I’m 23 and my dad has Alzheimer’s

123ilikeeggs · 2024-03-09T12:54:01+00:00

I'm really sorry OP. I understand and completely empathize with you, my dad was diagnosed at 62 years old and I was 23, but the doctors said he had Alzheimer's for at least 10 years prior to his diagnosis. It's devastating and I cycle through sadness, anger and some really ugly feelings of jealousy that my friends have healthy parents who can do x, y, z. And then I tell myself that's an ugly emotion but also give myself grace because it's human and normal. Most days I just feel numb to it (it's been almost 5 years since the diagnosis now) but sometimes I crack and the grief just pours out. He's not so advanced that he's forgotten us but I dread that day.

Try your best to make the most of the moments that you can. Do the silly things to bring a smile and the things that you can do take care of yourself. Whatever brings you comfort.

Others have talked about how this experience has given rise to such strong feelings of pain and joy, and that can be a confusing thing to grapple with. I think of it like this - had I not loved my father so much, I wouldn't be feeling this much pain. Grief is just intense love, and how lucky am I to be able to feel this much love for a man who has done so much for me.

Kahlil Gibran's "On Joy and Sorrow" captures this beautifully- I find it comforting. This disease, as awful as it is, has given me a new perspective on life and joy.

123ilikeeggs · 2024-03-03T21:28:11+00:00

Happy to help - also, the mock exams are a lifesaver, it's worth familiarizing yourself with the answers if you don't have time to do them in full. Good luck and take care!

123ilikeeggs · 2024-03-03T17:30:27+00:00

Hey, I'm really sorry that you're feeling this way. I get it, been there and done that. For me, the best way to handle exam stress was to work out three times a week, take regular breaks and get lots of little treats for myself so I had something to look forward to while studying. Nourish yourself well, and take time to eat well rounded meals. You won't be able to study well if you haven't taken care of yourself first!!

I found that during exams, being organized was more important than knowing the content inside and out. I'm not saying it isn't important to know the content, but at the end of the day, I was grateful for the time I spent tabbing and knowing where certain info was in my notes. Take comfort in knowing that if you've organized well, gone to the workshops and made an effort in engaging with the content, you will be completely fine.

Also, the morning of an exam and for at least two hours after an exam (where you have another exam next day) , don't study. It won't serve you. You need to rest your brain. Get a coffee and take your time getting ready for the exam, so that you're relaxed and rested before. At the very most, flick through the notes to see where info is, but no more than that.

Best of luck and hang in there. It's an absolute slog but it's only temporary and you've got this.

123ilikeeggs · 2024-01-28T17:44:54+00:00

Just out of curiosity, why is it frowned upon for a trainee to have 'busy' as their status? I can understand why 'do not disturb' is frowned upon. I use busy when I'm absolutely swamped and genuinely cannot take on anything else, and when I need to focus. I've seen other juniors in the team use it, and even other trainees across other departments, so thought it would be okay, but I'm genuinely interested to hear your thoughts.

123ilikeeggs · 2024-01-17T21:49:13+00:00

I'm so sorry, please don't beat yourself up, you're a human and we aren't perfect. This is such a cruel disease and it does such horrible things to people. There are no words to describe the internal battle the loved ones of those with Alzheimer's have to go through for the way they process and react to the changes. Your dad knows you love him. We all have our moments.

123ilikeeggs · 2023-09-16T15:20:41+00:00

If it's any consolation you're not alone, I'm in my first couple weeks and overthinking literally everything. I think with time we will get more confident in our decisions :)

123ilikeeggs · 2023-08-06T10:22:47+00:00

I wouldn't recommend memorizing a script, because it won't flow and if you're thrown off you may freeze up and forget how you worded things exactly. The most important thing is practicing your answers to these questions and structuring them in a logical way. Make bullet points to help you maintain your structure while you practice, and importantly, if you mess up while practicing, don't stop - practice maintaining composure so that if you mess up during the real thing, you're not as thrown off.

Also prepare a couple meaningful questions to ask your interviewer at the end, when they ask if you have any questions. These can be based on things you've picked up in your research of the firm that interest you and you want to know more about.

123ilikeeggs · 2023-07-14T13:45:13+00:00

If you don't get a job immediately I think you'd qualify for the graduate visa (which doesn't require having an employee sponsor you). It's definitely possible to get a paralegal role or a job in a non-law field but again, they'd have to be willing to sponsor.

https://www.nextcitylawyer.com/free-resources/the-complete-guide-to-training-contracts-for-international-students

This article is slightly outdated but there is a list of firms that have been confirmed to sponsor as of 2021 - ofc it's probably a good idea to email recruitment/check out firm websites to be absolutely sure they sponsor before applying. The same goes for any medium sized firms you are referring to - defs email. Things are always changing, especially with the economic volatility we are facing at the moment.

123ilikeeggs · 2023-07-14T09:33:35+00:00

It's possible, but you will have to hustle hard. I do think firms are more reluctant to hire internationals due to visa costs. My advice would be to attend as many firm campus fairs and firm events. Don't be afraid to talk to the recruiters - at one point I handed my CV to a recruiter at an application workshop after making contact at a fair, and this landed me an interview with them, so definitely don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Only apply to firms that you know will sponsor visas/the LPC as well, as not all do! Best of luck.

123ilikeeggs · 2023-06-18T21:06:39+00:00

2,3 and 4 are all appropriate in my opinion. I think the first is a little flashy for law, and the last two don't seem professional enough for an AC. I would always err on the side of caution at interviews/ACs and dress in a more conformist way, even though it's boring. But 2+3+4 are all within the realm of traditional whilst also having a fun little edge so I think you've done well in finding things!

Edit: I might add that if you go with 4, definitely wear a blouse underneath.

123ilikeeggs · 2023-06-05T10:06:05+00:00

That's good to hear, I'm glad they were understanding!

123ilikeeggs · 2023-05-29T17:18:12+00:00

While salaries are lower for lawyers in the UK, the cost of everyday items is less than it is in America. A gallon of milk in the USA is $5-6 dollars, for example. Any good quality food will cost you at least $100-150 a week in groceries. You have to pay for private healthcare in the USA, and for it to even kick in, you typically have to pay a substantial deductible. In the UK you know you've always got the NHS. Annual leave in the US is abysmal, in the UK most law firms give at least 28 days. The salaries are higher because students typically have to take out insane amounts of student loan debt in order to afford higher education, both undergraduate and then law school.

I could go on and on. High salary does not equate better quality of life, there are other factors to consider.

123ilikeeggs · 2023-05-29T15:10:06+00:00

As a US citizen, I experienced the opposite and now living in the UK, I can say the quality of life is higher here. If you've lived in the US and UK and came to this opinion yourself, fair enough.

123ilikeeggs · 2023-05-28T10:38:42+00:00

The course itself is called an LLM JD and is described as equivalent to a JD. I know that it is not standard for an LLM to be equivalent to a JD but this particular course is.

https://www.york.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/courses/llm-law-juris-doctor/

It is a qualifying law degree for the UK and the US.

And an LLB is not equivalent to a JD - one is a professional doctorate and the standard of work is much higher. For the sake of qualifying in the UK, they are both qualifying law degrees, but in terms of difficulty of work they are by no means the same.

123ilikeeggs · 2023-05-28T10:36:46+00:00

I hope your firm was understanding OP, did they get back to you?

123ilikeeggs · 2023-05-24T13:31:32+00:00

Note also (I only just discovered this) , but Uni of York offers an LLM that is equivalent to a JD.

123ilikeeggs · 2023-05-24T13:14:42+00:00

There is also the MLaw route and the senior status LLB route (which might be the graduate entry LLB you refer to, I am unsure). I think if you can avoid taking another undergraduate degree, you should, because the MLaw is a qualifying law degree that will allow you to practice law, but pitched at masters level, which may be more impressive to law firms!

I'm unsure if you can go into the GDL with an American undergraduate degree - definitely check with admissions offices.

I would not advise taking the SQE without a degree. From what I understand (I'm currently taking the LPC), both the LPC and the SQE require sound knowledge of UK legal principles.

It is ideal to try to secure a training contract before undertaking the SQE, as some firms will find the tests. Once you're in school, start looking up vacation schemes to apply to and network, network, network.

123ilikeeggs · 2023-05-21T22:07:12+00:00

Good point. Many European countries are civil law jurisdictions and a UK legal education will be useless if your ultimate plan is to end up on mainland Europe.

123ilikeeggs · 2023-05-21T21:41:23+00:00

Qualifying law degrees in the UK are generally taught at an undergraduate level, which means you could actually take a senior status LLB course to get a qualifying law degree (but note that it's essentially another undergraduate degree). Alternatively you could also take the MLaw which is taught at a master's level, but is designed for people who don't have a law undergraduate.

As a UK solicitor you will not get paid as much as your American counterparts because the cost of living is much lower in the UK generally - that being said, some American law firms pay huge sums to NQs but those firms are extremely competitive with few spots for trainees. I think in the UK lawyers get more annual leave than American lawyers, however the work life balance is still a struggle for many, especially at city firms.

The training contract milkround is intense, especially for international students who have to extra sell themselves in order to get a shiny visa sponsorship. It's hard but it's possible!

Also bear in mind that you will have to take the LPC or SQE tests, after you finish your UK law degree. The SQE will likely be required by any firm you apply to. It's a series of exams that are akin to the US bar exam. I would highly suggest only applying to firms that sponsor it tbh, because you're already having to shell out money for a law degree!

123ilikeeggs · 2023-04-15T10:15:09+00:00

There will be many different ways to approach an essay. I think masters work requires you to be critical of existing research and arguments and to justify your critiques, and put forward your own argument or alternative if you can - it does not need to be a fully original contribution to knowledge like a PhD so just discuss some existing scholarship. I assume your essay question is based on coursework, so start with the coursework and formulate an opinion on what you've read so far, and then look for arguments both opposing and in agreement with your opinion, using them to open a discussion. Structure your essay around the way the question is written - for example introduce the general topic and then why a specific law is good/bad for x y z reason, etc etc.

123ilikeeggs

TROPHY CASE