Law Careers

[undercovers]

I have a very keen interest in studying Law, particular areas Employment Law and entertainment law, I am interested in furthering my knowledge in this subject (CPE training) and pursuing a career within it. I did find the work of a solicitor appealing but could anyone offer any advice on other law based work (excluding Barristers as this does not appeal) maybe within a business. Any advice about this subject would be very much appricated (UK based) - Thanks

[vittoria]

As well as being a solitor or a barrister you could become a legal executive or a paralegal. In the field of employment you could work for a law centre or local authority or as an in-house solicitor as well as a practising solicitor or barrister. As for entertainment law I am not sure; maybe some of the large media companies might employ an in-house lawyer but I think most of the work will be in a specialist niche practice.

[jaffacakes]

I've just finished a law degree at Southampton University, and found it very difficult to find work in the legal profession. I'm now about to start work for an Insurance Company, handling claims. This requires a certain amount of legal knowledge, especially on liability and quantum questions. Insurance companies tend to look favourably on those with law degrees.

[El21]

Hi! How strange, my brother has finished a Law Degree from Southampton University too! I wonder if you know him? Possibly not?? It was in Marine Law and he has just finished studying at Guilford to get his Legal Practice course. Law is really good to get into - hard, but if you have the know how and the drive - go for it!!

[Miss Zippy]

. Law is a great subject to study (having studied for two law degrees, one at Southampton Uni!) and is a highly regarded degree. However, working in practice isn�t so great so I would strongly recommend that you pursue a career in industry, whether as an in-house legal adviser after qualifying or doing something that does not require you to qualify as a solicitor/barrister (as I did). You are also likely to earn more in industry � your average high street solicitor will earn around �30 - �35k after being qualified for 4 years (City sols and partners earn more of course) but you can expect to earn �15k to �20k more doing an equivalent job in industry (based on my experience and those of my old Uni friends who have gone on to pursue varied careers). I work as a legal and regulatory manager for a financial services company and am also studying for Chartered Secretary status, being a company secretary of 16 companies. Company secretaries advise the directors and shareholders of a company on a wide range of legal issues, including employment law, so this could be something that might interest you.

[jaffacakes]

El21, I might know your brother, but he would have been a couple of years ahead of me!!

[vittoria]

Do you know, I was thinking of studying to become a legal executive when I finish my LLB as I felt the LPC was not for me (largely because of my age and because I have a 5 yr old daughter) but the replies have given me some food for thought, particularly Miss Zippy's and Jaffacakes's. Thanks everyone.

[undercovers]

very interesting - thanks for the responses, so its law qualification that is required without the "legal practice" at the end needed to be a solicitor that i should be investigating. Thanks very much

[New Forester]

Planning law is a big and I think expanding field -- lots of work in Public Inquiries and advising developers and objectors. Seems to be done mainly by specialist solicitors, but planners also seem to do it.