Hello Lawyers,

I am 27 years old. Last year i begin to realised my career is not exactly a very secure path. I was thinking of getting a masters but i didn't really know which one. Until i watched the west wing. the idea of the law, government, politics, policy got me interested in studying law.

I am not a law graduate. I have a Bachelor of Arts (Multimedia). Currently I am working for a good online advertising company in melbourne. I am in the Project management.

Monash have accepted me to their Grad Dip program. I asked them about the JD program and they recommend me to take 2 subjects from the grad dip program (Australian Legal System and Australian Corporate Law). Do well, see if you can cope with the work load and then apply to the JD

I have already beginning to read the course materials and i find it really interesting but complicated.

Since i am working for an online advertising company. I would be taking internet laws and copyright laws as my electives.

Can anybody tell me what to expect when you are studying law? I guess what to expect when you are taking the JD program. I will be 31 yrs once i have completed the JD program. Do you think age will compromise my path to becoming a lawyer? Is law a good career path?

thanks

Hi catsgrave,

I have included my opinion and hope it helps.

In general, the Australian legal profession is somewhat tight at the moment and getting a job at a top tier firm is extremely difficult. I think age shouldn't be an issue if you aren't too picky in terms of the firms you want to work at etc.

If you are really keen and time/cost is not really a big issue, i think you go just go ahead and apply for the JD program. When completing the JD full-time you would be expected to commit a large amount of time towards study and not expect lecturers to be too generous when grading assignments. I think the right phrase would be 'prepare to be lifeless' for the duration of your JD studies because most weekends will usually be spent on completing assignments and/or preparing for class.

However, with that said, I personally feel that studying law has changed my life. It has provided me with valuable insight into the society and dramatically changed the way i think and look at things. Also, having a law degree itself opens more career opportunities to you (in general).

In essence, i think you should go for it - I recently did 1 JD subject at Monash and the students are probably 20ish to late 40s so you would be somewhere in the middle. Finding a law job at a top-tier law firm might be a struggle but I am sure you would be able to get something in the mid/low tier firms. The salary for starting lawyers is not too amazing though.

Let me know if you need any additional info! :)


Regards
greg

Thanks greg

Yeah i recently found out that there are too many lawyers in australia at the moment.

I hope my experience and my first degree will help me secure a better firm once i managed to graduate from the JD. I will be targeting the law depart of advertising companies first to gain experience.

I reckon because of the ever growing internet technology, the lawyers that specializes in internet law could be in demand.

but anyway thanks for the encouragement. I will finish my first 2 law subj and see how i go

just out of curiousity, how much is the lawyers in high/med/low tier are getting paid?

cheers,

Hey there,

Good to hear that you are considering taking it! :)

I think the figures in this report is somewhat accurate on the legal salary -->

http://www.michaelpage.com.au/pdf/AU_2006_Legal_SalarySurvey.pdf

Also, if possible, I think you consider taking the JD directly rather than completing the Grad Dip. When i was completing my JD, I commenced with a cohort and we had similar subjects. This was extremely important in terms of networking and having a support group through my studies. Due to the rigid nature of a JD degree, the structure (i.e. course sequence) of everyone is practically the same and we would see each other at least once or twice weekly. Completing some subjects within the Grad Dip would mean you might be 'out-of-sync' from the general flow. I guess it is not too big a deal but having a close knitted cohort within the JD program would be one of the benefits that the LLB and/or other degrees don't really offer.

Regards
greg

Hi greg,

I will do two subjects first from the grad dip program. I have asked the program coordinator, i can apply for the august intake (JD) and if they accept me. I could credit transfer those two subjects into the JD program.

Were you working when you took the JD program? how did you balance your work time? Looking at the unit schedule, It's mostly Friday mornings and afternoon. I would have to talk to my employer about that. :)

cheers,

Hey catsgrave,

Sorry for the delay in replying.
Basically, i did my JD for full-time for 2-years. Managed to take an overload in order to finish faster though.

During my JD studies, it was pretty lifeless and weekends would be packed up with uni work.

When do you start your Grad Dip? Also, would ALL your Grad Dip subjects could towards the JD?


Regards
greg

Hi Greg

I am starting the Grad Dip Mid Feb and I have put in an application for the monash JD august intake.

I have been informed that the 2 subjects i am taking on the Grad Dip will be transfered to the JD if they accept me to the program.

Any tips on the JD interview? hehe

cheers

Hey,


I can't help you with the interview - I MIGHT BE WRONG but i think the interview is just a formality! Don't stress too much about it :)

regards
greg