Career Clinic: I want to study law, but I'm not sure I want to be a lawyer...

Your call.......

Do you read the papers? Studying anything in the current climate is just about to get horrendously expensive. In three or so years’ time when you come out, the prospects of a job might be better than they are now, but won’t be great and there will be lots of competition.

If you study law but do not want to be a lawyer there are other areas within the legal profession which you can work in across the public/voluntary sector, politics or academia and these are going to come under severe financial pressure over the next few years. Most people who end up in those roles tend to do so almost by accident and either have outstanding academics or personal interests and connections which make them a fit for the role. Also a number of these positions are quite poorly-paid and seen as a stepping stone to something else.

With a small number of exceptions, commercial law firms work on the basis you are either a fee earner or an overhead and unless you are very lucky there will always be a ceiling on your career progression if you are not a qualified lawyer.

If, however, you are rolling in cash and want to study law purely as an academic discipline then do an LLB rather than the GDL or any other compressed version of it. These courses are intended to pump the students full of what they need to practise, not the finer points of feminist jurisprudence or whatever else floats your boat.

Young Fogey -28 Oct 2010 | 09:02

Why not an LLM?

The GDL and LPC are purely vocational courses designed to give non-law graduates the core skills and knowledge to survive their training contracts.

However, it sounds to me as if you are more interested in the academic side of law. If that is the case, why not do an LLM? I did one and loved every minute of it. Most universities, including some top ones, allow you to study on a part-time basis. Besides, you don't need an LLB to enrol on many LLM programmes (although that depends on the specialisation and the university). Finally, some people dismiss LLMs as having no practical value. However, they are very well looked upon by certain employers, such as international organisations.

For me, it's a no-brainer. Find an LLM course in an area of law that interests you, and do it. Just make sure you do it at a proper university. Do not bother with the Mickey Mouse LLMs that LPC providers have recently started offering.

Law Geek -28 Oct 2010 | 10:46

2 yr LLBs

Quite a few law schools do two year 'senior status' LLBs which would enable you to qualify should you choose it but is more flexible and interesting than the GDL.

Richard Moorhead -28 Oct 2010 | 11:05

I agree with the above posters that the GDL is not a course for people following an academic interest. My GDL was firmly oriented towards the exams. If a topic wasn't going to be on the exam, the tutors were reluctant to engage with it, even if the student was keen. (In some cases, I got the distinct impression the tutor didn't even know anything not covered by the syllabus.)

If your interest is more general than vocational, look into LLBs/LLMs or other academic qualifications. But steer clear of the GDL.

Beth -29 Oct 2010 | 12:13

Open University

The Open University do an LL.B (Hons) course which is written in conjunction with The College of Law. You used to also get the added benefit of a guaranteed place on a College of Law LPC - if you got the LL.B of course.

Andy -02 Nov 2010 | 14:25

One question - do you actually know what you want to do? How do you intend to use law? If you're looking for a career using law in a non-legal context then you may find your options more restrictive than you think. Doing an LLB when you're 18 is one thing - doing the LPC, which is geared towards one career only, is another kettle of fish. Is this just an indulgence, albeit an expensive one, or do you know where you're going with this?

Anonymous -02 Nov 2010 | 16:35

Make time to think

Supply of lawyers currently outstrips demand, and this is increasing. If you choose law, you need to spend a lot of time on change, people and marketing issues, as well as law. Is this what you really want? Do you know what really motivates you?

Talentliberator -01 Dec 2010 | 13:23