Beyond the Middle Ages: Moving from Medieval Studies to Law

Beyond the Middle Ages:Beyond the Middle Ages:

Moving from Medieval Studies Moving from Medieval Studies to Lawto Law

““We Choose to be Medievalists not We Choose to be Medievalists not because it is easy…”because it is easy…”

Fact:Fact:

If you are currently pursuing a postgraduate If you are currently pursuing a postgraduate course of study you have already demonstrated course of study you have already demonstrated that you have all the necessary skills for a that you have all the necessary skills for a successful career practising Law – if you want it successful career practising Law – if you want it badly enough.badly enough.

The problem is employers can be unaware of The problem is employers can be unaware of the breadth of skills post graduate work equips the breadth of skills post graduate work equips you withyou with

And yes, the Latin does help – a bitAnd yes, the Latin does help – a bit

In fact as a Medievalist you may be In fact as a Medievalist you may be uniquely equipped to appreciate some of uniquely equipped to appreciate some of the more subtle aspects of the legal the more subtle aspects of the legal system unappreciated even by some system unappreciated even by some experienced lawyers… experienced lawyers…

honi soit qui mal y pensehoni soit qui mal y pense

Bringing Anglo-Norman subjunctives to a Bringing Anglo-Norman subjunctives to a court wall near you since 1066 (or court wall near you since 1066 (or thereabouts)thereabouts)

Beyond the technical and historical:Beyond the technical and historical:

An MA or Ph.D in Medieval Studies An MA or Ph.D in Medieval Studies demonstrates that aside from core demonstrates that aside from core intellectual skills expected of graduates intellectual skills expected of graduates you have:you have:

TenacityTenacity

FocusFocus

DeterminationDetermination

Because if you didn’t, you wouldn’t have Because if you didn’t, you wouldn’t have made it this far.made it this far.

And these are the key attributes essential And these are the key attributes essential to getting a legal career off the ground.to getting a legal career off the ground.

Trust me. Not him.Trust me. Not him.

Getting Started in LawGetting Started in Law

How does one go from Chaucer to Chancery How does one go from Chaucer to Chancery division?division?

First of all the following problems need to be First of all the following problems need to be addressed:addressed:Funding (as usual)Funding (as usual)Burn Out (if you’ve just finished a Ph.D Burn Out (if you’ve just finished a Ph.D you might fancy a rest)you might fancy a rest)Fed up with studying generally?Fed up with studying generally?

Some adviceSome advice

Don’t get involved unless you are up for a Don’t get involved unless you are up for a serious new challenge.serious new challenge.If any of the previous factors are a If any of the previous factors are a problem make sure you are satisfied you problem make sure you are satisfied you can handle a further tough couple of can handle a further tough couple of years.years.In my case, after submitting I worked for a In my case, after submitting I worked for a couple of years for Customs and Excise, couple of years for Customs and Excise, following in some illustrious footsteps…following in some illustrious footsteps…

““On his way back to ye office, On his way back to ye office, Geoffrey didst ponder ye VAT Geoffrey didst ponder ye VAT

gappe full verily”gappe full verily”

The reason being to pay for:The reason being to pay for:

The Law Society Common Professional The Law Society Common Professional Examination (CPE)Examination (CPE)

Also known as the Graduate Diploma in Also known as the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)Law (GDL)

CPECPE

This is a one year course for graduates of This is a one year course for graduates of other disciplines and carries the same other disciplines and carries the same weight as a standard law degree (LLB)weight as a standard law degree (LLB)

The Law Society allows certain institutions The Law Society allows certain institutions to offer this course. Credited institutions to offer this course. Credited institutions include Nottingham Trent, Northumbria include Nottingham Trent, Northumbria and the College of Law with campuses in and the College of Law with campuses in York and Guildford inter alia.York and Guildford inter alia.

CPE InstitutionsCPE Institutions

A full list of providers can be found at:A full list of providers can be found at:

http://www.get.hobsons.co.uk/advice/law-conversion-course-providers

CPE durationCPE duration

The CPE permits entry to the vocational The CPE permits entry to the vocational stage of professional training.stage of professional training.

The Courses begin mid-September and The Courses begin mid-September and the examination period ends in early June.the examination period ends in early June.

As it lasts in effect only nine months it is As it lasts in effect only nine months it is an extremely intensive course.an extremely intensive course.

The Bad News:The Bad News:

Intensive and expensive (fees around £9k)Intensive and expensive (fees around £9k)

CPE contentsCPE contents

Most CPE courses cover the 7 main areas Most CPE courses cover the 7 main areas of Law and include an overview of the of Law and include an overview of the England and Wales legal system.England and Wales legal system.

A research module is usually included as a A research module is usually included as a further area of legal study (around 3000 further area of legal study (around 3000 words)words)

7 Areas of Law7 Areas of Law

These are:These are:The Law of ContractThe Law of ContractThe Law of the European UnionThe Law of the European UnionCrimeCrimeLand LawLand LawEquity and TrustsEquity and TrustsPublic and Administrative LawPublic and Administrative LawThe Law of Tort (Civil Wrongs)The Law of Tort (Civil Wrongs)

Vocational TrainingVocational Training

Make it through the CPE exams and the Make it through the CPE exams and the next stage depends on whether you wish next stage depends on whether you wish to be a solicitor or a barrister.to be a solicitor or a barrister.

Prospective Solicitors study the LPC Prospective Solicitors study the LPC (Legal Practice Course)(Legal Practice Course)

Prospective Barristers choose the BVC Prospective Barristers choose the BVC (Bar Vocational Qualification)(Bar Vocational Qualification)

LPCLPC

The LPC contains a mix of compulsory The LPC contains a mix of compulsory and elective elements. The compulsory and elective elements. The compulsory element consists of:element consists of:

Business Law and PracticeBusiness Law and Practice

Criminal and Civil LitigationCriminal and Civil Litigation

Property Law and Practice(Conveyancing)Property Law and Practice(Conveyancing)

Elective ElementsElective Elements

These differ substantially depending on These differ substantially depending on the institution attended.the institution attended.

With a view to joining a high street practice With a view to joining a high street practice I studied Mental Health Law, Employment I studied Mental Health Law, Employment Law and Childcare and Adoption LawLaw and Childcare and Adoption Law

The BVCThe BVC

The BVC contains many of the elements of the The BVC contains many of the elements of the LPC but devotes a lot more time to developing LPC but devotes a lot more time to developing advocacy skills and legal research.advocacy skills and legal research.

It is also substantially more expensive (fees It is also substantially more expensive (fees circa £11k)circa £11k)The Bar is massively competitive. Out of a class The Bar is massively competitive. Out of a class of 70 perhaps 4-5 students will get a pupillage of 70 perhaps 4-5 students will get a pupillage and 3-4 will eventually become tenants at and 3-4 will eventually become tenants at chamberschambers

After the LPCAfter the LPC

The next stage is to get a training contract The next stage is to get a training contract with a firm of solicitors. This involves a with a firm of solicitors. This involves a further two years of studyfurther two years of study

This is the bottleneck stage. Every firm will This is the bottleneck stage. Every firm will receive many more applications than receive many more applications than training positions.training positions.

BUT THIS IS ALSO WHERE YOU WILL BUT THIS IS ALSO WHERE YOU WILL STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD.STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD.

Some tips for Post Grads:Some tips for Post Grads:

If you are genuinely interested do plenty or If you are genuinely interested do plenty or research and find out all you can about research and find out all you can about potential course providers.potential course providers.

Tips Continued…Tips Continued…

If you have a good degree or degrees you already have If you have a good degree or degrees you already have what it takes. Research some firms you may be what it takes. Research some firms you may be interested in and write off. Many larger firms sponsor interested in and write off. Many larger firms sponsor their trainees through the CPE/LPCtheir trainees through the CPE/LPC this solves the most serious problems faced by many this solves the most serious problems faced by many students straight away.students straight away.Nobody getting these awards will be more qualified then Nobody getting these awards will be more qualified then you – the trick is to apply early. Big firms recruit two you – the trick is to apply early. Big firms recruit two years in advance.years in advance.Get some legal work experience. Realistically training Get some legal work experience. Realistically training contracts are never awarded without some illustration of contracts are never awarded without some illustration of commitmentcommitment

Good luck and I hope Good luck and I hope this has been of some this has been of some assistance. assistance.

If you have any If you have any questions please feel questions please feel free to email mefree to email me

evincentmoss@hotmevincentmoss@hotmail.comail.com