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Original poster

Qualified as a solicitor, feeling let down

153 replies

Coffeetree · 29/08/2021 19:17

I just qualified as a solicitor and although I love the area I work in I'm really feeling exhausted and let down.

I really am grateful that my firm sponsored me in a training contract and have now given me a raise to their standard newly qualified rate of £27000 pa. Except now they're hustling me into a leadership role with a lot of middle-management bullshit and oh could I do the billing now and the audit prep.. But for no extra money.

I'm 50 and I know I should have the negotiation skills to deal with this and get a raise but the truth is I'm still trying to sort of inhabit the role. I was a paralegal for many many years and although I did well in law school I am still seeing myself as a junior.

Also the worklife balance sucks if you want to deliver quality work for clients. I go to court regularly and I have a good reputation for winning appeals but that's because I prepare more than anyone else.

I guess I have the standing now to push back but that's a new feeling for me. I'm still in "proving myself" mode and trying to get a mindset shift.

Anyone know what I'm talking abou? Any tips?

OP posts:
pianolessons1 · 29/08/2021 19:19

Didn't you know this before you trained? I thought it was common knowledge that the early years as a solicitor are long hours for poor pay.

pjani · 29/08/2021 19:32

I think you need a plan. You need to find out what competitors offer and decide on your mind how long you’ll stick around for that kind of money. Have a minimum in mind ie if it’s not £35K in a year I’ll apply elsewhere, or whatever. Seek out a mentor. Make friends and go for drinks with people on your level. Find out what they are getting paid. £27K sounds low so keep agitating for more as you are worth it!

Original poster
Coffeetree · 29/08/2021 19:32

What I mind is being hustled into into a leadership role without any actual promotion or raise. Like I'm being penalised for being good at my job. I need to have a serious talk with them about it.

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Original poster
Coffeetree · 29/08/2021 19:33

Thanks pjani that's helpful.

OP posts:
Original poster
Coffeetree · 29/08/2021 19:36

Also I need to push back on workload. I spent many years trying to be the Superstar Paralegal punching above her weight. Now I need to be more mindful of the cases I'm taking on.

OP posts:
VanCleefArpels · 29/08/2021 19:37

They are taking into account your years of on the job experience which sets you apart from other NQ solicitors. This is not a bad thing. If you feel you should have a raise do some research in market rates abs go to your manager with a figure rather than a non specific moan

VanCleefArpels · 29/08/2021 19:40

And NQ solicitor and work life balance doesn’t wirk in the same sentence. The problem for you is that you have a life outside of work at 50. Your average 23 year old graduate is in a different place and knows that several pounds of flesh are required to be offered up.

Original poster
Coffeetree · 29/08/2021 19:41

Yes thanks Van Cleef. I'm planning to clarify my job description and ask for a 20% raise. I could easily go to another firm or at least do consulting work but it would be nice to stay put.

OP posts:
Original poster
Coffeetree · 29/08/2021 19:45

Well, getting leadership opportunities without an immediate raise is maybe something a 23-year-old would appreciate, but for me they're capitalising on my actual professional experience and then acting like it's an honour for me. I need to nip that in the bud.

OP posts:
VanCleefArpels · 29/08/2021 19:56

Wouldn’t another firm just treat you the same as any other NQ solicitor (ie Pound of flesh etc) - you clearly have capital with your current firm but I’d be wary of over valuing yourself at 20% higher - unless that does in fact reflect market rate

Anonymouslyposting · 29/08/2021 19:59

How many NQs are there at your firm?

What leadership roles are you taking on?

Original poster
Coffeetree · 29/08/2021 20:03

Being a named supervisor with responsibility for billing oversight and Legal Aid invoices is a lot of extra work and hassle. If they got someone in from outside to do all that they'd have to pay a lot more than £27000. They're being a little cheeky.

Going to another firm as a NQ would be a nice break if I could just crack on with casework.

OP posts:
SaminSeptember · 29/08/2021 20:08

Either don't take on the extra work, or go to your supervisor and say that in the light of the new responsibilities you would like a pay increase to X (make it a bit higher than you want) That's what a man would do imo

Original poster
Coffeetree · 29/08/2021 20:08

The leadership roles: at first it was assisting with billing and now I do all the billing for our branch,including Legal Aid bills. I'm the supervisor of a team of four, so file reviews, performance reports (making sure billing targets are met). Answering questions around difficult cases, sometimes shadowing newbies at court. Allocating new cases among the team. Any random query that comes to our office around our area of law comes to me.

OP posts:
LadyWithLapdog · 29/08/2021 20:09

I’m just gobsmacked at the low salary!! I obviously know nothing of this area but in general terms I would agree with you that you need time put aside for the extra work and recognition in the pay packet. Congratulations for the new qualification.

Original poster
Coffeetree · 29/08/2021 20:10

Yes. We're having a problem with one of our team members underperforming and I've done a lot of extra work for that. It's a good time to ask for a raise.

If they come back with "We can't afford it" then they can't afford me.

OP posts:
Whattodoffs · 29/08/2021 20:11

Do you have a good assistant who could help with some of it? I'm a PA to a partner/judge, senior associate and NQ chap. I do all their admin, billing, account work, a lot of the grunt work, initial draft of documents, letters, pleadings etc....doing this frees them up to do the work they should be doing instead of being bogged down with everything else

thecognoscenti · 29/08/2021 20:14

@LadyWithLapdog

I’m just gobsmacked at the low salary!! I obviously know nothing of this area but in general terms I would agree with you that you need time put aside for the extra work and recognition in the pay packet. Congratulations for the new qualification.
Yeah, there's a perception that all NQ solicitors qualify on £100k+ but whilst that does happen at a handful of city firms, it's very much the exception. Most solicitors never get anywhere near that, especially if they're doing Legal Aid work.
Anonymouslyposting · 29/08/2021 20:16

Hmmm if an NQ at my firm demanded a pay rise above other NQs they’d be told where to stick it - going above and beyond is just expected when you’re a junior if you want to get on. If they are being completely unreasonable (ie you’re working much harder than other NQs) then you could talk about some work reallocation but a pay rise wouldn’t be considered. If you are the only NQ there might be scope to negotiate but if not I wouldn’t be optimistic.

Different firms operate differently so I may be missing the point but I really wouldn’t see billing as a leadership role. Generally it is done by the secretaries for us (admittedly with final sign off by an associate or, if it’s a big case a partner).

I am not saying this is definitely the case but I wonder if the fact that you are older/more experienced is making you over estimate your importance to the firm? I’m not trying to be horrible and I could be completely wrong here but your post reads that way a bit. I’ve had trainees that were career changers who thought they knew everything, thought they were capable of making decisions etc. and really didn’t like being junior to lawyers much younger than them. They didn’t last long. I’m not saying this is you or universal, I’ve also seen older NQs who genuinely were better than the younger ones and weren’t pushy about it, but you should think about whether there’s an element of this in your attitude and be very sure before you burn goodwill.

Anonymouslyposting · 29/08/2021 20:18

Sorry, I didn’t see your latest post - while I wouldn’t see billing as a leadership role I would say supervising is if those you are supervising are NQ of above.

Original poster
Coffeetree · 29/08/2021 20:18

Oh my god don't get me started with the admin. We have absolutely no admin support. We have one person in reception who answers the phones and does post, for 20 sols. She does a bit of HR admin and payroll. Sometimes we have work-experience people and that's supposed to be our PA for like three weeks but it's always some partner's useless 17-year-old nephew and I send them away.

OP posts:
SarahAndQuack · 29/08/2021 20:25

Not a solicitor, but 27k isn't a bad wage, is it? I get wanting more, of course, but I am guessing if you love the work, the salary wasn't the first consideration.

Where do people do the sort of work you love, with more money/better work/life balance? Would it happen in a few years where you are as a natural progression, or do you need to move up/sideways?

Can you see if you can find someone to mentor you who has the sort of position you want?

Original poster
Coffeetree · 29/08/2021 20:28

It's okay anonymously, I appreciate your candour and being an older NQ has that danger of hubris.

I didn't ask to be supervisor of our small team (4 sols) but I was the one with the most experience at our branch so management asked me to sit the exam and step up. Which was all exciting and brownie points when I was a trainee but now its just a pain in the arse and I want money.

OP posts:
Original poster
Coffeetree · 29/08/2021 20:30

No 27K is an okay wage and I don't have debts. I don't think it's fair for me to be doing more than the other NQs and earning the same as them.

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Anonymouslyposting · 29/08/2021 20:33

I think if you’ve done exams to be a supervisor and are supervising other solicitors then you may have a better case than I’d originally thought. It wouldn’t work at my firm but it sounds like a different environment - may be worth an informal chat with a partner you get on with as a first step?