To quit at this point (law)

[LostInLaw]

Sorry, I know AIBU might not be the best place to post, but following from someone else’s post about leaving a career in law and the helpful advice there, I wondered if anyone could help me. Long time poster/lurker (cancel the cheque!) just name changed.
I’m just over half way through my TC, due to qualify in 2018. Currently sat in a seat which I do quite like (employment).
But I hate my job. I hate the people and the culture, I hate the inconsistent hours and the “presenteeism”.
I have been severely ill whilst training- I almost quit two months into the job due to this illness. I was off last month due to severe anxiety and depression. Until I started this job, I had barely ever been ill and never missed a day of work/school/uni in my life.
I’m not bad at my job. Being ill etc has made it hard to fit in, and life-wise I’m in a different place than a lot of the people I train with, so I’m quite lonely. But I’ve had very good feedback from all my supervisors and each have offered me qualifying positions so far, if I want them.
My issue is as to whether to stick it out until September and then qualify into a different firm, and hope and pray that it’s different there, or whether I just accept that this career is simply not for me and quit now. But where would I go? I like employment law so I’m considering HR or something similar, and I considered teaching or lecturing, but any other ideas would be great. Ideally I’d like reasonably standard hours and maybe the option to work from home. I don’t mind retraining or going back for more qualifications to some extent.
So. Do I quit? Or do I try to cope for another 9 months? Is life too short to stay in something you hate?

Stay. You'd be an idiot not to get the qualification when you've come so close. 9 months is not that long. I felt similar at the end of my training contract, though in my case it was only 6 months to get through. I'm not going to say it wasn't awful, because it was, but it was unequivocally the best decision. There are loads of things that being a qualified solicitor puts you in an advantageous position for, you don't have to actually practice as one.

I am 4 years post qualification, and wish I hadn't keep on with this career, but it's so hard to make a change especially when it has cost so much both personally and financially to get to where you are. I have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder and my job has definitely contributed to it so I understand your issues. If you can finish the qualification it will stand you in good stead, but at the end of the day nothing is worth your health, and that's difficult to appreciate, but its so important, much more so than a job.

If you want to PM me I am happy to talk with you more.

If you're in an American firm in the city and you don't absolutely love the whole culture and shebang, I'm not surprised you're finding it hard going.

But in a way, if you've definitely decided to go, that makes the whole thing easier. Start planning out holidays and things. Count down to the next annual leave, bank holiday weekend, day out of the office at training etc. It's easier when you break it down into manageable chunks.

I also found it easier, once I'd made the decision I definitely wouldn't stay and had another role lined up, to opt out of things like staying later etc. I just said I can't tonight. It would've obviously been an issue had I wanted to stay on, but if you don't, and they know you're going soon enough that there's no point trying to manage you out because of it, they may not make a fuss. You can always ask for a reference from your supervisor in one of your earlier seats.

Do stick it out OP. My first job as a graduate was absolutely hideous, it still makes me angry to remember how awful my manager was and how anxious and stressful I found it. It really knocked my confidence and it took me a while to get over it. But ultimately I've had a really interesting career so far (13 years in) in various in house roles, currently doing corporate affairs but looking at a move back to more lawyerly law this year.

I've always worked in-house and I recommend it - pay won't progress as fast though and it's not the easy option but I find it more varied and less wanky than a firm environment.

I'd caution against deciding on employment too early - my (limited) view is that it can be quite limiting. It's very jurisdiction specific, whereas a general commercial skill set can take you into all sorts of jobs, and it's also quite stressful unless you are acting for large employers. Acting for aggrieved employees would not be a picnic.

Hang on until you are qualified. Have you considered teaching for professional exams or other professional training? There are too many cuts being made in FE & HE to make lecturing a stress free option, but law is like accountancy and needs people to get graduates through their professional exams.

Personally, I would finish the qualification, but you could also sneakily look around for alternative careers. Polish your CV up now and have a look at what's out there. It will keep you going! If you're interested in HR, have you looked to see if there are any law firms wanting to recruit HR practitioners, and what qualifications and experience they are after? You might be at an advantage already working in a law firm?

It all depends, really, on what it is that you hate most about your current work - the practice of law, the focus on billing and profit, the people you work with, the unpredictable hours, the type of law done at the firm (eg mainly corporate, with employment law being a support function to the corporate work rather than dealing directly with clients you generated - or maybe that's what you prefer which is why you like this seat, in which case it may not be that you prefer employment law per se, but prefer the less aggressive type of person who isn't out there getting the main work of the firm in).

Plan your next move carefully and don't just jump ship now unless your life has become intolerable, or you may find you don't like where you jumped to, either!

If you decide to change direction then having a legal qual will give you a fast-track route into certain other professions. There's a huge pool of unqualified law grads doing crap, poorly-paid, going-nowhere jobs.

I wouldn't qualify into employment. Our field is swamped with non qualified practitioners/HR bods/qualified lawyers who can't be bothered to pay for a practising certificate, all of whom are undercutting lawyers dramatically and getting away with appearing in ET because the SRA won't do anything about it. Its not an area with lots of opportunities (unless you're going to do the same thing).

I suspect if op is in a yank city shop she's not exactly doing employment tribunal work, however advising on employment issues around acquisitions etc is not exactly regular in housefodder. With the sort of tv you disco, you'll be highly employable and will hardly need to explain why you want out.

sounds awful poor you - if you can manage the 9 months do it, but if it is making you depressed or overly anxious, I would ponder giving it up. Nothing is worth more than your health and if it's the job making you depressed/anxious, well then it's an easy answer

with any sort of law background, you'd be well considered for a role in HR

only thing I will say is that I think it is not easy to get jobs in HR at the moment as I was recently hiring a head of HR for our business and I had a load of CVs (good ones) where people had been out of work for significant amounts of time

I'd be making a chart up with 9 months of days and crossing them off every day if I was you! Btw I think this is fairly common - I know a lot of people who have felt this way in their legal training. I barely know a lawyer who would recommend being one!

There isn't even the option to 'refuse to move'. You'd be sacked.

Join the civil service!! My husband was previously a partner at a London law firm and moved to the civil service when we had children, Treasury Solicitor. Far lower pay but amazing hours, can compress, work part time, take career breaks etc and all the staff are genuinely lovely and bright!
They also have positions in major cities around the country so you don't have to tie yourself to prohibitive rent and house prices in London (if that's where you are).

Though finish the 9 months if you can but apply for jobs in the meantime. I think the civil service applications take several months from start to finish (a good 4 from what I remember) and they only release jobs at various points. Have a look at their dedicated website. Good luck! You can do it! I think if you apply for other things the 9 months won't feel so bad?

Have a look at legal websites like totallylegal.com to get an idea of jobs available.

And if you fancy a laugh, go onto rollonfriday.com and read through that, and some of the blogs on there. Very funny, and your firm is probably on there. Mine always is.

You are at an American firm and hate the people, culture and hours and that is perfectly understandable but I am another one in the "stick it out" camp. Roundabout speaks a lot of sense. You only have nine months to go - remember it is a means to an end and that is a relatively short time in the scheme of things. The great thing about our profession is that roles come in all shapes and sizes - I have worked in-house and in private practice and it is now much easier to move between the two. I am back in private practice now. It sounds as if your current firm isn't the right fit for you but, once you have your practicing certificate, there are options open to you. We always lose some NQs who decide that MC life isn't for them and who go to smaller firms or in-house. If utilisaton/time recording is an issue then you may not suit private practice at all since that is how we make our money - we charge for our time. I don't know of any private practice firms who don't do time-recording (happy to be proved wrong though!). Also be aware that time-recording is becoming increasingly common in-house too. It isn't as draconian as in private practice but I have certainly had to do it when working in-house in major institutions - I think a lot of it comes down to how much you are paid. Friends who work in-house in the charity sector or local government don't have to record time, those in banks sometimes do. Take a look at The Lawyer website to get a feel for what jobs are out there for newly qualifieds - it may give you some ideas

Stick it out

I know someone in roughly this situation (though I don't think he was well regarded at work, didn't get kept on and his leaving card just said "you're leaving" on the front, omitting any sense of regret)

He walked into (albeit via contacts) freelance university lecturing (teaching only contract) at a law school you've never heard of and was surprisingly well paid for doing bugger all.

Oh yes teaching the GDL is quite lucrative too

Thanks to you all for being so great in your responses and you’ve really opened my eyes to a few options.
Also, just to highlight since a few people have commented on this- I didn’t ever say I would refuse to move seats. That would be ridiculous (also they’d probably just move my name and chair anyway). I just meant I could ask to stay- I’ve already been asked to stay by my current supervisor but I thought I could highlight I’d be really interested in doing so. I’m not going to sit here and stubbornly refuse to move!

Also, any recommendations for recruiters?

Defo stick it out and then consider going into HR where you could focus on employee relations.
Teaching and lecturing are very stressful.

I hated training, it was awful but not all law firms are the same. I am very happy now. Get the qualification and then you will have so many options, whether you stay in law or leave it. Good luck.

Definitely stick it out. Sounds like you need to try working somewhere with a better balance, if it's still not for you then, then at least you'll be qualified and will look good on your CV.

It sounds like you might be more suited to a regional firm - have a look at firms in Bristol, from memory there are some there that prioritise work life balance. Roll on Friday does some surveys of firms, again worth looking there at firms that prioritise work life balance.

Recruiters, suggest ENL Legal; Michael Page, Chadwick Nott.

Good luck - I've worked at a number of law firms and they are so different so sometimes it's a case of finding the right one for you.

9 months is nothing, you are nearly at the end. Get anti depressants and get on with it. Even if you leave Law you will have qualified.

Most employers will see it as odd you gave up. I would not employ someone who gave up as they were depressed as I would think they would not stay with my company and may go off sick.