To be surprised how posh most lawyers are?

I thought that law firms would be full of people like me and some posh people.

Why on earth, having been to Cambridge, did you think that?

As someone who works with lawyers regularly I do think it depends on the law firm and type of law. Ive seen a real mix of people. Id say it may be living in London too

You were rude and superior. I am unfortunately not permitted to argue with you online.

Isn't this the stereotype of people who go into law?

What are you talking about. You clearly don’t know what lawyers do if you think they are just actors. I am state educated in a small law firm in London, which is very diverse. I really think it depends what type of law firm you want to work in. MC and US firms are such a small sector of the sector. It’s really not representative of all law firms.

Really not, in commercial law firms. It is the quality of your work, your communication skills, your judgement, your ability to apply the law to any given facts, how easy you are to work with, etc which get you work and repeat work and referred work.

That’s certainly true. The number of po-faced lawyers I come across is very depressing.

Your wealthy social circle (presumably including you, if it's your social circle?) isn't representative of all lawyers especially not solicitors.

I know several solicitors in London. Only one is 'posh'. The others are from a mix of working class and what some call lower middle class backgrounds. State educated (comps). One is still renting (in a cheaper area than Dulwich Village) because they can't afford to buy.

Background aside, current income/wealth of solicitors depends on the area of law and type of firm.

A Magic circle firm has high pay. In London or one of their regional offices outside London.

Whereas a London or elsewhere high street firm isn't always very highly paid at all. As an example, although this is about 15 years ago, a legal secretary at a corporate law City firm earnt more than a London high street solicitor.

Lawyers tend to be really bright, hard working and motivated but that only gets you so far. To succeed you need a portfolio of successful clients who are closely allied to you enough that they would move with you if you changed firms. Posh lawyers often outperform less posh lawyersl in the top law firms because they are better connected and can bring more business into the firm.

Honestly, as a profession we have a bad reputation. It’s a shame that people feel the need to live up to it.

I missed the question mark! You are a barrister?

you are a barrister

Does that answer your earlier question?

In other good news he was asked to organise a works event and freaked everyone by inviting the cleaners and building's handy man

Love this. We are all doing important jobs. Imagine the chaos if there were no cleaners or handy man.....

Of course

I know plenty of people who lapse into more relaxed speech with people they are comfortable with.

“Across all five elite firms – Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters and Slaughters – nearly 50% of the 804 London partners hailed from one of the two elite universities

It depends on how you define "privilege" - the OP would fall into this category as hailing from one of the two elite universities, but doesn't consider herself privileged in terms of background.

It isn't a huge surprise that people from private schools will dominate - but quite a few children at private schools will not have come from posh or professional
backgrounds. Money doesn't mean posh.

It's definitely changing ...it needs to change

DS is like you, he tells me hilarious stories about nitwit colleagues who don't understand the value of money and think a £15 lunch is "a deal" 😂In other good news he was asked to organise a works event and freaked everyone by inviting the cleaners and building's handy man 😂.Shake em up OP. You are doing us all proud.

Anyway sorry to add this but I can't help myself. Don't know if he's posh but if anyone ever needs a criminal barrister, you can instruct Harry Potter.

https://www.25bedfordrow.com/site/people/profile/harry.potter

It does not really matter. Go with the flow and if you enjoy the job, do it and be merry with the pay and that is that.

All the real posh ones are at the Bar!

Depends on law firm and area. Top firms in the North are not necessarily like that...more predominant in London I reckon.

Same. Some I've encountered I don't know how they got the jobs. A couple of them didn't know the law (I've more than once had to read out relevant legislation to them on the phone).

With backgrounds, I knew someone who was a partner at a Magic circle firm. He definitely wasn't from a 'posh' background. Working class, grew up on a rough London council estate.

However he did go to grammar school (he's older than me and grew up before comps became the norm). I think that gave him opportunities.

He did say, at the time he started working (not recent) there were very few other working class Londoners in City firms, and even fewer who were barristers. Many were 'posh' and originally from the shires.

Barristers might've traditionally tended to have more 'posh' people than solicitors, because it can be expensive to become one. Pupillages were (and still are) quite low paid, so it helps to have family financial support. I understand there's widening access schemes now though.

I know several solicitors my age or younger. Only one is 'posh'. Two work in London in high street firms. Neither are posh, nor are many of their colleagues.

The legal profession make and maintain the rules. Families at the top have more to lose - everything even. To keep at the top, those families need to keep enlisting 'friendlies'. It is as simple as that.