has opened up; I feel we risk losing potentially good people who can’t afford it or don’t want the debt if we don’t. Historically, there was a huge shortage of skills and diversity. I think back to how hard it was for me to get an opportunity, and how some still look down their noses at those who have qualified through the vocational route, so, personally I think it’s a good thing – and that things will keep improving. It will give more people the opportunity to start at a younger age, rather than waiting to get a law degree first; previously people were probably 24 years old and starting in the profession without any experience of what it was actually like.
One thing I have learnt over my career is that you can never know everything. I still get cases where I’ll say, “I’ve never seen that before!”, but you learn from experience and precedent. Land law and conveyancing is one of the hardest subjects; people often find they get ‘landed’ in that department rather than choosing it! But I enjoy it and you often get interesting things pop up. We tend to operate on a 3-month cycle which is the typical time it takes to manage a transaction, so we have a fairly high turnover of clients as jobs complete. Criminal law tends to be the ‘glamorous’ branch because you can compare it to things
you’ve seen on TV or in films! However, there is not much money in criminal law; not many firms practice it and it’s often unsociable hours. Most people like going to court so will choose Family Law or something that involves disputes to get their teeth into.
What would my advice be to anyone thinking about a career in the law? Try to speak to people already working in the profession. Do some work experience to get a taste of whether it’s really for you. You do need to be inquisitive and have drive; don’t go in half-heartedly as you do need to dedicate yourself to it. You have to be able to communicate; your clients need someone they can talk to, so we need lawyers who are down to earth and from all walks of life. The legal profession is often perceived as quite prestigious but I’m from a working-class background so don’t let that be a barrier.
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34 Make The Future Yours! Issue 2
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