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Law - Anyone??

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  • 23-11-2009 11:03pm
    #1
    FridaysWell
    Registered Users Posts: 1,173 ✭✭✭


    Hey all,
    I am probably going to study Law with either German or Economics and I would like to know what is it like as a carrer path?
    Any Solicitors, Lawyers/Barristers or anyone involved in Legal stuff in their job like a legal department? Whats your job like and are job prospects good?

    Thanks all, have a nice day :D


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    #2
    Bigdeadlydave
    Closed Accounts Posts: 611 ✭✭✭Bigdeadlydave


    Well there is a lot of Solicitors out of work atm cause they were all involved with housing. My guidance Councillor says 500 or so....


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    #3
    Chris007
    Closed Accounts Posts: 163 ✭✭Chris007


    Anyone able to shed some light onto the situation? Interested in studying law myself


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    #4
    Mary007
    Closed Accounts Posts: 98 ✭✭Mary007


    Chris007 wrote: »
    Anyone able to shed some light onto the situation? Interested in studying law myself

    Shed light on what exactly?!:D


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    #5
    Chris007
    Closed Accounts Posts: 163 ✭✭Chris007


    Mary007 wrote: »
    Shed light on what exactly?!:D

    Just the current state of the legal industry in relation to employment, traineeships etc.

    (Nice username Mary ;))


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    #6
    Mary007
    Closed Accounts Posts: 98 ✭✭Mary007


    Chris007 wrote: »
    Just the current state of the legal industry in relation to employment, traineeships etc.

    (Nice username Mary ;))

    Thanks we're so original haha :p. Well like everything at the moment things there aren't great but by the time you're qualified thinks will be looking up ( I hope!) basic law degree - 4 years, if you want to do your masters (LLM) that will be another year, and then if you want to be a solicitor/barrister you're looking at another 2 years.

    Hopefully after 7 years we will be well and truly out of recession, so don't let that hinder your choices! Possibly it will be a factor in peoples decision making and that might mean by the time you qualify there will be less people looking for work? I dunno, that's just my thinking on the matter!


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    #7
    Cian92
    Registered Users Posts: 827 ✭✭✭Cian92


    Could anybody tell me about there job as a solicitor of barrister please?
    Im thinking of doing law.


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    #8
    Wantobe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 554 ✭✭✭Wantobe


    Since no one else replied...

    Occupation:Solicitor
    Qualifications held:BCL LLM
    Previous Jobs:None of any merit, worked while a student parttime.
    Daily/weekly/yearly routine:I work as a conveyancing/probate and general practice solicitor. I'm also a qualified auctioneer.
    Age bracket: (optional) i.e. under 30, 30-40, 40-50, over 50; 30-40
    General comments:It is difficult at the moment to get a job as a newly qualified solicitor, and it was always difficult to get an apprenticeship so that has to be taken into account. But if you love anything, there is a way.
    Day In The Life: (describes just a regular day in detail) I started off as an apprentice in a general country practice. I had a brilliant apprenticeship and my master had me involved in all files. I then moved to specialise in commercial conveyancing. From there I became more involved in litigation as I became involved in construction litigation. Now that I have a family I have changed career to become a probate and conveyancing solicitor to cut down on travel.

    A typical day would be- get in at half past eight to look through files for appointments later. Probably an average of four appointments per day, some days more, some days less. These appointments can take between fifteen minutes to hours, depending on complexity. So I might have a will at nine, this could take half an hour or longer. Then time to deal with some sales and purchase files. Then another appointment, could be a client with a personal injury, or a client with a family law problem or just about anything. People will make an appointment without telling the receptionist what it is about as it is very personal to them so I don't know what they are coming to see me about until they come in. And I;ve seen and heard quite a bit over the years, enough to expect the unexpected. Nowadays I have quite a few clients coming in who are very upset and distressed over debt. You do build up personal relationships with clients, and despite the image of solicitors being only after money, quite a bit of my time is taken up with dealing with peoples problems without charging.

    ARound eleven I will have a chance to check the post, there is usually quite a volume. Might grab a coffee between appointments and files. An hour for lunch unless I have a lunchtime appointment for someone who can't get time off work, then more appointments and files during the afternoon. I could have a home/nursing home or hospital visit for elderly or ill/ sometimes terminally ill clients. Or sometimes I might have to call to see a property issue to fully understand a problem.

    Work is very varied in general practice but it is quite a stressful profession and burn out is quite common. Just like many jobs there are good points and bad points.

    Feel free to ask questions on a general basis. If you are really interested in pursuing law I would suggest that you contact local firms and ask to work for free for a few weeks to get an idea of the kind of work involved.


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    #9
    eVeNtInE
    Registered Users Posts: 7,020 ✭✭✭eVeNtInE


    This post has been deleted.


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    #10
    Wantobe
    Closed Accounts Posts: 554 ✭✭✭Wantobe


    Feel free.


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    #11
    Swizz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 643 ✭✭✭Swizz


    Alot of solicitors also wont take on


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