements to the scheme; full and partial funding of the LPC, work placements and mentoring support. To find out more about various funding opportunities, visit the Junior Lawyers Division web page (see useful contacts). 5

7 Mature students and career changers Increase your chances of success No one can market you better than yourself. If you are a mature student and a career changer it might be more challenging to get a training position, depending on which firms you are targeting, but it is not impossible and much of it depends on how much time and effort you put in. Academic achievements To increase your chances and have more options of where you undertake your training, excellent academics is a must. Realistically, if you get anything below a 2.1 degree your chances of getting a training position with a larger firm are not impossible but they decrease significantly unless you can show that extenuating circumstances led to your lower results. With the current high level of competition many firms use A-level and degree grades as a way of sifting applications. It is therefore strongly advised that you aim to achieve a 2.1. Increasingly students are considering undertaking a Masters of Law, thinking that adding a few extra letters to their qualification might attract certain firms as it demonstrates a further in-depth legal knowledge. Many firms remain neutral about a Masters and would not rate this higher than candidates having undertaken relevant work experience. Gain legal work experience Legal work experience is key. With many candidates having excellent academics, gaining quality relevant work experience will enhance your application even further. Many firms rate relevant work experience as highly as excellent academics. Not having relevant experience can therefore limit your chances of securing a training position. Without legal work experience it will be very challenging trying to explain why you want to work in law if you do not have any experience to relate to. Although some placements stand out more than others, any legal work experience is better than none. There are many options available and it is important that you treat your applications for work experience as seriously as you would job applications. The competition is strong with many desperately trying to fill their CV with as much relevant content as possible to make them stand out when applying for training. Competition for vacation schemes is extremely high. Undertaking a vacation scheme is probably one of the best experiences you can get as once you manage to get your foot through the door, many firms will offer an interview for a training position if they are satisfied with your performance. Vacation placements are normally with larger law firms, sometimes paid and last between 1-4 weeks. This is a great opportunity to get a feel for a legal environment and start realising your preferences. Volunteering is another great way to gain valuable experience and make your CV stand out. Many free legal service providers, such as the Citizens Advice Bureau and law centres accept volunteers and some even offer development and training opportunities which will only be beneficial for your CV. Another option for volunteering is to get in touch with courts and see if they have any opportunities available. Getting a volunteer work placement at a law firm, although not very easy to achieve, is very beneficial. Send out letters expressing your desire to volunteer for them or visit various law firms and ask if they need any help at all. Even if it is shadowing a solicitor, it shows future employers you have a commitment to a career in law. You can search for local solicitors on the Law Society s website in the Find a solicitor section (see useful contacts). 6

8 Freelancing is another way of gaining valuable work experience, it can be everything from drafting contracts (which would then be approved by a qualified solicitor) to undertaking legal research and most often you can charge for the work you do. If you do have the opportunity to choose, it would be preferable to gain legal work experience in areas relevant to the firms you will be applying to for training. However, any additional activities that you undertake during your studies, whether it be structured work placements, volunteering, shadowing a solicitor or active involvement in your university s student union, will help you convince an employer that you are committed and dedicated to law. Make it your goal to gain the maximum amount of legal work experience. Being able to demonstrate legal work experience on your CV and comfortably talk about it shows employers that you have had exposure to the legal environment and that you have made an informed decision about your career change. Previous experience is your edge Whilst legal work experience is of great value, the advantage of being a mature student and career changer is all the first-hand experience and knowledge you have already gained from your previous roles and life experiences. Although academic excellence and legal work experience are the most important factors, employers also look at what other attributes, valuable insight and experience you can bring to a law firm/ organisation if they were to offer you a training position. It is up to you to clearly show your edge, you need to make sure that you market yourself to your best potential. Before you can impress an employer in person you need to do so on paper, you need to be able to demonstrate the link between your previous experience and the needs of the law firm/organisation to which you are applying. Not all your previous experience will be relevant or of interest to an employer, sit down and think about the knowledge, qualities, skills and insights that you have developed and more importantly, think about them laterally and how they are transferable. Think about what general transferable skills you have acquired that are relevant to the solicitors profession. A few examples might include: team work communication skills negotiation meeting deadlines problem solving This is where your previous experience gives you a clear advantage, it is important that you are able to demonstrate this in your applications. 7

9 mature students and career changers Finding a period of recognised training The final requirement to qualify as a solicitor is the mandatory two year practice-based training, including the Professional Skills Course, which is spent undertaking supervised work in a law firm or organisation authorised to take on trainee solicitors. A good place to start researching those that offer training positions is TARGETjobs Law (see useful contacts). Applying for training is very often an extremely daunting and time consuming exercise which requires patience and dedication. The reality is, you may receive multiple rejections or no replies and you must be prepared not to get your first choices. The more informed you are, the more carefully you can target law firms/organisations to which you are suitable. Depending on your interests, it might be worth having a look at the Crown Prosecution Service and the Government Legal Service which both offer training and have a positive approach to mature students. Make sure you do extensive research; read the legal press to keep abreast of current affairs and think about being commercially aware. Firms want to feel that you can relate to the needs of their clients. Visit law fairs and other events attended by solicitors, speak to your student adviser, sign up to relevant online network groups, attend open days, speak to anyone who works in a legal environment. Make use of every single opportunity to network with the professionals. Spend some time researching entries in law firms recruitment directories to assess which law firms would most value your previous skills and experience. When you have narrowed it down to a select few, find out all there is to know about the firms/organisations that interest you. This will give you an understanding of what type of firms/organisations they are and consider how you would fit in there. Research information such as: areas of practice information about them in the press their culture and ethos clients they work with the structure of their training retention rates after training any other information that could affect your decision 8

10 By knowing the firms/organisations you are applying to, you will understand their needs and can therefore tailor your applications specifically to each, demonstrating how your previous skills and experience fit those needs. You will most likely find it easier to market yourself and your experience to firms/organisations who have a connection with what you have done in the past. Before you can tell them what you can offer and how you are the right candidate, you need to know what they want. Depending on your previous career, and if you would like to stay in that industry in a legal capacity, your previous experience and specific industry insights, especially if this knowledge is of an industry which forms their client base, can be very beneficial for some law firms. This will also make you stand out considerably from the huge amount of applicants you will be up against. It is however important that you demonstrate these, and their relevance clearly in your applications. It is up to you to show how your previous work and life experience can be of great benefit to a potential employer. If your background is also very niche this could open up opportunities for you to apply to very specialised and niche law firms who would appreciate your industry insight and expertise combined with your legal knowledge. The importance of considering your previous experience, skill sets, qualification and other achievements when targeting law firms/organisations cannot be stressed enough. This is the one thing that makes you stand out from your younger, newly graduated competitors. Academic excellence is important but almost taken for granted by employers. Employers look out for many other attributes and skills that will be important and play a huge part as you progress through your legal career. These are skills and attributes that you have most likely already acquired in your previous career and now need to show that you possess. It is therefore vital that you spend a good amount of time on each application. Ideally you should allocate at least a day for each to ensure that you have perfected and tailored it specifically to each firm/ organisation that you are applying to. For more information on finding a training position and top tips for applications, visit the Junior Lawyers Division website (see useful contacts). 9

11 Mature students and career changers What does the law say? Age discrimination is when you are being unfairly treated because of your age. The Equality Act 2010 clearly states that it is unlawful to directly or indirectly discriminate against anyone because of their age. The law not only applies to all workers but also covers related areas such as further and higher education institutions, career guidance institutions, associations and vocational training providers. This means that regardless of your age, you should be able to qualify and be employed to work as a solicitor. The Default Retirement Age of 65 has also been abolished which means that you now have the right to request to carry on working past the retirement age. However, it will be up to your employer to approve or deny this request. In some instances, the law does allow age discrimination if this can be objectively justified but the employer needs to be able to clearly demonstrate how this has been justified. Most employers will have policies in place covering a wide range of HR areas to ensure that age discrimination is prevented and where policies allow such discrimination they need to be objectively justified. Age discrimination can occur both directly and indirectly, the Government Equalities Office defines the two types as: Direct age discrimination is where someone is unfairly treated in comparison with another. Indirect age discrimination is where a rule or practice applies to everyone, but puts a particular group of people at a disadvantage. Further information on age discrimination and an overview of the Equality Act 2010 can be found at the Government Equalities Office website (see useful contacts). 10

12 Useful contacts The Law Society For information on becoming a solicitor and how the Law Society can provide support throughout your career. The Junior Lawyers Division Support, advice and networking opportunities for students, trainees and newly qualified solicitors. Solicitors Regulation Authority For additional information on qualification requirements. Access to Higher Education Chartered Institute of Legal Executives The National Admissions Test for Law Government Equalities Office TARGETjobs Law For legal jobs and career guidance Apprenticeships For general information on apprenticeships 11

13 Mature students and career changers Case studies Anna Bramble Anna is a practising senior solicitor in high street firm Attwaters Jameson Hill Solicitors. Prior to her legal career, Anna had a very varied career including sales roles, working with the Metropolitan Police, the local government and various other managerial roles. Her route to qualification was through university where she achieved a 2:1 on her Bachelor of Laws degree, undertaking her training contract with Male and Wagland Solicitors. Anna initially specialised in both non-contentious employment law and wills, trusts and probate but now specialises in wills, probate, powers of attorney, estate planning and elderly client work. She did her LLM (legal practice) at Anglia polytechnic university during the first year of her training contract and achieved a pass. Why did you decide to become a solicitor? I became increasingly frustrated with the fact that men in my workplace were earning significantly more than me when we were performing the same job. I started studying A-levels and found A-level law very enjoyable and easy to learn so I decided to obtain a degree in law. What did you do before becoming a solicitor? I had various roles including; local government officer running planning administration, civil servant working with the Metropolitan Police, Sales Manager, PA to the Managing Director and other management roles. What was your route to qualification? After obtaining exceptional grades on my new A-levels, my previous A-level grades were not adequate, I was very much spoilt for choice when applying to universities. I decided to attend the University of Hertfordshire as it was close to home but also because it is one of the three universities in the UK that offer an accelerated program and it was much cheaper than other institutions. I completed my law degree in two years instead of three without any summer holidays and obtained a 2:1. Did you need to refresh your study skills and if so, how did you do it? Perhaps because I was studying A-levels prior to enrolling at university I did not feel the need to brush up on my study skills. How did you go about funding your studies? Having previously worked a full time as well as a part time job, I quit my full time work and kept the part time job when I began to study. I worked 30 hours per week doing bookkeeping for a small company throughout my degree and only quit my part time job when enrolling at the LPC. Did you find any particular challenges with being a mature student? No, quite the opposite. I believe that as a mature student you have a great benefit because you chose a subject with far more knowledge and insight so you remain fully committed throughout. Many younger students are not always certain about what career path they want to take and often study a subject because they have been advised to do so or because they didn t know what else to choose whereas mature students have made very informed decisions and are much more dedicated. How did you know which area of the law you wanted to work in? As a person, I do not like arguments and I am also not a big fan of capitalism - this, combined with my desire to work with law in a socially related aspect made me slip in to specialising in wills, probate, powers of attorney and elderly client work. My drive to help people is stronger than my money drive and I work very well with the elderly. Do you feel you faced any prejudice due to your age from prospective employers? If so, how would you advise that this can best be overcome? The short answer to that question is No. 12

14 At what stage of your route to qualification did you secure your training contract? How many applications did you submit? I must admit that I was rather lucky. When enrolling at university someone asked me if I had started researching and applying for training contracts, this was the first time I had heard of a training contract. I did my research and sent out six applications during the first few months at university and I was called for an interview shortly after. When I did not hear back from the firm who had interviewed me, I decided to follow it up with a phone call. The conversation was successful and they ended up offering me a training contract over the phone. What is your current role? Senior solicitor in the Wills & Probate Department. What advice would you give to anyone considering embarking on a career as a solicitor as a mature student? Go ahead and try - if you set your mind on something as a mature student, you can achieve it! 13

15 Mature students and career changers Mark Pentecost Prior to embarking on a law career, Mark worked in cancer research, as a professional actor and later on in insurance. A redundancy led him to take on work for a solicitor friend and when realising how much he enjoyed it and just how suitable his skill set was, he decided to become a solicitor. Mark acquired his GDL through distance learning and did the LPC part time, both separately over two years. He is currently undertaking his training contract with general practice high street firm Sanderson McCreath & Edney Solicitors and will qualify as a solicitor in January Why did you decide to become a solicitor? I was made redundant from a management role that I had been doing for some years in insurance after being a personal injury senior claims handler/adjuster. A solicitor friend started putting some work my way such as proofing witnesses and clerking at court and I really enjoyed it. What I realised early on was that the work of a solicitor uses all the skills I have developed over the years and it is a role that involves plenty of variety. What did you do before becoming a solicitor? I worked in cancer research, went to university to study drama and theology, worked as a professional actor for 10 years and then worked in insurance as a claims handler, senior technical manager, audit manager and ops manager. What was your route to qualification? CPE by distance learning at Northumbria University ( ), LPC part time also at Northumbria ( ) and training contract at Sanderson McCreath & Edney Solicitors January 2012 to January Did you need to refresh your study skills (such as essay writing etc) and if so, how did you do it? Yes I did! Essay writing in a legal context is totally different to critical analysis in the arts. I had to start from scratch and to help I took advantage of tutorials with lecturers to go over practice answers. How did you go about funding your studies? Self funded, largely from the settlement I received from my previous employer. Did you find any particular challenges with being a mature student? Juggling full time work and a family life was a challenge! How did you know which area of the law you wanted to work in? I didn t really. I quite deliberately kept an open mind because you don t know if you ll enjoy an area of law until you try it. Luckily I m in a general practice high street firm so I haven t needed to specialise just yet. Do you feel you faced any prejudice due to your age from prospective employers? If so, how would you advise that this can best be overcome? Yes I did, although it was never overt. It was frustrating not being shortlisted for training contracts when younger applicants were; and when I knew I was the stronger applicant in terms of academics and legal work experience. All you can do is try not to become despondent and make as much of the skills you have acquired and how they would be useful to your potential employer as possible. At what stage of your route to qualification did you secure your training contract? How many applications did you submit? 5 months after completing the LPC and after applying to about 100. What is your current role? Trainee solicitor, due to qualify in January My present firm have offered me an assistant solicitor role upon qualification. What advice would you give to anyone considering embarking on a career as a solicitor as a mature student? Try not to become disheartened and cynical. Keep a positive attitude. Do as much research into the legal market as you can and network as much as possible. Think about how to effectively market your experience and skills based on your research in the legal market and have clear goals and objectives. Be open to advice and act on it. Get involved in the Junior Lawyers Division (JLD), attend their free events and use their online resources. Make contacts in your local JLD. Remember, there are firms out there who will value your skills and experience. As for the others, chances are you wouldn t really enjoy working there anyway. See my article in Lawyer2b: survival guide for career changers: 14

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