Future Change in Career Path

[Ussuri]

Folks

I am considering going back to university to a post graduate degree to allow me to change the course of my career.

I have been considering moving out of detailed design into contracts. I have identified a degree programme in Construction Law and Arbitration (MSc or LLM) which is part time so allows me to keep working.

My first degree is Civil and Structural and I am Chartered.

I was wondering if any other members had changed from design to the contract/law side of the construction industry. Was it a difficult change? Did you find resistance because your first degree was not law based?

 

[redgdon]

Hi Ussuri,

Don't know where you are in the world, if that makes a difference, but I made the change in the UK several years ago without doing a second degree. I haven't met any resistance or had problems because I don't have a law based degree. I have however been fortunate enough to work for large companies on large contracts, so I guess there is always someone in the comapny you can turn to for advice.

 

[TDAA]

A previous coworker of mine did the change into engineering law from civil engineering (site layout) in the US. I did not hear from him much afterwards, but when I did see him, he said it went well. He indicated knowledge that he had as a PE along with the law degree gave him an advantage in understanding the work process and the technical side of what the engineers involved in the cases had done.

 

[kchayfie]

i believe that in the UK, if you wish to become a qualified solicitor with the backing of the law society and all that entails, you will also need to complete a one-year Legal Practice Course at law school and two years recognised on-the-job training. However, if you just want to work in the legal department in an engineering firm, the two degrees you are proposing sound to me like an ideal combination. I've considered it myself but I have too many know-it-all lawyer friends who would cripple me with advice during the training!

 

[Ussuri]

Thanks for the input folks. At least I know others have done or considered it in the past.

I dont think I could become a solicitor though, as I would not really use the engineering background. Engineering contracts though is a different matter. Lets find all those loopholes...