Legal career or motherhood? - Training contract, trainee solicitor and law student information and resources

lauraannwu · #1 (**permalink**) 25th February 2010, 14:23

I'm in my mid-20s and am hoping to start a family before I am 30. I do not have a law degree so it would take me 4 years to qualify. At the moment I am struggling to decide whether it would be better to have my family first, maybe studying part time, and then pursue law after they're in school, or to pursue the GDL etc as soon as I can and try to fit in the children around it.

Can anyone who's been in a similar situation offer me any advice?

Thanks.

bee_bee · #2 (**permalink**) 28th February 2010, 21:29

7 months after i had my daughter, i thought it was time to get on with my studies and went for my gdl. i was lucky enough to have had a lot of support from my family. however, i struggled a bit with finding time to study because my daughter just never slept when she was supposed to. as if the gdl wasn't enough, i went for my lpc the year after.

i don't regret having my daughter but i felt like i missed out on certain experiences which could have helped with my employability. because my family (in-laws) have been looking after my daughter most days during school term, i felt bad leaving her with them to do volunteer work or pursue work experience with firms.

my only advice is, think long and hard before you decide what you really want to do. i'm not saying that it's impossible to pursue your dreams while having children, just that it would require a lot of planning and support from family and friends.

anyway, good luck!

Amelie80 · #3 (**permalink**) 28th February 2010, 21:49

Why not have children when you're finished with studying? I've known people who got pregnant while training and either took maternity leave during the TC or timed it so the baby would be born after they qualified.

You're only in your mid twenties. I'd try and get the study done while you don't have children to care for.

lucinda · #4 (**permalink**) 2nd March 2010, 00:05

Hi, i fell pregnant with my daughter in my second year at uni doing my law degree. I graduated the following year and went onto do the LPC part time. After that I had a break of about 9 months mainly because I couldnt find work but also because it was lovely to spend quality time with my daughter after all that studying. Last march I landed a job as a paralegal and in October 2009 I signed a training contract with the same firm. I have packed so much into the last few years and I would be lying if I said it doesn't bother me that I can't pick my daughter up from school everyday, but I wouldnt change it for the world. My daughter is the best thing that ever happened to me and making sure I have a sucessful career and can offer her stability in the future is just as important. I really want her to be proud of me when she is older. I reiterate what the previous post says in that it helps to have good family support - nurseries just don't stay open late enough for the ridiculous hours I work sometimes! Just thought I would tell you my story in case it helps you. Good luck and I say go for it! You only live once!

GailW · #5 (**permalink**) 3rd March 2010, 07:06

I think you'd find it easier to get your studies out the way and launch your career before having children. You've still got lots of time to have kids and you must remember that, even when they're school age, you'll still need time off work when they're sick or for school holidays or to see their nativity play! Easier to do that once you've established yourself within a firm than when you're doing your training contract or NQ.

I'm in my mid-30s, working full time and studying the GDL part time with a 4 year old and an 8 month old. Trying to combine everything is pretty full-on! I wish I'd started my law studies when I was younger...(sigh)!

soropo · #6 (**permalink**) 3rd March 2010, 12:09

Hi, I started studying when my eldest was 2. Im doing my LPC at the moment, My eldest is now 8 and I have another 2 year old. Im doing both studying and raising a family.

Theres no reason for you to not be able to do both if you have a supportive partner.

Im not saying its easy but it is possible and worth it.

By the way Im now 37 and loving every minute of studying and family life and glad I had my first child before starting studies.

Good luck whatever you decide

oldbean · #7 (**permalink**) 3rd March 2010, 14:21

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer to this one. I graduated with a history degree in 1991, and after working in the civil service for 3 years I had my first child when I was 24. Looking back on it, it seems ridiculously young and we had less than no money or sense at the time but my theory was to get the kids out of the way before the career (ha ha!). Anyway, I did my GDL when child 3 went off to school full time, when I was approaching 35. Since then, I've done the LPC, am now 6 months into a training contract and I was 40 yesterday!!

Hindsight is a great thing, but on balance I do wish I had qualified before having the kids. Its great being the still relatively young parent of a 15, 13 and 8 year old but looking after 3 kids while working full time is knackering to say the least and I feel I am playing a constant game of catch up to younger, more qualified colleagues.

On the plus side though, when applying for training contracts I did place a lot of emphasis on the fact that I had already had my family and had years of uninterrupted work ahead...

Whatever you decide enjoy it!!