Hi Girlsbouse
Have a feeling this is going to end up in the questions forum
First you have to know what you want from it...
If you want to qualify as a lawyer then all thoughts of air law will have to vanish for a while. The academic stage (i.e. the law degree) has seven compulsory subjects and then you can choose a number of options to complement your studies. If you are interested in law in general as a foundation for air law look for courses on Public International law which isn’t a requirement, but will save you some time later on. Some law schools offer courses in Maritime law which are also quite sexy. If you already have a degree then it may be worth considering the certificate in law rather than a law degree. The certificate is a one year full time or several year part time course which just hits the seven fundamentals. In the same vein there is also senior status entry at some law schools which remove the first year and cover less of the options to get you through it in two years (the bonus is that you get a degree, rather than a certificate). There are a number of institutions offering distance learning degrees in law, but be warned that these may not be suitable for some firms or chambers.
If you want to practise then you need to obtain your law degree, and then either follow the legal practise course (solicitors) or bar vocational course (barristers) both courses last one year, and in order to practise both require a year or two of practical experience and close monitoring afterwards (for solicitors two years articling, for barristers one year of pupillage). This is the traditional means to become a lawyer in the UK. It takes a while and costs a fortune. It is also some of the most interesting academic study you will find, it’s competitive and if your motivation is there I’m sure you would enjoy it.
From personal experience if air law is your obsession it takes quite a lot of determination to get through the academic and vocational stages. Air law is a niche and unfortunately no undergraduate courses teach it and it doesn’t figure on the syllabus for the vocational courses either. If you are more motivated by air law than by law itself then consider taking a more business orientated aviation course which includes air law.
If you are really possessed then you can consider a Masters specialising in Air law (there are three internationally) they are not required for practising. They are however very interesting. A few also offer a graduate certificate in air law which may be suitable for you if you don’t want to attach yourself to 12 - 15 months of air law and thesis writing.
Finally there is a lot of scope to pursue a career in law, but it takes commitment and time. The traditional route is only an example of what you can do with a law qualification, other avenues such as insurance or legal advisory positions may not require the vocational training. As for supplementing a flying career - yes, but both are highly demanding.
Feel free to email if you want to know anymore, or if you can shed any light on the BA/Dan Air pilot contracts which are keeping me awake at night…
