Should I do a phd?

[Jooox]

I’m a self employed lawyer based in the UK and also teach LLM and bar students. I’ve published a fair bit in my area of practice and this has led to opportunities to attend conferences and deliver guest seminars abroad.

I’ve realised that this is the only part of my job that I actually enjoy. Having the freedom to apply for positions anywhere in the world, temporary or long term, is the only thing that excites me. I have that Sunday evening feeling of dread when I think about going back to my normal day job as a lawyer and don’t know how much longer I can do it. My legal qualifications aren’t transferable and I’d have to qualify in whatever jurisdiction I moved to. Plus there doesn’t seem to be any shortage of lawyers around the world.

When looking at full time teaching positions (both here and abroad), a phd isn’t a necessity but I wonder if it would be a huge help.

I have a thesis and supervisor lined up. It’s a colleague I’ve worked with before on a paper and he has encouraged me to go for the phd.

I would likely apply for a scholarship but would use government loans if unsuccessful. Due to the self employed nature of my job, I could do the phd part time whilst maintaining some sort of income. I worked full time whilst completing my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees; including two masters.

The downside of doing the phd would be the drop in income and somewhat of a step back in my practice due to the fact that I wouldn’t be able to devote the time needed to progress. Doing the phd part time would mean 6 years and I’m no spring chicken either.

I suppose my question is, if my aim is to move into teaching full time and taking advantage of opportunities all over the world, should I do the phd or continue as I am?

With your existing qualifications, you might well be able secure a lectureship on a teaching-focused route without a PhD, although it’s getting rarer. Law is one of the few academic areas where there’s a realistic chance of getting a permanent post early on, as post docs aren’t as common as in other areas, where they are obligatory in order to get a lectureship. Plenty of law PhDs go straight into a lectureship, often a permanent post.

I think it depends on whether you want to do research. If you do, I’d do the PhD to get the grounding and skills because legal academia is very different to legal practice. If you’re more focused on teaching, you could probably secure something as a teaching focused lecturer or teaching fellow. If you’re planning on moving abroad, a PhD is a good idea and I think you’d struggle without one. I must say that Australia/NZ seems easier to break into in terms of jobs than Canada/US although nothing to stop you applying of course.

You might get people from other disciplines saying that you have no chance because you don’t have a phd but things work a bit differently in law.

Thank you for your help.

I have been offered a full time lecture post at my current university so it’s definitely doable in the UK. It’s more the opportunities abroad that I feel the phd would be most useful for.

I could increase my teaching hours to eventually go full time and try and publish as much as possible over the next few years. Going full time would also allow me to grow the pro-bono clubs I set up. Or I could do the phd. I’m just not sure what would be most appealing to an employer.

I’ve been considering it for so long now that I’m at the point where I’m kicking myself each year thinking had I started the phd when I first wanted to, I’d be finished twice over.

If you’ve published quite a bit anyway what about a DPhil - essentially a PhD by publication? That is the normal route for teaching staff at my university. It would take less time than a traditional PhD, but as far as I’m aware is treated the same in terms of job applications etc.

A PhD would be more appealing to employers than setting up student activities. Congratulations on being offered a full time lectureship. I’d take it and try to complete your part time PhD as soon as you can (you could probably do it in 5 years if you work hard at it). Use any research allowance you get to work on it. The PhD by publication is a good idea to look into but are your publications in academic or practitioner journals? If it’s the latter, you won’t be able to use them for a PhD. Good luck - sounds like you will do well!

I would say go for it. When I told my DH I wanted to do a PhD he said ‘you know you will be 50 when you get it’. I replied ‘I will be 50 anyway so I might as well have a PhD to go with it’. Researching for a PhD is incredibly rewarding but you will have to be prepared to give up all your spare time in order to ensure that it is relevant and up to date. I did mine p/t in 5 years and literally gave up every weekend to it. I should also add that I was able to secure a good job in a university on the strength of working on my PhD. Good luck to you.

Thank you all. It brightens up my gloomy return to work just thinking about moving into teaching and continuing study. I don’t know if it’s just my university but the difference in the workplace cultures is stark. I’ve spent my first 3 hours of the day dealing with petty argumentative emails stemming from my legal practice whereas all emails from my university colleagues and students are to wish me a happy new year.

I’m published in academic journals so will look into the DPhil - thank you for that.

That’s exactly how I think of it @mdh2020, the time will pass anyway so I may as well do something useful with it. Congratulations on earning your phd and your job, it sounds very well deserved.

Thanks again everyone. Happy new year.

You could also look at PhD by publication or even a professional doctorate (this could suit you if you are developing pro bono activities- link it into your thesis).
Depends what you want to achieve. if you choose the pure PhD make sure it is something you really really enjoy! I think it is the best way to learn how to carry out research but not necessarily the best way to link to your other skills to maximise the best use of your time.
I am a solicitor turned academic and I decided to do a PhD whilst lecturing (6 years part time). It was the best solution for me and I loved it but I have colleagues who have chosen alternative routes. We have all ended up with doctorates just gone about it in different ways.

As you have been offered a full-time job now, I would take it and work towards a DrPhil. Academic jobs are hard to come by and there is no guarantee that the job offer will be there in three/four years when you have finished a PhD.