Any City lawyers around?

[LornaSaysYes]

I started my career in the city then moved to the public sector in about 2015.

I’ve now been offered a job at a city firm and am unsure whether to take it. I’d really welcome anyone’s thoughts.

Pros-

I feel frustrated in my current role. The culture is extremely hierarchical and there is little opportunity for promotion.

I initially moved to the public sector for better work/life balance when my daughter was small. She’s now 17 and will be going to uni next year, so I am able to spend more time at work.

New job is much higher status and far more money.

Cons-

Longer hours. Even though it will be much easier now she is older, I still love being home in good time every day to spend time with DD. (How far is it possible to leave at 5.30 then pick up again from home? This would work well for me.) I anticipate the new role will be 10–11 hour days plus occasional very late nights. Current role tends to be 10 hour days and almost no late nights.

Age. I’m late 40s and am aware that many people my age will now be partners. I’d be going in below that level due to my different career path- is that likely to cause problems?

Ex-city lawyer, now in-house.

I'd say take the new role and see what happens - and congrats on it. Getting a new job in legal is tricky at the mo.

Hours and culture are quite department dependent and even whether you're a PSL or fee-earner. Some firms still have a little bit of WFH.

I know you want to see your DD, but is there another parent around at home? If not, you have a bit of a better chance of explaining that you need to leave (unlikely to be 5:30) and then catch up the time. Otherwise, I wouldn't make a big deal of it, just leave when it seems right and then be responsive as needed in the evenings. You should definitely be able to talk to the new role about firm culture and general expectations of hours.

Worse case - it's all horrible, and you leave. You've done great jumping from public sector back to PP (and the City, at that), so no need to think that you couldn't shift again if it really came to it.

There is still a fair bit of WFH so you may find it evens out a bit with a couple of days not being around and a couple bejbg around more.

Depends on the role but in most cases it is not possible to regularly leave at 5.30 even if you intent to log on again later. I am often on conference calls until 7pm, later if there is a live transaction happening, and it would not be acceptable to commute home during that time. In my line of work, weekend work is also common (I’d say every second or third weekend on average across a year). However as others said, some firms do allow WFH so you would have more flex on those days. Your age wouldn’t be an issue at all as long as you’re hard working and keen, in fact it will probably be an advantage given your experience etc even if not directly relevant to the new role. I would absolutely take it and see how it works out.