As we enter August, the inevitable panic of exam results will once more affect hundreds of families across Northern Ireland.
An uncertain future awaits many, with fears of failure, doubts of success and the imminent transition of school to university a real prospect, as the 13th of this month approaches.
With university fees spiralling out of control, there is a growing swirl of opinion, that university may not be the best course of action anymore.
This feeling is particularly pronounced within the law sector where the rewards of yesterday are less available to graduates and parents will be urging children to look towards STEM subjects as opposed to the once cherished law degree.
Research conducted in 2013 and 2014 showed that 60 percent of graduates considered themselves underemployed or working in a job that did not require a degree.
In addition, only half of all UK graduates are working in a field that relates to their degree after leaving university. Finally, (and perhaps most worryingly) 96 per cent (of working graduates) say they had switched careers by the time they reached the age of 24.
The field of law is a particularly challenging one for graduates in this day and age. In recent years, numbers studying law have not translated into traineeships and jobs. For example, in 2012, 17,495 UK students gained a qualifying undergraduate law degree, but only 5,302 traineeships were offered and under 1,000 pupillages.
Startling figures like these only serve to remind me of the disconnect between student guidance and economic pathways in Northern Ireland.
Whilst I tend to steer clear of commentary on the topic of legal aid, it is undoubtedly an important topic for young people with law based ambitions. Employment figures will be adversely affected by legal aid cuts with ramifications for the future of the sector in Northern Ireland.
So, as a business owner working within the field of law I am often asked, what advice would I give to young school leavers with ambitions of becoming a lawyer/solicitor/barrister in the current economic climate.
The first piece of advice I would give to any school leaver, is to consider diversifying and adding a supplementary subject to a law degree.
With online communication and the internationalisation of global business a reality (even within Northern Ireland), it would be logical to consider adding a language.
In terms of fastest growing economies, China is an obvious example. Its economy grew by 7 per cent last year alone - who knows where it could be in five years' time?
In addition, when we look at how the world of online business has grown in stature, it would be sensible to look at adding a `cyber' dimension to a law degree. This could include studying the likes of law with a bolt on of `online security'.
Also, with the financial markets well and truly making a recovery, perhaps looking at practices like mergers and acquisitions and the role law plays within such areas would be prudent.
Simply adding 'finance' to a law degree could open up a plethora of doors as financial deals increase in line with global financial recovery.
Whilst the practice of law in Northern Ireland is at its most challenging point for decades, I would still encourage school leavers to take on the challenge.
At our offices in both Portadown and Belfast we are more than happy to provide career advice for any prospective lawyers. We aim to grow our business through diversifying and applying a fresh approach to law in Northern Ireland. In order to achieve our goals, (like many of our competitors) we require talent from within our schools and universities.
Good luck to all families affected by the forthcoming results- regardless of results, this is not the end of the line, only the beginning.
