Studying Law/Equine Law (also in SB)

Jenni_

Jenni_

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Good afternoon fellow HHO'rs

JUst a bit of advice please, as I'm sure amongst the folk that frequent here there will be people who are in this sphere in some way or another!

After having my dreams of riding professionally squashed (literally-but a TB dropping its self on me) and having worked in payroll for a few years just to support myself, I have been looking into studying law, with a view to eventually specialise in Equine Law.

It has interested me for a while, but in true I'm-going-to-be-the-next-Mary-King-I-don't-need-to-do-well-at-school style, I didn't really fuss with school - spent my time with ponies!

Left with 2 highers, and 2 int 2's, along with 7 standard grades (Scottish!) I am VERY intelligent though but please don't take that as me gloating.

I can study a BSc in Law through the Open University, but I would like some help / advice on where I would/ could go after that? in regards to the traineeships etc. and perhaps getting sposored for the study after that as it is VERY expensive!

Also, how would I presuade people about how passionate I am for the job? They must see hundreds of graduates all blithering on about how they are perfect for the job, but how do I convince them that I really do want to do well, and help people who are stuck in legal ruts in regards to the industry?

Just any sort of advice, my chances on getting jobs after I do my degree (heard that people who study at places like oxbridge are much more favoured than a silly OU degree )

I have been writing to some I have found on the internet for the past couple of days, I just hope I get some responses!

I'm 22 now, I've grown up a lot, I feel I'm ready to start working towards a 'career'

Any help appreciated - and any contacts to equine lawyers you may know personally I will muck out for ever for :P

Thanks,

Jennifer
 
Not sure I can help much, but I'm starting my law degree at university in October :)
I would add that equine law is a pretty narrow field, you may want to keep an open mind about other areas too. I don't really know anything about open university courses but you might want to check how their course matches up to a traditional university course...would it be possible for you to go back to university full time to 'do it properly' as it were, as you are only 22?
Also, in regards to your comments about oxbridge candidates I think you should be realistic in that yes, generally, they are considered better candidates and are statstically more likely to get the job. But then again a lot depends on interview skills etc. and the type of job you are applying for. If you apply for a job at a top law firm in London then unfortunately you need to be realistic in that there will be people applying from top universities like oxbridge etc. that have got straight A*'s, been to the best schools, the best university and can show that they have been dedicated to practising law from the outset...

That said, I'd definately say go for it if its what you want. Yes it will be hard, yes there will always be others that have had a slightly more conventional introduction to practising law but forget about them and focus on what you can bring :) Hope it works out for you.
 
Thanks Guys :)

Going back to uni full time is not an option, I have too much to pay for and couldn't go back to being skint again! I earn fairly decent money in my main job at the minute, good money teaching on the side and minimum wage in my little pub job, so going back to studying and doing a few nights in a bar... I just couldn't manage it!

In regards to time to study, when I work in the bar and it's quiet suring the week, I'll be able to study while I work.

I will definatley keep an open mind to start with as I thought Equine Law might be a bit small, it's just a field I know I can sink my teeth in and where all my previous training and hard work wouldn't go to waste as such!

I'm never going to want to work in a top firm in London, a local / country firm will do me fine as long as I enjoy who I work with and my work interests me.

Can I ask what it was about the OU you couldn't hack? Definitely will check out how the OU course favours to Uni course, thing is if I wanted to go back to Uni I'd have to go and do my highers again which = more years studying.
 
I can’t help ref equine law other than to say it’s quite a small field but that might mean it’s easier to target it if that makes sense, and might have fewer Oxbridge straight A graders to compete with if they are going more ‘mainstream’!

In terms of study and qualification, there’s the undergraduate degree, if you do a law degree then you need to do the 1 year LPC after that (there’s an extra 1 year if you don’t study law), then a 2 year paid training contract with a law firm/barristers chambers depending what you want to do. It is hard, it’s expensive, and it’s very competitive to get into but, if it’s what you want to do, it’s rewarding and tends to be a generally solid well paid career.

Anyhow, try and get some work experience with a legal angle, research law firms who do the law you want to do and try and build some contacts. If you can manage it financially, look for place,ent opportunities, work experience, they might even now do some apprenticeships in law but that’s newer so I don’t know about those.
 
You first need to decide whether you want to study scottish or english law they are VERY different and it isn't easy to switch.

I am happy to advise in relation to working in England but know very little about the scottish system.

I would say that Equine Law is such a tiny and fractured area I wouldn't go into the profession unless you would be happy to work in other areas such as property, civil litigation or whatever and just be happy if the occasional equine case crosses your desk.
 
If you don't have the requisite grades for full time study at a decent university I would strongly suggest that you look at an apprenticeship or the CILEX route, far less risky in terms of the debts you will incur and more likely to lead to a job. There are way too many law graduates with the LPC fighting for a tiny number of training contracts and many end up leaving the profession or working as paralegals then going down the CILEX graduate fast track route.

My firm gets thousands of applications per training contract. Most firms will only accept applications from candidates with certain points at A-level, certain grades at GCSE AND at least a 2:1 in their degree plus a good LPC grade. Many also have a masters.
 
If your going open go for an LLB law - a qualifying law degree... im 2/3 of the way theu mine and it’s not overly demanding - and you can take a year off if things get stressful. If you want any more details or info re doing the course on me as I’m starting my 3rd year next week x
 
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