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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to quit my job and retrain as a solicitor?

205 replies

Moobieboobie · 14/03/2015 20:56

Should I not? I hate my job (civil service) although fairly well paid and have always hankered after joining the legal profession. But, I am almost 40 and have three children would I even have a chance at getting a training contract? I can self fund the GDL and LPC, but would need to have a training contract in place once the qualifications are completed. Am I totally unrealistic as I will be competing with lots of young'uns!?

OP posts:
LadySybilLikesSloeGin · 14/03/2015 20:59

Go for it. I think the oldest person on my law degree was 42, a couple of years before there was a bloke in his 70s. Life's too short for regrets and there's nothing worse than waking up in 10 years time thinking "I wish I'd have..."

OTheHugeManatee · 14/03/2015 21:05

I wouldn't bother. The legal profession is being deregulated in ways that mean salaries are stagnating and so you are far less likely to recoup your training investment (especially against the opportunity cost of leaving an established career) and will very likely struggle to get a training contract especially competing against all the twentysomethings with no dependants. I say this having watched my brother complete the GDL with multiple distinctions as a mature student (30s) and still not get a training contracts

If I were you I'd spend the money on something that will develop your existing skills and help you move in more interesting directions, but I'd not pin all your hopes on the law.

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 14/03/2015 21:08

I agree with manatee tbh

How old and independent are your kids?

norkmonster · 14/03/2015 21:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OTheHugeManatee · 14/03/2015 21:10

FWIW I recently completed a four year part time training for a new career, and then ended up going back to my existing one - having pretty much doubled my earning capacity. I was surprised to find the skills I learned from the retraining had a transformative effect on my performance at work and suddenly I was enjoying work again.

All of this to say I'm not wanting to piss on your chips and really believe that anyone feeling stuck career-wise should absolutely consider further study as it can be a revelation. Just think a bit laterally about where the new study will take you and don't get too fixated on retraining when ups killing and moving sideways can be every bit as effective at re-igniting interest in work.

OTheHugeManatee · 14/03/2015 21:12

*Upskilling, not UPS killing Grin

Undecidedhousemove · 14/03/2015 21:13

I toyed with this and tgen got real. The legal education industry is big business and growing and producing many, many more graduates than there are training contracts for. I woold either retrain in sonething else with viability in terms of job availability or do a fun p/t course in whatever floats your boat to alleviate your frustration until you find a more rewarding job.

JustMarriedBecca · 14/03/2015 21:13

Don't do it.

HermioneWeasley · 14/03/2015 21:14

I know a woman who did this. She is super bright and able, but nobody was interested in taking n a 42 year old trainee. Also, as Manatee says, salaries are stagnating, a lot of legal practice is becoming commoditised - I don't think it's a good profession to go into now

Original poster
Moobieboobie · 14/03/2015 21:18

My kids are all under 10 including a baby. I do have lots of other transferable skills so it is really to determine what direction to go in next. I have met lots of disillusioned lawyers but there is disillusion in every profession. I' m not surprised that most have said not to do it as I know what it will entail. I am leaning towards employment law as a specialism but would consider other options.

OP posts:
OTheHugeManatee · 14/03/2015 21:18

The problem as well is that legal trainees work like absolute slaves, which is not compatible with family life. If you're expected to work 12 hour days 7 days a week on a big case and you just can't because small children, no amount of equality legislation will stop the 25 year old with no kids, partner or mortgage getting the job ahead of you.

SpaghettiMeatballs · 14/03/2015 21:20

As a solicitor working in the Civil Service who has worked in private practice in the past I can't see what you think you will gain.

Why do you hate your job? There's a very good chance those same issues will exist in the law and you'll probably be paid less too.

Good luck with making the right decision for you but I think you'd be better off looking for a complete change.

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 14/03/2015 21:21

Yes. I would be very careful with small kids.

Do you have a partner who can pick up childcare at a moments notice when you have to work all night?

Employment law is an area in a lot of flux at the moment. Far less work since fees and more employer work taken in house or farmed out to employment consultants. I'd be really wary.

Foodforthesoul · 14/03/2015 21:27

Mooble I say go for it.

I understand the practicalities and listen hard to those posters pointing out the down sides. However, I am of the opinion you should not live a life with regrets. If it is something you want to do...go for it. Don't look back with any "what ifs".
Take on board the challenges, know they exist, look them square in the face and take them on!
You sound like someone with determination and have a good career- this sounds like a recipe for success and if it doesn't work out- you've tried and have all the skills you have now and those newly acquired to make a go of it again.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

SpaghettiMeatballs · 14/03/2015 21:30

Ps. I didn't mean to sound harsh. I think you will get a training contract. I would imagine you have good transferable skills and it's not as though the civil service is a walk in the park so you'll be used to working hard.

I just wanted to say be as sure as you can be you will enjoy it.

dixiechick1975 · 14/03/2015 21:41

I'd think carefully. I'm a solicitor in private practice in a small town.

Civil service perks look good to me. Most normal law firms in my experience don't pay sick pay only ssp, only minimal holidays, I've had no pay rise for 6? years.

Training contracts straight out of law school don't exist except in the biggest firms.

Everyone else works as a paralegal on minimum wage with the carrot dangled. The lucky few get a contract. Salaries haven't risen much at all - my colleague who is newly qualified is on 3k more than I was on as a newly qualified 20 years ago.

Lunastarfish · 14/03/2015 21:52

I'm an employment solicitor and I wouldn't recommend going into it. Employment work has been heavily eroded due to the introduction of fees. People can't/don't want to pay for legal advice. I'm nearly 6 years qualified and unless you are newly qualified there are a few jobs around. Redundancies are common at the moment.

The firms I have worked for have taken on older trainees; I don't believe age is too much of a hinder. However you'll need to demonstrate what you have to offer compared to a fresh lpc/uni graduate. Ex-medical professionals for example are attractive to Personal injury firms, scientists are attractive to firms specialising in intellectual property - you need to think what is special about you being in the civil service to make you attractive to a firm? (Public law may be an area to consider)

In all honesty nearly all solicitors I know (whether specialising in employment or otherwise) want to leave the profession. It's very stressful, highly regulated profession. I can't wait to leave!!

Sorry if I sound negative but it's a lot of money to spend too become a solicitor.

Alisvolatpropiis · 14/03/2015 21:59

Honestly? I wouldn't. Others have put across really well the reasons why though.

Pandora37 · 14/03/2015 22:01

Don't go into criminal law. It's badly paid, legal aid is being cut and there aren't many training contracts about. I know the CPS stopped recruiting for a few years but I think they may have started again.

I'd probably avoid the magic circle firms as well where you'll be expected to work ridiculous hours. Working in house for a company, or for a local firm doing family law or personal injury claims might be an option but again training contracts are quite limited at local firms. My friend qualified in her 20s with good grades, lives in a major city and still works as a paralegal on peanuts and she's been doing that for several years. She may just be unlucky but I do know it's been very tough for law graduates since the recession in 2008.

You could always go the legal executive route - it takes longer and doesn't pay as well I believe but you won't have to pay enormous fees and of course, you won't have to fight for a training contract.

Osirus · 14/03/2015 22:06

I really wouldn't bother. I work in the legal profession and it's extremely hard to get a training contract. My DP is a qualified solicitor. He did the degree and LPC route but couldn't get a contract, even with the firm he was fee earning for! He qualified as a Fellow of ILEX in the end and, together with his practical experience managed to qualify that way. It took years - and he was in his 20s. Don't waste your money!

viva100 · 14/03/2015 22:08

I'm a solicitor, only qualified a few years ago. Regardless of the area of law you want to go into, law firms expect trainees to work like dogs. I mean you have to be available 24/7, you won't work long hours every day but it will be very unpredictable hours, be ready to have to cancel any dinner plans or even holidays.
Also, being a solicitor is not all that exciting. It's basically mountains of paperwork and lots & lots of office politics. I went into it cause i was young, was shit at science and had no idea what else to do. I like my job but it's not all it's cracked up to be.

eurochick · 14/03/2015 22:09

I'm a lawyer in private practice and I agree with the majority - don't bother. I enjoy some aspects of my job and the money is undeniably good (I am in a niche commercial area that pays well) but it is a fairly shit life. Long hours, lack of respect for family life and still a glass ceiling for women in many firms.

VoyageOfDad · 14/03/2015 22:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Alisvolatpropiis · 14/03/2015 22:15

I read somewhere that the legal profession has the most women with children leaving it. It isn't compatible with part time work most of the time because your case load doesn't allow for it.

Also, outside of certain practice areas and indeed, outside of London, the pay really isn't that high unless you're a senior associate or partner.

NeverHadHaveHas · 14/03/2015 22:16

Don't do it. To make any decent money you will need to work in a commercial firm, and commercial firms are not family friendly.

I moved in-house from a commercial firm a few years ago and it was the best thing I ever did in terms of work life balance but my salary is shit compared to big regional/national firms.

I bumped into an employment lawyer today while I was shopping today funnily enough and she qualified when she was in her late 30's. She absolutely hates it. Billing targets too high, clients are vile, not enough support etc etc.