Any ex-solicitors who've changed career?

[BurntOut79]

I'm a Private Client solicitor in Scotland, 13 years PQE. I've just come home and broken down in tears after another awful day at work. I've been unhappy for a while but am now at the point where I really don't want to do this any more. I used to be such a strong, positive, laid back person and took so much pride in my job but that's all being completely eroded away.

So! Are there any wise Mumsnetters who've been in a similar position and changed career?

I'm open to in house or PSL but haven't got the first idea where to start - LinkedIn? Speculative enquiries with companies that sound interesting?

Even better would be something completely outside of law, I could afford to take a pay cut down to around £40k if necessary. I appreciate most jobs that pay well mean taking on some stress, but maybe there's something a little bit less awful than this!

University professional services, loads of jobs that would appreciate your soft skills. I did it much sooner after qualifying!

Thank you for the suggestion, I'll definitely look into that!

Yes also went to work for a university!

I was a practicing lawyer in the US, and gave it up to work for a non-profit in a non-legal job (fundraising). The legal background comes in handy, but it is much less stressful.

I have a close friend in a similar situation who went to work for a non-profit as a training coordinator. Much of the training was law-related, but she also coordinated trainings on non-legal topics.

What do you find awful about your job currently?

For example I work in litigation… in one job there was a bitchy work environment, I had a heavy caseload whilst also having to supervise a team of juniors who frankly didn’t know their arse from their elbow, and I was often working until midnight and through the whole weekend just to get through my caseload (which was higher than all the FT staff despite me only doing 4 days a week, allegedly!). I brought more fees in than 4 of my colleagues combined with zero appreciation and constant micro management. All whilst dramatically underpaid. That job was pretty awful.

However my next job with a professional environment, easy commute, reasonable case load and expectations was much better.

If every job was like the first one I mentioned I’d have quit to be a dog trainer by now. Or joined a travelling circus. Not all firms are the same!

Have you thought about working in-house for law firms (Risk, Compliance, Business Acceptance, General Counsel team roles etc.). Many firms have in-house roles outside London and the work is varied and often flexible to practice area.

Other friends moved into PSL roles, in-house or to regulators / professional bodies.

I worked with one solicitor who hated law even more that you OP (she only became a solicitor because Daddy was one, and he insisted).

She re-trained as a pharmacist.

If you don't want to re-train quite so radically, in-house legal teams would seem to be the answer or maybe a job with one of the many, many regulatory bodies.

My son's science teacher was a practising solicitor before he switched to teaching.

OP I’m a private client locum. Have you thought about some locum work to give you a break?

Gardener! Do it OP. I still have nightmares about being in practice (15 years on). It's brutally stressful. I'm so, so glad I quit it all.

Is it worth trying a different firm or organisation? If you like the work generally but don't like your current set up? Start putting some feelers out and maybe a change and fresh opportunity will be what you need.

I'm an in house lawyer in Scotland, in litigation. It has its moments (management...) but generally it's fairly easy going, relaxed, interesting, well rewarded. I'm quite happy.

Also I work part time. That is a game changer for quality of life.

I used a recruiter to jump into an in-house role, but I will warn that in that over time the role has become far more stressful and demanding- I believe this is standard across the in house industry at present as budgets are squeezed. Crafty Counsel are good if you want to go in house or as a consultant.

Tbh I'd love to leave law, but the salary and current flexibility in working hours has me be the proverbials.

Yes in-house is definitely feeling the squeeze, we've gone from feeling like valuable assets to feeling like an unwanted and unnecessary expense... Morale is low. I'm still enjoying it but I have a lovely team and great clients.

Thank you so much for all the helpful replies. Lots of interesting options to look into!

In terms of what I hate about my current job, I think it's a mix of things really. I have terrible anxiety (which I'm working on); doing a job where you can't ever make a mistake isn't a good fit with that. I know someone at another firm who's just had a complaint against them thrown out but what they've been through in the meantime - and what they would have been exposed to financially and reputationally if it had been upheld - has really spooked me.

The abuse from clients, which seems to be so much worse since Covid; I know that part of my job involves giving people bad news, or telling them things they don't want to hear, but honestly I just don't want to be shouted at any more (why do I have to pay inheritance tax, why should X be able to claim Legal Rights, the rules of intestate succession aren't fair, why are HMRC taking so long?).

I cope well with other kinds of pressure - deadlines, producing accurate work to a high standard, public speaking/training - and I love the technical aspects of law. But I think for the sake of my mental health I need to do something completely different.

In house does interest me but I always thought you needed more commercial or litigation experience for those roles - is that right? Risk/compliance is something I hadn't thought of but sounds like it could be a good fit.

I was a legal assistant/pa/probate executive/secretary/general dogsbody for 25 years.

I was working in private client. I've worked for pretty much all departments. I was halfway through my ilex course, then I was laid off. After a few months out, I couldn't work out why I was so happy. Turns out, it wasn't right, for me.

Unless you can get into corporate, I'd never touch law again. Corporate is exciting - generally positive - people want to be there, all pulling for a good outcome. The rest of it? Forget it.

I'm a content writer now, and an awful lot happier and much better paid.

That sounds hard. I did private client during my traineeship and loved the clients, meetings with them was a highlight. They were always lovely or at least interesting. I can imagine if they're not, it's incredibly hard on you. Especially if you are a perfectionist and people pleaser(? I am) naturally.

My in house role has clients who are organisations meaning I work with the same group of people all the time giving advice and taking instructions from them. They are mostly nice, but the main thing is they are not the general public. They are doing their job. There's nothing personal. Whilst we try to work on costs/limit outlays etc, it's not asking anyone personally to pay the bills. For me, that's the joy of in-house. It is a litigation role but I have definitely seen in house PC advertised before.

That said, there's a big world out there will a lot of jobs for someone diligent and smart and skilled. Might be time for a total change.

Did you ever escape private practice? Your post could have been written by me! I need some hope I can change direction entirely instead of another move within private practice!

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