To feel like I’ve wasted my life

You posted a similar thread a year ago didn’t you? I remember you hating your job, living at home and watching F1 with your dad.
I think I would move out asap if you’re still wallowing in these feelings? At least it’s a change

You're 26. You've barely even started.

I think you need to take a break once you qualify. Because you’ll be making big life decisions with low self esteem while exhausted. I’m 12pqe and have experienced the same at various points in my career.

It may be that it’s the law that you hate, or you may hate the partnership model and perhaps you would enjoy the work if you moved in house to a not for profit or charity.

if I were you, I would work with a counsellor to identify your strengths and your values- and then work through which parts of the legal industry would allow you to work in keeping with your values and your strengths - so that you don’t experience burnout again.

You’re still young though so whatever you decide, you have time to pivot and adjust until you find the right role for you.

Rather that throw in the towel now, why not complete your solicitor training for nothing more than an insert on your CV. You already have quite a bit under your belt and sound like a late developer. With this modern world, there are lots of variations with your experience. As for the roses around the cottage door and 2.4 kids, a dog and a girl and boy, non of us can predict what life will throw at us. You may fall in love with someone from the deep south of the US and have four boys. You can't look into a crystal ball. Go forth and be brave, explore and only do what feels right for you.

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Why can't you afford it when you live at home?

My friends daughter got her degree. She wanted to see the world. So has done the following.

Chalet person at a European ski resort.

Waiting on crew on a ship,

Horse stabling care at a Greek resort.

She's spending a year in Australia at the moment, working and travelling.

Now and again she comes home and works in hospitality.

You can travel and earn enough money to live.

Yes exactly. We all have been through things ....then we cannot predict how the kids will be

Have faith

Op I think you’re satisfying your parents desires to a certain extent. I’d defo move out of the family home get a life of your own. You have been the golden child following their dreams and desires of you. Probably put too much pressure on you. Would you like London or would that be too much? Anyways you defo need to move out of your parents home as I think they are making everything worse.

I get you want to be a parent - however you can come and live in my house and see how a busy household can run - sahm after high earning in London with lots of cash. It’s dull as dishwasher. Bored stupid 🤣

Yes cleaners / gardeners etc on tap. Nice holidays. But omg picking up dirty socks and running after kids / driving them around is no joy. It’s not all rosey being a mum.

You need something inside you that makes you tick :-) any hobbies?

Enjoy your life. Travel the world until you get locked in either by kids / ill health or cash issues. Plenty of different opportunities out there. Just because you did law does not mean you have to do it loads of transferable skills. Any graduate jobs going?

One chance do it…. Or you will live to regret it.

Be happy as that’s worth a million pounds

Lots of people find Law disappointing.

My daughter did a graduate degree in law (GDL) and found it so hard and boring.

She passed the exams (after resits) but it was all such a struggle she just got the certificate and walked away from any idea of working as a solicitor.

Did a Masters in Marketing and now has a good job in that field.

You're only 26, that's nothing. You will find the right thing for you and this is just a temporary setback. Maybe your admin job will lead to something else, maybe it will help you work out what you like and don't like. I would plan a nice holiday so you have something to look forward to and sigh a big sigh of relief you're not stuck with law as a career for the rest of your life. You were brave to walk away.

Further to my previous message in house is always an option - decent salary and no time recording! I did it for 10 odd years. You could also freelance but you really need good connections to do that or be really good at building connections and quickly to keep the contracts coming on to get paid

Another lawyer here, 20 years ahead of you. Firstly even in a training contract you should not be on minimum wage so it sounds to me like you are in a small high street firm. If so, you are probably doing everything and anything that comes in the door. Before you leave law completely, is there any aspect of law that excites you? If there is then I would recommend specialising in a mid to big firm and see how you feel then. Different people, different pay structure. Yes still working for someone else but you could end up becoming partner or making sufficient connections to start your own firm eventually. Alternative is to look at tutoring or volunteering in university law clinics - both giving back and staying in law. You could also look at citizens advice bureau - you won't get a high salary but you will get the helping people aspect. If you go to a big firm be prepared to work all the hours God sends - plus side will be the salary particularly in the London area so at least there is that. You won't see daylight so at least you will have money to save because you won't be out the office to spend it. I have said to my kids If they go into law to go work for a US firm in London for a maximum of 3 years then get out and go do something else with the possibility of having saved enough to buy a small house outside London with no mortgage. If you are certain it's not for you, your law degree should open umpteen doors - I have friends who did their training contracts and are now accountants, researchers, government officials and SAHM just recently gone back to work in HR. You need to have a think about what you really want to do so you don't leap from one dreaded job to the next. You are young. You haven't wasted your life. You are just redirecting your focus. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

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I don’t think I’d recommend working in NHS admin for someone who is already feeling burnt out and disenfranchised. I say this as someone who works for the NHS, in senior management.

It sounds like you need more FUN OP, I agree with an above posters brilliant posts about potentially moving somewhere more lively, with more young people and things going on. You also really need to challenge the fixed ideas you’ve got in your head e.g own property by 30, 2 children with a girl first or whatever. Life cannot be controlled to this extent, and that can be very joyful and freeing to recognise.

Can’t you find a rewarding job with the training you’ve done rather than starting all over? Thinking working for a charity, or similar? There are lots of routes and you must be good at it. Is it worth trying some counselling because maybe it’s general low mood rather than linked specifically to your training?

What are you planning to do in the NHS? Law is quite broad. Have you considered working for NHS or local authority legal team.

I qualified as a solicitor and realised early on it wasn't for me... like you, I qualified and then left to do other things. Various jobs working in healthcare and I recently qualified as an occupational therapist - I found my calling :)

Are you good with language? You could do a copy editing course and become a legal editor / law reports / statutes editor. I don't have a law degree but I managed to get into legal editing and it's a nice job, working at a publishing company - a good amount of leave, work-life balance, I work from home too.

Would you like to swap? I got pregnant with DD1 at 23 and then with DD2 at 29…feel like I’ve wasted my 20s and early 30s being a mum while everyone around me climbed the ladder.
Plan was always to go back to uni and do a law conversion etc but couldn’t afford it once DD1 arrived. Can’t help on the dog front though 😂

eta I haven’t been a sahm for the past 10 years, but mainly worked part time between each mat leave and trained to be a teacher before DD2 was born

OP, don’t let anyone here talk you into the idea that what you want is wrong, or that you’re “supposed” to spend your twenties doing what they’ve decided your twenties are for. This is your life, and you know what it is you’re longing for better than any stranger on the internet.

I’m a licensed attorney in the US and I got pregnant shortly after passing the bar exam. At that time and in my area, the market was oversaturated with new lawyers, and I was happy to be able to quit job-hunting and be a SAHM. I still keep my law license current, but I have no desire to have a traditional job in the field. You’re not in a position to be a SAHM at the moment, but I understand the urge to quit trying to find a job in law and wanting to be a SAHM instead.

I don’t know if this is familiar in the UK, but at least in the US, there’s a saying: “No man, on his deathbed, wishes he had spent more time at the office.” It’s completely fine to value interpersonal relationships - of whatever kind - over a prestigious career, and I think most people recognize that.

I’m glad you’ve got a job you’re optimistic about. If you can, take some time to relax and just meet more people. I wish you all the best.

I’m 30 and just left my career to also do a healthcare degree! You’re not alone - and I haven’t wasted my life. Just changed my mind. You’ve got 40 years left of work you might as well enjoy it

I cannot see how you wasted your life at 26, but your generation does seem to have it tough.

will you be patient facing in the NHS? If you have got a weak stomach I can't imagine any job that will suit you and I am retired NHS