Taking a year out during Law degree - is this a wise move?

[April]

Hi, I've just joined this forum

As the title of this topic suggests, I'm thinking of taking a year out DURING my LLB degree.

I'm currently finishing up my second year - exams will be over May 29th. I've been thinking about leaving for a year, getting some experience maybe, maybe paid work, and generally taking a break from it all. This past year has been a little too much for me, the stress has become overwhelming. (Home life + Exams)

What do you all think? Is it a wise move, or will Law firms wonder why I decided to just up and leave for a year? Have any of you done what I'm thinking of doing?

Basically, any advice will be appreciated

[Alexxx]

Should be OK, as long as you do something constructive with it.

[dancing_girl]

it'd be fine i should imagine, as long as you do something worthwhile. all law and language students automatically have a (sort of) year out anyway. so i can't see how it's any different.

Just don't arse about working bar jobs. If you're going to do it, as others have already said, then do it with a proper goal in mind and achieve the goal.

Your goal may be to get a solid year of experience in a firm, getting your police station accreditation (if crime is your thing) or learning a language by working for a firm in another country.

Just make sure its something that you can use to 'sell' yourself at interview, otherwise you'll just look like someone that wasn't sure if law was for you.

Firms will ask why. It's unusual, and saying you struggled with pressure will raise eyebrows, as being a lawyer is often stressful. Make sure you have a really good answer to the question "why did you take a year out in the middle of your LLB? That's kind of unusual, isn't it?" Then make sure you do something that adds to your marketability.

Suggestion for why - you couldn't afford to stay at uni, but are determined to pursue a career in law, so deferred your final year to work and fund your final year.