Now that I have finished my first year and have just over two months before I start my second year I have been researching careers, related and unrelated to Law. The first two that obviously came up was Barrister and Solicitor. Now I’m going to be one hundred percent honest, from my research I think going into being a Barrister is a MASSIVE gamble and with reading how people have been trying to get pupillage and unfortunately failing it worries me. A solicitor however is a relativity safer option however I don’t feel being a solicitor in the city is where I want to go with my life. I could see myself doing Family, Employment Law but I’m not sure if it would make me truly happy.
Now when I reached this point in thinking I decided to walk away from researching and take a week off while I had the week off work and to just catch up with friends to return to it another day.
Now in the week two friends said two things to me which struck me. The first being another Law student who asked about where I was looking at going. He told me that I can’t rule out anything until I have had experience so do a mini-pupillage and a placement with a solicitors firm and just get a feel for the job. My other mate told me about another career option I never would of even thought of, being a Lawyer in the Army!
Now for some reason this has really appealed to me, and after researching I found out that a lawyer in the Army is much like an American Lawyer, there are no barristers or solicitors and the army even has its own legal system. Also every two years you get moved from your current placement. To apply however you need to be a qualified solicitor or barrister and of completed a training contract or pupillage.
At the moment I crave some adventure and adrenaline rushing activities and Im not sure why. It could be the countless action movies that I have been watching or it could actually be a new side to me.
This could be a real option and I have to qualify first in either profession so I have time to change my mind and to really decided if I am committed. Yet it still raises the old question of Barrister or Solicitor? (A subject I will post on soon ).
So what’s your thoughts on being a Lawyer in the Army? Anyone ever heard anything about it or know of anyone in it?
http://www.army.mod.uk/documents/general/ALS_careerguide.pdf
My Dear Looney,
I was given to believe that one had to be a qualified laywer - i.e solicitor or barrister- in order to go into the Army's Legal Service; by qualified I mean the full whack - TC/pupillage under the belt - before entranace, or at least thats what an 3rd year undergraduate friend tells me. We could both be wrong, of course!
Do you really feel cut out for life in the army? Adrenalising activity can be sought through other channels y'know; when fresher's fayre comes around , go check out some of the socs, see if they will fit in with your desire for an adrenaline rush.
In the meantime I'd urge you to apply for both a couple of summer placements at a solicitors office and some mini pupillages; you will be able to put them on your CV, forge some useful legal contacts, and demonstrate to interested employers that you have given both sides of the profession considered thought before making your eventual choice!
Swiss Tony says
Yooooney,
I was going to do that. I thought it would be a laugh. In fact, if you email me I will explain so much about it all that your eyes will water.
The reason I didn't do it is because I am too old. I would love to have been young enough. Trouble is that you still need to get past the pupillage problem, so its no short cut, but it would be a darn rewarding and interesting job.
Swizz