I'm a paralegal in a field where you can actually go quite far in terms of responsibility - - running senior cases, appearing in tribunal--- whilst "only" being a paralegal. Not to sound boasty, but it's relevant that I'm well-known in the field, give seminars, etc. I enjoy this field of law. I've been practicing in this field about ten years.
I did the LPC (solicitor course) while working full-time, graduating about two years ago. I got a distinction, and the charity where I worked advertised a training contract position. I felt like it was all coming together.
For those of you who don't know, to qualify as a full solicitor a person has to finish the LPC course and also undergo a period of recognised training, officially registered with the Solicitors Regulation Authority and getting six months' experience in three different areas of law.
I applied for the training contract position at my job, and then it turned out that I was the only one in the charity who was technically eligible for it. So it became a kind of joke like, "Ha ha wonder who will get it". It would have meant moving to another dept temporarily.
However my supervisor hit the roof at the thought of my leaving the department I was in. At first she just ranted about how the training contract benefited no one but me, and then suddenly started finding fault with my work (previous reviews had been stellar), finally going to upper management and saying that my work was so poor quality that I shouldn't have a training contract. They just went along with it. It was really humiliating and awful and I quit to join a nice new firm.
My new position (six months in) is still "just" a paralegal, but pays better, nice work environment, good opportunities etc. They hadn't advertised a training contract but I figured I'd continue as "just" a paralegal whilst I regrouped.
Over the last few months, more management and administrative responsibilities have come my way. Most recently I have been put in charge of a small team of solicitors, who are less experienced than me in this area of law. In the course of this new responsibility some HR paperwork passed my desk, showing that they all earn more than me (presumably because they are full solicitors).
I already help out a bit in the other departments at my current firm, so I worked up a proposal wherein I could help in the X and Y departments, whilst still maintaining my current role, and fulfill a training contract that way. All they would have to do is register paperwork with the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
I got a flat "no". Evidently they don't like to do training contracts because people just leave afterwards. Okay.
For the last two years I've applied for every training contract I could find. I was offered one in London but I couldn't afford to relocate there for the salary the offered. I interviewed at two locally--one turned out to actually be a paralegal position with a "future option" for a training contract so I said no. The other said I wasn't successful in the application because I didn't have enough writing experience (Despite publishing articles in international journals? Okay. I presume it was a "fit" issue.)
Notwithstanding the tone of this post I really am not a bitter person. I'm pretty positive but this week I have just hit a wall.
I could just go into the corporate sector but I love working with clients and practicing!
Not sure what I am asking but wondering whether any solicitors could shed light. Should I take all this as a sign to just change fields?