Management Consultancy vs. Law?? Help!
Discussion
Firstly, the law system works as follows if you didnt know. you do a 3 year law degree then you do a 1 year LPC then you're on your way, or you can do 3 year other degree, 1 year GDL, then 1 year LPC and you're in the same place. basically its one extra year of study.
Now I'm at abit of a loggerheads, my situation is as follows:
I'm looking likely to graduate this summer with a business degree, and am in the process of applying for management consultancy jobs. If i get in, the jobs are interesting and fun, the money is astronomical and it's what i have been planning to do for years now
However i took a law module this year and am really enjoying it. I am guaranteed a place in my university's law school on the GDL course, and can and will apply to some others in London too. The whole field of commercial/corporate law really interests me, and i know the money can match management consultancy.
My university ranks pretty highly in both business and law, and both are about the most competitive fields you can enter, both are very similar in terms of the environment i will be in etc. etc.
I am reckoning if i get a job with a top mc firm i would be stupid to turn it down, but if not it might be the best idea to do the 1 year GDL - then i have the option of working for a law firm if i can get it, and if not having a business and a law degree together can only mean more clout in applying for the mc jobs again.
Failing that, i could sit out next year in a part time job, save myself throwing the $$$ at the GDL for the year and just reapply to the mc jobs again next year, but i think i'd feel like id wasted a year?
Opinions
(apologies for the incoherence, i was typing as i was thinking)
Now I'm at abit of a loggerheads, my situation is as follows:
I'm looking likely to graduate this summer with a business degree, and am in the process of applying for management consultancy jobs. If i get in, the jobs are interesting and fun, the money is astronomical and it's what i have been planning to do for years now
However i took a law module this year and am really enjoying it. I am guaranteed a place in my university's law school on the GDL course, and can and will apply to some others in London too. The whole field of commercial/corporate law really interests me, and i know the money can match management consultancy.
My university ranks pretty highly in both business and law, and both are about the most competitive fields you can enter, both are very similar in terms of the environment i will be in etc. etc.
I am reckoning if i get a job with a top mc firm i would be stupid to turn it down, but if not it might be the best idea to do the 1 year GDL - then i have the option of working for a law firm if i can get it, and if not having a business and a law degree together can only mean more clout in applying for the mc jobs again.
Failing that, i could sit out next year in a part time job, save myself throwing the $$$ at the GDL for the year and just reapply to the mc jobs again next year, but i think i'd feel like id wasted a year?
Opinions
(apologies for the incoherence, i was typing as i was thinking)
It sounds to me like you want to do the law thing more, in which case - go for that. I went throught a similar quandry and made my decisions when i was applying for uni as i did both economics and law at a-level and didn't know what path to follow. I'm happy with the business route but law is a great career.
However my tutor at college did point out that there are many more people with LPCs then there are places for training with solicitors/barristers so the competition is tough. I obviously know nothing about you so don't know how good your uni is or what your personal strengths are but i thought it wise to point it out as it's certainly not "get your LPC then you're away", well, as far as i've been told anyway
Cheers,
Rob.
However my tutor at college did point out that there are many more people with LPCs then there are places for training with solicitors/barristers so the competition is tough. I obviously know nothing about you so don't know how good your uni is or what your personal strengths are but i thought it wise to point it out as it's certainly not "get your LPC then you're away", well, as far as i've been told anyway
Cheers,
Rob.
My take on your situation:
1. You are in an excellent position, better than most.
2. I'm making a decent fist of life without getting to where you are so young, so whatever you do you should be ok, so do what you want (within reason).
3. So, you can take an MC job at good money. If MC is what you want, take it.
4. If Law is your calling, go for it.
5. In hindsight, I would take staying at Uni over working!!!!
So in summary, IMHO, go with your heart, and it sounds like the Law degree to me. You can do the extra year, and if you decide it isn't for you, then hopefully you can still give MC a go. Well done, keep at it.
1. You are in an excellent position, better than most.
2. I'm making a decent fist of life without getting to where you are so young, so whatever you do you should be ok, so do what you want (within reason).
3. So, you can take an MC job at good money. If MC is what you want, take it.
4. If Law is your calling, go for it.
5. In hindsight, I would take staying at Uni over working!!!!
So in summary, IMHO, go with your heart, and it sounds like the Law degree to me. You can do the extra year, and if you decide it isn't for you, then hopefully you can still give MC a go. Well done, keep at it.
Surely the plan should take into account the external parameters over which you have no control. The North sea oil has been squandered, the city will eventually lose its position in the world. The big businesses in manufacturing have been through the process of hiring consultants and they are at the end of their decline. Surely the place to be is in insolvency?
Go do the law stuff first,
If you change your mind later it will be easier to go into management consultancy than to train and then go into law at a later date.
Once you leave education its hard to give up a salary and go back to it so do as much education that you want to do now rather than later
If you change your mind later it will be easier to go into management consultancy than to train and then go into law at a later date.
Once you leave education its hard to give up a salary and go back to it so do as much education that you want to do now rather than later
I am dual qualified as a (non-practicing) solicitor & a chartered surveyor. I am a partner in a management consultancy practice, leading the Asset & Corporate Real Estate Strategy group. When I qualified as a solicitor, I worked in the construction litigation group of a city solicitor, having already done a BSc (Hons) in building surveying and a short service commission in the Royal Engineers during which I passed my assessment of professional competence to become a chartered surveyor.
My view is that law will pay you loads more than consulting but consulting will be a load more interesting & intellectually stimulating.
Hope this helps - good luck with your choice.
My view is that law will pay you loads more than consulting but consulting will be a load more interesting & intellectually stimulating.
Hope this helps - good luck with your choice.
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