5 minute read
Non-Law Graduate Route
Jessica Farnsworth talks to Legal Women about her experience of pursuing qualification from a non-law background.
Many people still consider the path to becoming a lawyer as being very structured, traditional and inflexible. However, when looking at the legal sector it is apparent to me that no one takes exactly the same route to get to where they are today. There are countless routes to qualification, and my experience is an example of this.
I first considered pursuing a career in law when I was still in school. However ultimately I decided not to choose law for my undergraduate degree. One of the reasons behind this decision was because I knew so little about law firsthand and I had no one I could turn to and ask about it. Instead, I pursued a BSc in Psychology. This was a subject which I was more familiar with, having previously taken it at A Level. I also found out that it was possible to do a conversion course in law and kept this at the back of my mind.
While at university, I considered my career choices. I found that although I enjoyed studying Psychology, it did not feel like the route I wanted to take. This led me to consider other options and again my mind kept wandering back to law. After considerable research, I applied to do a law conversion course that would also allow me to gain a master’s degree.
As a result of not having taken the ‘traditional route’, I faced the difficulty of feeling like I was behind those who had undertaken a law degree. It prolonged when I would get a job and truly begin my legal career in a field where qualification can already be a long process. A key example of this is that since I had not done an undergraduate law degree, I could not apply for a training contract as early as those who had. This feeling of being behind was something I realised early on and still poses a difficulty even now. I even briefly debated whether just getting a job in another field, where I could go straight into it, would be preferable to law.
However, once I began studying law, any hesitations I had were removed. My interest in law, which had been slowly developing for many years, has finally solidified into now knowing it is definitely something I want to pursue. This has made me feel more driven, motivated, and interested. I have thoroughly enjoyed the master’s course and the things I have learned so far, and this is reflected by the fact that I was able to achieve a Distinction mark overall.
There are also substantial advantages in taking an alternative route to qualify. I believe that it develops many transferable skills and provides a wider experience to draw from, overall allowing
a more rounded approach for students. Being a lawyer is after all not just about knowing the law. While this is undeniably a crucial component, there are many other important elements. Therefore, the experiences gained from taking an alternative route to qualification can only ever be beneficial. For example, I had the opportunity to attend an open day for STEM students at a law firm. As the firm’s clients were based in scientific research, it was preferable to attract candidates who have more of an understanding of this field.
Now that I have completed my master’s course, I am looking forward to graduating and facing the challenges that lie ahead in my path towards qualification. Alongside the Solicitors Qualifying Exams (SQEs), I have another choice in paths to consider regarding the Qualifying Work Experience (QWE). The QWE is a newer route which allows work experience to either be accumulated by a training contract, or through several different work experiences in a legal environment . The choice of paths, and flexibility in this, is an advantage because it has the scope to be attainable and suitable for more people. I do not have a set route in mind, but I do have goals that I am aiming towards. I am looking to get work experience at the moment to help aid and direct my career progression.
While it is daunting to have so much of the journey still ahead, it is also exciting. One thing I have found really useful, in transitioning from a non-law background, is getting to meet others ahead in their legal careers by attending law seminars and networking events. I have been lucky enough to find that there is a supportive and uplifting network of people at these events. It is easy to feel out of place and I definitely did before going to my first law event, however, I found that people could not have been more welcoming.
While I recognise that I am still in the early stages of my path to qualification, it feels like I have made progress since I first had the idea of pursuing a legal career. Overall, alternative routes should not feel like a deterrent to becoming legally qualified. I would reiterate that it is possible to succeed through alternative routes, and an alternative route could even perhaps be seen as preferable! ■
