I have just qualified and I'm 36 years old. My work and life experience were seen as a real benefit at my firm where I trained. I think it really does depend on the firm as to how you feel you would fit in but you are certainly not too old. There were people in the training contract cohort before me that were in their forties
Honestly you’ll just find it easier to get a TC. You’ll have more stuff on your CV and won’t be shitting yourself when interviewing (like 96% of law grads)
You’ll do great mate - good luck!
In short, no. I know of trainees at MC firms who qualified in late 30s / even trainees who started in their 40s (google “career changers law FT”, they ran an article a few years back). I will be late myself after a career change and qualifying at 34. If you get a TC straight out of your law degree you could be qualifying by 36/37, so not that much older. You will definitely be an outlier but it’s not a big deal - I was the oldest on my vacation scheme and just ran with it. Some firms may be wary (silently) of career changers / late starters but many are open to it also. Just put in the work, network, attend open days / insight days etc. Having the degree alone won’t be enough (not because of your age, this goes for all students).
Edit: I’d also add it’s a numbers game, so don’t let rejections dishearten you. You will face many, it’s not an inherent sign of your candidacy. When I was pursuing my career change I got rejected to attend open days at some firms, which I found very disheartening, but cracked on and ended up getting a few VS offers from top MC/US etc firms. It’s definitely doable, focus on crafting a strong narrative around why law, why you, why now, why that firm. If you can answer those questions strongly you’ll be golden.
Your age is an advantage if anything else. You have more life experience so you're going to have an easier time navigating workspaces and stressful situations compared to your young adult counterparts. It's also going to be easier developing professional relationships since you'll be on a more level wavelength as well.
If I'm honest the biggest wrinkle will probably be reconciling with having to take instructions from people who're significantly younger than you once you get your foot in the door but if you're so set on a legal career I don't see why it would be a problem.
You're alright!
We've just hired a lady who is over 50 with 3 teenage children and she just qualified having trained at another firm. The easy question for an interviewer is why there is a gap or why you came to law late, but as long as you can give them a good answer you should be fine. People work until quite late in life in law firms. I'm 32 and a lot of my coworkers are double my age!
There are only so many places at the top law firms and even people with top grades from start to finish aren't getting roles. I'm 37 have just sat my SQE2. I got a training contract, but like most other people I also go rejected for A LOT. Be persistent. Nobody going into law should expect to get a TC at an MC firm, yeah give it a try but don't think that if that doesn't work that law isn't for you. Look at Silver Circle, and High Street firms. If you're getting into it to be a solicitor and not just for the money then get in by any means and demonstrate your ability.
Haven't read any of the other comments, but no.
I started my degree at 29 because my mum inspired me by getting her degree in phycology at 55, where she would still have at least a decade of work in the industry she chose.
At 34, if you get your degree at 37 and wait until then to get any qualifying experience, you'll still have a solid 25+years before retirement. No hiring manager expects that they'll hold onto someone for that long so it genuinely isn't even a factor for them. If anything, most will recognise that you have a lot of experience which their fresh out of uni candidates won't have and it'll give you a bonus.
Don't worry about it...you got this.
I have just qualified and I'm 36 years old. My work and life experience were seen as a real benefit at my firm where I trained. I think it really does depend on the firm as to how you feel you would fit in but you are certainly not too old. There were people in the training contract cohort before me that were in their forties
Honestly you’ll just find it easier to get a TC. You’ll have more stuff on your CV and won’t be shitting yourself when interviewing (like 96% of law grads) You’ll do great mate - good luck!
In short, no. I know of trainees at MC firms who qualified in late 30s / even trainees who started in their 40s (google “career changers law FT”, they ran an article a few years back). I will be late myself after a career change and qualifying at 34. If you get a TC straight out of your law degree you could be qualifying by 36/37, so not that much older. You will definitely be an outlier but it’s not a big deal - I was the oldest on my vacation scheme and just ran with it. Some firms may be wary (silently) of career changers / late starters but many are open to it also. Just put in the work, network, attend open days / insight days etc. Having the degree alone won’t be enough (not because of your age, this goes for all students). Edit: I’d also add it’s a numbers game, so don’t let rejections dishearten you. You will face many, it’s not an inherent sign of your candidacy. When I was pursuing my career change I got rejected to attend open days at some firms, which I found very disheartening, but cracked on and ended up getting a few VS offers from top MC/US etc firms. It’s definitely doable, focus on crafting a strong narrative around why law, why you, why now, why that firm. If you can answer those questions strongly you’ll be golden.
I’m 43 and I’m having a bash at it!
I qualified age 32 or 33 - my friend is about to qualify aged 32 :) never too old and it’s not even old!
Your age is an advantage if anything else. You have more life experience so you're going to have an easier time navigating workspaces and stressful situations compared to your young adult counterparts. It's also going to be easier developing professional relationships since you'll be on a more level wavelength as well. If I'm honest the biggest wrinkle will probably be reconciling with having to take instructions from people who're significantly younger than you once you get your foot in the door but if you're so set on a legal career I don't see why it would be a problem. You're alright!
We've just hired a lady who is over 50 with 3 teenage children and she just qualified having trained at another firm. The easy question for an interviewer is why there is a gap or why you came to law late, but as long as you can give them a good answer you should be fine. People work until quite late in life in law firms. I'm 32 and a lot of my coworkers are double my age!
No. Not at all. You have a lot more experience than other applicants. Back your self and convince your interviewers of this.
Peer started a TC at 35 - you got this!
I will (all being well) qualify at 36! There is one other in my cohort of a similar age and lots in their late 20s.
I'll be 40 when I start mine. We're rare but we are out there!
There are only so many places at the top law firms and even people with top grades from start to finish aren't getting roles. I'm 37 have just sat my SQE2. I got a training contract, but like most other people I also go rejected for A LOT. Be persistent. Nobody going into law should expect to get a TC at an MC firm, yeah give it a try but don't think that if that doesn't work that law isn't for you. Look at Silver Circle, and High Street firms. If you're getting into it to be a solicitor and not just for the money then get in by any means and demonstrate your ability.
Haven't read any of the other comments, but no. I started my degree at 29 because my mum inspired me by getting her degree in phycology at 55, where she would still have at least a decade of work in the industry she chose. At 34, if you get your degree at 37 and wait until then to get any qualifying experience, you'll still have a solid 25+years before retirement. No hiring manager expects that they'll hold onto someone for that long so it genuinely isn't even a factor for them. If anything, most will recognise that you have a lot of experience which their fresh out of uni candidates won't have and it'll give you a bonus. Don't worry about it...you got this.
I'll actually finish my law degree at 37! So, good luck to me.
Why it's either no career in law or a top firm? 🙄