29F Chef looking to pivot into Paralegal / HR. Advice on CLT courses and career path?
Hi everyone,
I’m originally from Italy and I’ve been living and working in Scotland for the last year but been in England for 7.I’ve been working full-time in kitchens since I was 15. While I love the industry, I am ready for a complete career change. I don't have a university degree yet ,just my high school hospitality diploma from Italy
I really want to transition into the legal world as a paralegal or move into HR or find a path that bridges both. The specific areas that interest me most are employment law, corporate law, or estate/succession law.
Because I need to keep earning my plan is to keep working my full time chef job while studying. I want to start by taking a Central Law Training (CLT) Scotland paralegal course. After that my goal is to start a online BA in Business and Management in October 2027 whit openuniversity. This gives me a little over a year to focus entirely on the CLT course and get a head start before the degree .
In terms of my experience I'm a Chef de Partie but have undergone Sous Chef training, I have hands-on experience training staff, managing food costs, and handling supplier orders. However I’ve never done typical corporate tasks like organizing formal business meetings or managing office paperwork.
My English is currently around a B2/C1 level.
I’d love to get some realistic advice from people in Scotland who work in these fields
>Should I take an official English course or language test (like IELTS/Cambridge) for my CV?
>Which specialty has the best entry-level prospects? Given my interest in Employment, Corporate, and Estate law, which one pairs best with a future Business & Management BA or offers a smoother bridge into HR?
>How do employers view a senior hospitality background? I have transferable skills like leadership (training people) and commercial awareness (costs and ordering), but no traditional office experience. How hard is it to get your foot in the door at a Scottish law firm?
Any insights, brutal honesty, or tips on how to structure this transition over the next couple of years would be massively appreciated. Grazie