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Original poster

Working at a local authority

55 replies

Powergower · 23/06/2019 04:55

I'm a lawyer with 10 year plus pqe. I've been offered a job in a local authority. The pay is a lot less than I get paid now. My current firm are good but the ages levels are high and I really hate the job. It's the same stuff all the time, it's difficult and complex, the billing and time posting targets mean there's no breaks during the day. I'm just generally fed up.

The new role I've been offered in the local authority is great, really dynamic with lots of autonomy and interesting projects. However the pay is crap and I feel like I'm going backwards career wise. However they have a great flex policy and the pension looks good. I feel ready to slow down a bit but just so scared of moving in case I hate it. The crazy thing is I'm not money motivated at all, but I've not gone down in pay when moving and feel disappointed in myself. Any local government out there? I need to let the LA know this week and I'll not sleeping with worry about what to do.

I've been looking in house for 6 months and there's nothing in my specialism. And the more I think about the more I'm ready for public sector flexibility and flexi days. I think some of my friends and colleagues will be shocked at a move to the LA.

Any advice?

OP posts:
EmmaC78 · 23/06/2019 12:52

I think if your current job is making you ill you should take the LA job. I did my training contract plus 4 years post qualifying in a LA legal department and it was fine. I doubt i would go back to LA work now but in-house experience led to other good opportunities. I have worked in in house positions in industry and at a university - both of which i prefer to the local authority work.

newmobile · 23/06/2019 12:58

Have done lots of work for LAs there are massive pay freezes at the moment but flex is great. Worked very closely with the legal team dealing with rent evictions and injunctions they were always behind with the work as not enough people there to do the work due to recruitment freezes as well. You should be busy there.

MrsAmaretto · 23/06/2019 13:11

My friend is a solicitor in a Scottish LA. Yes the pay is not as good but she has flexible hours (to a point, depends what is on her case load) and has been involved in interesting projects at local and national level. She’s just been appointed team lead and seems to have a good balance.

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peanutbutterismydownfall · 23/06/2019 13:36

My friend moved to a law dept in a council about 10yrs ago. She enjoys it but it is very different from when she started due to all of the cuts which have had a direct impact on her workload due to redundancies and then impacts on the office environment & all of those sorts of things.
It completely works for her from a home life perspective - I think she currently does one day 8-4, one 8-2 and one 9-12 or something like that - but she does have to work in the evenings and at weekends and often makes herself available on her non-working days as, otherwise, due to the working patterns of colleagues, she might only overlap with them in the office for a couple of hours a week.
The work can be challenging & varied. But she is under huge pressure so there is no luxury of long research, double checking & that sort of thing whilst also dealing with a frustrated "client" who doesn't understand that it's taken you 6 weeks as they don't realise quite how overwhelmed with work you are when you are doing nothing for them. She also finds it quite demoralising sometimes. Having negotiated all of the contracts for one project when she started, she recently had to do all of the contracts to end that projects as they can't afford to fund it any more.

Original poster
Powergower · 23/06/2019 13:58

So many diverse views. Thank you for sharing. I can afford to drop the pay but it's more a psychological thing for me. I feel like I'm going backwards by dropping salary. But like a pp said, if I measure the flexi and pension the pay gap isn't so wide. Also having a day flexi a month would make such a difference in terms of recharging and feeling like I get some time back. I'm also really up for starting work earlier and finishing earlier.

I've spoken to a friend who worked there for 12 years and he loved it. But I also know the culture change is going to be a shock if I do move. This thread has really helped me so much in terms of thinking of what it is I want in my life. Pay is important but the opportunity to have some more flexibility and not worry about work all the time is paramount. Dh said that if i take it and hate it I can always move but I hate moving around. Thank you to everyone who has shared, it's been great to read all the different views.

OP posts:
Chottie · 23/06/2019 15:11

PP - just to respond to you re. flexible working, it needs to be agreed with your manager, but can be done on a week-to-week basis.

There have been some comments about restructures / redundancies. I have been through 2 restructures in the last 5 years. There were significant numbers of redundancies made at both times. Yes, everyone who survived has crazy work loads and deadlines........ :(

Original poster
Powergower · 23/06/2019 15:29

How does claiming back flexi days work? Presumably as long as you do 7.5 hours extra per month you can take a flexi day off? So if wfh and you start early you log your start and finish time and extra hours count towards your flexi total? Do you submit time sheets to your manager to claim the day off?

OP posts:
beyoncessweatband · 23/06/2019 15:38

I've worked in local authority- not law about 10 years ago. Honestly, it's horrible. No autonomy. Every decision is a committee decision. The hours were very flexible - it you arranged with your manager you could do a 7-3 which is great if you have kids.

Yes the pension is great. I only did 5 years but with a final salary pension I will end up with a 2k annual pension in 30 years which is a darn sight better than any of my subsequent private pensions.

I think the advice re getting the experience is worthwhile. You will be more valuable in the private sector - if you work for a firm that does public sector work for precisely what has been said upstream.

mistermagpie · 23/06/2019 15:43

I work for a local authority, not in the legal bit, I'm an analyst so a bit different. For me, I'm getting paid a fair bit more than I would in the private sector, especially as I only work 24 hours a week. It's pretty flexible and the benefits and pension are good.

On the downside, our council is incredibly undynamic, facing cuts of millions and it's very difficult to get decisions made and projects moving. There is also a terrible culture of, frankly, laziness and a lack of courtesy which is hard to put up with if you're not used to it (I joined the council this year but previously worked for a partner agency).

mistermagpie · 23/06/2019 15:47

Where I work, claiming flexi days doesn't really happen in practice. Neither does flexible working a lot of the time, 8-4 is great in theory but getting away at 4 isn't always possible. I work fixed hours rather than flexible because I'm not full time (my choice) and so this doesn't affect me but colleagues lose loads of hours every month.

Red tape and a lack of autonomy has been my experience too.

mistermagpie · 23/06/2019 15:49

Sorry to keep coming back! Yes yes yes to restructures, we've had loads, but I've never been aware of redundancies in the 14 years I've worked with/for the council. We're Scotland though so...

underthebridgedowntown · 23/06/2019 16:01

What's the worst thing that could happen if you take it?

You could commit yourself to 6 months, and if you hate it, move on, but with public sector experience under your belt. I understand your concerns about moving jobs a few times in a few years, and that you have quite a specific niche, but you know that where you are now is not sustainable.

NecklessMumster · 23/06/2019 16:06

I've worked for LAs for 30 years, adult social care not law. I've never had redundancies and our legal dept has been same names for years. Less pay isn't a step down if it's quality of life. We record our flexi on a spreadsheet and take when we want. I can do 2 days a month. Or you can request a work life balance pattern like a 9 day fortnight.

BackforGood · 23/06/2019 16:46

Just assumed public sector would be totally secure without redundancy. Lots to think about

Ha Ha Ha

I have no idea about law, but what Pleasance says rings true re working for an LA

Original poster
Powergower · 23/06/2019 16:57

Worrying if flexi days don't actually happen. That's a big draw for me.

Also, hate working with lazy people so that would be an issue.

OP posts:
avalanching · 23/06/2019 17:21

I've worked in 4 public sector authorities and about to go into another, flexi is the deal at everyone of them. I also ensure before accepting the job, I requested to finish work 2.30pm Fridays for my current job I wanted to ask as I know that would usually contravene core hours in a flexi policy, they were fine. The great thing about flexi is if you have to work above and beyond you claim those hours back, I'm no martyr and I claim back what I am owed, mainly because I know I could earn more in the private sector so that is the justification!

camrose · 23/06/2019 17:31

I worked for LA for 30+ years. At a senior level, it is a very complex sector with many conflicting priorities (not least the political dimension). Changes in administration can lead to priorities changing significantly.

I now work in the private sector. Not such a good pension or holiday arrangements but a refreshing clarity that the objective is to make money. Hours are better in the private sector (no boring evening meetings to sit through).

I certainly wouldn't want my children to work in a LA (and neither would my former Chief Executive), but it may suit you for a few years.

camrose · 23/06/2019 17:32

Forgot to mention that my post was considered too senior fur flexible time to apply. Make sure that it would apply to your job role.

BenWillbondsPants · 23/06/2019 17:37

DH was in a LA for ten years and most of that was hell. He was utterly miserable. The goal posts changed constantly, he was doing the job of two people and getting more stressed by the day while the fat cats made more and more money. I was ecstatic when he left, even though it was for less pay. He now works for himself and is happier than he's ever been.

21daysofsummer · 23/06/2019 17:38

In my public sector experience, the lazy workers are those at the bottom end of the pay scale. The admin ladies who have been there for 20 years plus and know they can never get kicked out. I doubt the lawyers are lazy because the very nature of personality types of those who are successful lawyers means they are not lazy!

I would absolutely give it a go for six months - who knows, you might love it? If not then a bit of diversity is good for the CV.

Original poster
Powergower · 23/06/2019 18:34

Wow LA work seems to be the marmite if the professional world. You either seem love it or hate it.

I'm definitely veering towards accepting, whereas yesterday it was a definite no. So glad I started this thread it's been so interesting to read.

OP posts:
Emmapeeler · 23/06/2019 18:43

The admin ladies who have been there for 20 years plus and know they can never get kicked out.

Just to add some balance, every ‘admin lady’ I have ever worked with at my LA has had a fantastic work ethos, and been the complete opposite of lazy. They usually want to do admin, not professional work, for good reasons.

Temp graduates on the other hand...

Pleasance · 23/06/2019 19:39

My 'admin' lady has just had her post removed completely from the new structure...after 35 years of service. No idea how we will manage without her. CUTS, CUTS, CUTS.

BackforGood · 23/06/2019 20:06

Wish we had an "admin lady" - oh, the luxuries!

Reasontobelieve · 23/06/2019 21:07

I have worked in LAs for most of my career, but not in law. I have been involved in some very interesting projects and on the whole, have found it very rewarding. I haven't worked in the private sector at a comparative level, so can't compare the two sectors.

Pros: interesting work, ability to work from home in between any tasks that need to be carried out in the office, good pension scheme, have lots of autonomy, I have always been able to use flexitime or leave to meet parental needs.

Cons: restructures and reduction in posts mean that you have to work very hard and are often covering several jobs, no admin support - everyone is 'self servicing', bureaucracy, threat of job cuts due to annual budget reductions, inertia, resistance to challenge or change, although there is flexitime, it can be difficult to find time to take the hours back.

Although my cons outweigh my pros, I would recommend your proposed career change, as day to day, I enjoy my job and tend not to think about the negatives!