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<blockquote data-quote="fusion" data-source="post: 145526" data-attributes="member: 29967"><p>Hello</p><p></p><p>I am a 47 year old looking to become a solicitor. Rather a late career change. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>Work wise, my career has spanned 25 years in IT, the later years as a consultant.</p><p></p><p>Law has always interested me, but owing to age, costs and the relative gold dust like qualities of training contracts I considered that the ship had already sailed. The advent of the newly SRA introduced SQE qualification routes has altered my career aspiration trajectory.</p><p></p><p>Academically, I completed an IT Open University degree 10 years ago. I accepted the award on the basis of having accumulated enough module credits (300) at ‘standard degree’ level. Juggling full time work and a young child heavily influenced my decision. As such, the degree does not carry a final grade. My transcripts show that the average module grading was at 2:2 level. In hindsight, I perhaps wish I had studied an extra 60 credits to be eligible for an Honours degree.</p><p></p><p>I have three options open to myself before I consider SQE exams:</p><p></p><p><strong>1.</strong> Complete an Open University Law Degree (graduate entry) and aim high for a 2:1 / first.</p><p> This route takes two years full time study. Cost is £13,848</p><p></p><p><strong>2.</strong> Complete a PGDL course at the University of Law. This takes 9 months full time. Cost is £10,950</p><p></p><p><strong>3.</strong> Complete the College of Legal Practice course, ‘Graduate Foundation in Law’. This takes 20 weeks full time and costs £3,250</p><p></p><p></p><p>Advice from a relatively senior individual at a well-regarded law firm was that for someone my age and qualification, the focus should be on obtaining a PGDL and not a LLB degree.</p><p></p><p>Given the fact I am a mature entrant, I am minded to progress option <strong>2</strong> or <strong>3</strong>.</p><p></p><p>An advantage of option <strong>3</strong> (other than the significant cost saving) is I could look to obtain some form of legal employment sooner rather than later. If it transpires the non honours degree is an issue, I could study the OU law degree part time. The point being, I will have started legal employment already gaining valuable experience.</p><p></p><p>An immediate concern that spring to mind for option <strong>3 </strong>is perhaps law firms will be more familiar with the PGDL award. They may ask themselves, where is my formal legal qualification.</p><p></p><p>Appreciate my entry point is pretty far from conventional. I would be interested to hear anyone’s thoughts on my options.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="fusion, post: 145526, member: 29967"] Hello I am a 47 year old looking to become a solicitor. Rather a late career change. :) Work wise, my career has spanned 25 years in IT, the later years as a consultant. Law has always interested me, but owing to age, costs and the relative gold dust like qualities of training contracts I considered that the ship had already sailed. The advent of the newly SRA introduced SQE qualification routes has altered my career aspiration trajectory. Academically, I completed an IT Open University degree 10 years ago. I accepted the award on the basis of having accumulated enough module credits (300) at ‘standard degree’ level. Juggling full time work and a young child heavily influenced my decision. As such, the degree does not carry a final grade. My transcripts show that the average module grading was at 2:2 level. In hindsight, I perhaps wish I had studied an extra 60 credits to be eligible for an Honours degree. I have three options open to myself before I consider SQE exams: [B]1.[/B] Complete an Open University Law Degree (graduate entry) and aim high for a 2:1 / first. This route takes two years full time study. Cost is £13,848 [B]2.[/B] Complete a PGDL course at the University of Law. This takes 9 months full time. Cost is £10,950 [B]3.[/B] Complete the College of Legal Practice course, ‘Graduate Foundation in Law’. This takes 20 weeks full time and costs £3,250 Advice from a relatively senior individual at a well-regarded law firm was that for someone my age and qualification, the focus should be on obtaining a PGDL and not a LLB degree. Given the fact I am a mature entrant, I am minded to progress option [B]2[/B] or [B]3[/B]. An advantage of option [B]3[/B] (other than the significant cost saving) is I could look to obtain some form of legal employment sooner rather than later. If it transpires the non honours degree is an issue, I could study the OU law degree part time. The point being, I will have started legal employment already gaining valuable experience. An immediate concern that spring to mind for option [B]3 [/B]is perhaps law firms will be more familiar with the PGDL award. They may ask themselves, where is my formal legal qualification. Appreciate my entry point is pretty far from conventional. I would be interested to hear anyone’s thoughts on my options. [/QUOTE]
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