Kariya9

Hey everyone,
I've been reading an incredulous number of threads and their respective posts and replies over the course of the past week or so, hoping to find a case identical to mine. It goes without saying that, with the exception of a few interesting bits here and there, my research was in vain. For the most part, every case is unique. So, if you can bear with me, I'm hoping that some of you may help me make somewhat of a straight line out of this mess of curves that my academic tenure has taken.

For starters, I'm Canadian, and from what I seem to understand, most of the people posting here deal with American colleges. I'm still hoping that my post will yield answers. I recently graduated from a law school in the province of Quebec. Getting the degree was tumultuous to say the least; I've lived incredible highs and I've also gone through a number of lows. My GPA is a little below 3.0, however, an important portion of my relatively poor results may be blamed on the fact that I am English and had never studied in French prior to my legal studies. A primary reason for me choosing to attend the university in question was to sharpen my French skills, something that I am quite proud of today. Moreover, during my time there, I managed to beat a number of quality candidates for a student job within a prestigious law firm within Quebec city. I worked 3 summers there before ultimately deciding that law wasn't my calling - at least not in French. Certain aspects of the field are still stimulating to me, however, working in French has taken its toll on me; no matter the case, no matter the work, I always felt (and will always feel) like I can't perform to my full potential due to the fact that linguistic skills play such a huge role. In any case, to make a long story short, I eventually grew tired of law and actually grew to hate it in general. My inability to fully master French paired with my new-found lack of motivation made it so that the latter half of my degree was a nightmare to say the least. My grades ultimately caved in as well, leaving me with a law degree that I am not very fond of and, more importantly, not quite proud of.

If we rewind the tape and take a look at my high school and CEGEP (I'm sure you know this, but just in case, this is the equivalent of your grade 12) résumé, my record is practically flawless. I completed high school with a steady 95% general average, and my CEGEP record depicts a situation that is quite similar to that. That being said, I did not complete my sciences in CEGEP, preferring social sciences due to the fact that I was trying to get in to McGill, a plan that ultimately failed.

Today, I am at a crossroads. I seriously need to take a look at my options, and want to build a realistic plan that I can follow in order to get back on track. I honestly don't feel that intelligence is an issue in my case, however, given my debacle in law school, I realize that my grades don't paint a picture that fully reflects my skills. Truth be told, in spite of having a law degree in my possession, I feel as if I have taken several steps backwards.

I have always been very creative, especially as it pertains to graphic design (logos, branding, etc.) and will be looking to set-up a a small online shop as a hobby of sorts. I should have done so years ago. I am particularly fond of corporate branding and the work that goes into creating (or recreating) a company's brand. That being said, the business side of branding and marketing is particularly interesting to me, however, the behind-the-scenes work pertaining to the actual graphic design has also hooked me in. For instance, I'd like to be able to pitch a concept regarding a company's brand and the steps it should take towards properly building while also having the tools and skills needed to build that brand (without necessarily having to depend on someone else).

On the flip side, finance is another field that is of some interest to me, however, for the sake of keeping this post somewhat structured, let's stick to the above paragraph - at least for the time being. If you do wish to dive into this and make suggestions, feel free to do so.

So, to recap:
- law graduate with a GPA that is average at best (below 3.0), however, some of that is due to the fact that I had never studied in French prior to my legal studies
- 3 summers within a private legal firm as a student-employee (reference letters and interesting case work)
- excellent high school and CEGEP scores
- volunteer work (however, it has been several years since I have done some)

I'm looking to do another bachelor's degree, wipe the slate clean. I'm truly ready to do what it takes in order to find that long-lost motivation to actually do something. I'm still hoping that my law degree can be of some use in getting a good job later on. Salary is important to me, and I'd like to be able to eventually climb the corporate ladder.

I realize that this post may look like a mess. That being said, any form of guidance regarding a plan of action would be truly appreciated. Bear in mind that I am currently located in Quebec, but would be willing to study in Ontario or northern USA, depending on the fees and what not. Feel free to ask any questions when trying to make your way through this web of confusion and uncertainty. Thank you!

Kariya9

Wow, that is incredibly long. Sorry about that. In retrospect, I should probably start looking at English lit.

Kariya9

Anyone? Maybe I didn't post this in the right section?

destinyhelp

It sounds like you have a complicated situation. I wish I could give you some advice, but I have none.

bluebayou

Sounds like an MBA in Marketing might be what you are seeking. First, see if you can can get a job in a marketing/design firm, perhaps as a start-over intern.

Unless you are a complete career changer, say wanting to go into hard science, another BA is probably not worth the effort. (And you can never wipe the slate clean.)

What about taking a Marketing or Design class at a local community college to see if you like it?

Not likely. What you are finding (the hard way) is that a law degree is good for practicing law. Period. (Sure, some skills you learn in LS are transferable, but those skills can be learned in many other majors as well.)

If you wanted to put your law degree to work, and avoid the language issues, you could move to another Province.

Kariya9

"Sounds like an MBA in Marketing might be what you are seeking. First, see if you can can get a job in a marketing/design firm, perhaps as a start-over intern."

An MBA in Marketing certainly is appealing, however, I am uncertain if my grades would get me in. That's the scary part.

Could you also explain what you mean by a start-over intern? I'm not familiar with the concept.

Thanks for your reply, it is seriously appreciated. I'm looking for any help I can get here.

xiggi

In a world that is becoming smaller every day with companies jumping into new countries to cannibalize the locals, you may consider looking into a career in trademark law, or other IP. While this might be a crowded field in the United States, it appears quite different in other countries. Canada might be a great place to assist companies bridging some of the French-English pitfalls, and use that experience as a springboard to other jurisdictions.

Kariya9

Xiggi: I like the idea. That being said, given the fact that my legal studies were completed with a civil-law emphasis, I'd most likely have to complete a year in a law school that offers common law. Again, the issue is my grades. I don't know if I'd get in, hence the "several steps backwards". I'd be able to put a solid cover letter together, and I'd have references, but my grades would certainly slow me down. It's a tough call. These issues are primary reasons backing up my willingness to do another BA.