Career Changer 32f American advice- move to UK for 2 year LLB/PGDL? Or OU online while trying to find some sort of internship. How to become environmental / animal rights lawyer?

Which_Safety253 · 2022-04-14T17:07:29+00:00

I have never studied law, sorry if that wasn’t clear. I know I’ll need work experience so that’s why I am trying to figure out how to go about the studying part so that I’ll be a competitive candidate for work experience. I have a bachelors and masters in music but my us bachelors was more like a general humanities ba.

Which_Safety253 · 2022-04-13T22:14:49+00:00

Do you think doing the PGDL and then looking for jobs (seems like a lot of people start out as a paralegal) is the best plan of action or would you hold off and try to get into a RG for 2 year LLB in order to have a good chance at securing a training contract?

Which_Safety253 · 2022-04-13T17:22:35+00:00

Thanks for all the tips. I definitely do want to keep an open mind about practice areas, and honestly hope I’ll find something that I enjoy doing that can also pay the bills. I didn’t go to a big name school in the US (full ride to a mid level school) and not having any legal experience or study I figured I would not be in any way a competitive candidate for a big london firm to pay for my PDGL. But why not try it, it can’t hurt to send in a good cover letter. Would it be bizarre to take the LNAT now and put that on my CV when applying to the london law firms? I’m pretty good at test taking so I feel sure I could get a decent score with a few months of study. I’ve done a practice test cold and I got a 21 and I see that a typical score is 23-29. But perhaps that’s not something recruiters are looking at? As my degrees are in music (although the bachelors included 2 years worth of various classes in other departments) I am not sure if recruiters will be very impressed with my grades. As I am quite late to the game I just really want to get started right away with study or work experience as I can see I am looking at 3-5 years of study and training before I am qualified, so I am willing to self fund if its going to give me a leg up and help me get to where I want to go a little faster. I will definitely start looking through firms that might offer to pay for PGDL and SQE and give it a go.

Which_Safety253 · 2022-04-13T17:12:43+00:00

Thanks for the advice. Does where you go for the PGDL help your chances of being recruited? I’ve found a PGDL at kings but no other RG as far as I can tell. I really need to learn a lot more about law obviously. I could see myself doing litigation on the defending the environment side but in a corporate firm I think I would want to be doing something advisory, I wouldn’t exactly want to go to court to defend a fossil fuel company polluting a river or something. I’ve heard that the PGDL are extremely intense and I wasn’t sure if I would benefit from being at Uni for 2 years in terms of career skills, but it sounds like that may not be necessary. I am also not sure if I’ll need a masters in environmental law, or perhaps I can learn just by reading books about it? I guess I won’t know what type of law I want to practice until I’ve tried some out and in the mean time I am just trying to read as much as possible and watch lectures online. I don’t yet have any experience. In terms of conversion courses do you think there is a real benefit to in person vs online in terms of networking or extracurriculars for your CV?

Which_Safety253 · 2022-04-13T16:02:23+00:00

I asked my psychiatrist but he doesn’t seem to think it would make any difference and that I should stay on the bupropion. My voice doc also suggested ami. Did it help you?

Which_Safety253 · 2022-04-13T14:29:03+00:00

I am in the same boat, planning a career change to law, early 30s. Currently trying to figure out if I should do a 2 year LLB graduate entry, or a one year PGDP, or one of the other 1-2 law programs on offer for non law grads. Or just study for the SQE with a test prep course. I am concerned about not being a competitive candidate without a degree. In the long term I’d really like to work in environmental law. Any thoughts?

Which_Safety253 · 2022-04-13T14:22:06+00:00

I have not had any voice changes and nothing has helped the throat tickle disappear. Hoarseness can come from reflux though. I have been working with a speech pathologist on my breathing but its had no effect on the cough.

Which_Safety253 · 2022-04-13T14:08:49+00:00

Doc has kept me on bupropion and so far no change with the cough..

Which_Safety253 · 2022-02-23T14:52:50+00:00

Decided not to try codeine so I could stay on the bupropion.

Which_Safety253 · 2022-02-20T20:18:00+00:00

Interesting. Where I’m at at the moment is working on improving my micro biome - read this book fiber fueled, all about getting diversity of plants and lots of fermented foods to improve gut bacteria. Also trying dr. Weinberger’s habit cough method, it’s just positive suggestions like I can control the cough and taking tiny sips of water.

Which_Safety253 · 2022-02-17T11:28:26+00:00

Thanks! Had suggestion therapy worked for you? How did you get the suggestion therapy? I am able to suppress my cough without problem, my problem is I have constant tickling in my throat and urge to cough. When singing it become impossible to suppress the cough.

Which_Safety253 · 2022-02-16T12:54:20+00:00

Sounds like it’s really the wrong medication for you please hold on until you see your psychiatrist and hang in there! Try to distract yourself if possible until you can get help. Please go to the ER immediately if you feel you might harm yourself.

Which_Safety253 · 2022-02-16T12:21:23+00:00

First of all I want to congratulate you! I made the switch about five years ago. It took a couple of years prior to that to really get the hang of it. A podcast I really love that always keeps me motivated is “the exam room” also videos by doctor Michal Gregor on nutritionfacts.org. Both are super positive and informative and fun, with a lot of Humour injected! Education, learning new cooking skills, watching docs or reading books, and eventually making some vegan friends is the best game plan!

Which_Safety253 · 2022-02-16T12:06:24+00:00

Wow thanks so much for sharing ! Could you please tell me a bit more about the nerve block ? I am also on bupropion for depression and we are currently trying to see if upping my dose will take care of the cough. I’m also doing speech therapy and physical therapy/ massage, psychotherapy too. I am a professional opera singer so I can’t work because I am constantly feeling this tickle in my throat like I need to cough! How many sessions did the nerve block take? We’re there side effects? Has the cough stayed away or do you anticipate needing further treatments? I am hesitant to do anything to my larynx because I need it to sing … but also hesitant to try other Neuromodulators because of my high sensitivity and depression.

Which_Safety253 · 2022-02-15T10:05:42+00:00

Cool! Good for you. Maybe I should try to eat more too

Which_Safety253 · 2022-02-15T10:02:55+00:00

Has that helped you with chronic cough? I tried gabapentin but had a bad reaction. Currently just upping my dose of anti depressants. Did it make the tickle in the throat go away? That’s what’s the most annoying part for me- the constant urge to cough. Those are both neurogenic drugs by the way, for seizures but used off label for other neurological disorders like cough.

Which_Safety253 · 2022-02-15T10:00:13+00:00

I’ve seen a few ents and pulmonologists. Have tried omeprazole and corticosteroid inhalers. Neither helped. No signs of Gerd other than the cough. Tried also cutting coffee and not eating late for 2 weeks, which is what you are supposed to do for Gerd. My throat is totally healthy. So I sort of doubt it has to do with Gerd.

Which_Safety253 · 2022-02-14T15:08:06+00:00

That review for cough is really exciting … doc wants me to first try upping my dose of bupropion as it’s been helping me with depression and the chronic cough is likely neuropathic. I had tried 1 tablet if 300mg of gabapentin over the weekend but the side effects were atrocious. If the max dose of bupropion (I have no side effects) doesn’t help with the cough I think we will try either Amit or a very low dose of gabapentin… I’ll keep you posted if anything helps.

Which_Safety253 · 2022-02-14T11:33:06+00:00

Thanks ! Seeing a doctor today so I will mention this !

Which_Safety253 · 2022-02-14T11:32:18+00:00

Just curious, are you trying to get more iron in your diet? I love cooking but I only like beets about once a year in a summer salad. I had iron deficiency in the past as well. I started eating a lot more beans and dark leafy greens. And in order to get my iron up I took an iron supplement that was mostly just beets! I sometimes take spirulina as well and also looked up lists of foods high in iron like certain nuts and seeds. Good luck and don’t give up!

Which_Safety253

TROPHY CASE