Any solicitors out there?

[WheninWinsteria]

I've been offered a training contract with a small law firm - I'd be expected to pay 12k for the LPC myself as is the case with lots of small firms (completing the LPC part time during the TC).

I have been a paralegal there for six months but find the work incredibly dull and not at all challenging (mostly conveyancing/land forms). This is the area I would qualify into.

Are there any solicitors out there who have any advice? Would you do the same again career wise? Has anyone left law for another career?

I actually really enjoy conveyancing I like the client contact I guess and get on well with all the local solicitors and estate agents. It's also a job that you can work around a family very easily I do 9 till 3, 4 days a week which fits in beautifully with the school run.

Are you allowed to start a TC if you haven’t completed the LPC? (Not saying you can’t, but I’ve never come across the 2 running together before.) In your shoes, with such a good degree, I’d relocate, get a paralegal job in a firm which does more interesting (and, frankly, well paid) work and then see if you can get a TC and maybe a contribution to your LPC.

That's an interesting point, I also though you had to complete th lpc before starting the training contract. Either by doing it full time for a year or part time for two whilst working ie as a paralegal.

Curious as to the answer.

We have checked with the SRA and they have confirmed I could do the TC and LPC simultaneously. I was shocked to discover this too. I'd be working full time during the week and doing the weekend part time LPC over two years.

That’s a lot of work OP. I did mine as a paralegal over 2 yrs but LPC was on a weekday and I spent most of the weekends studying. I’d really have struggled to work full time.

Presumably you’d be starting the LPC in September next year? My understanding is that it is being scrapped from September 2020, so you could save yourself 12k if you wait. I would research how the new qualification route will work before you make your decision.

I’m a solicitor and do enjoy it, although I am lucky to work in a family friendly but highly paid area of law. I also work for a firm that’s committed to flexibility - many firms are very traditional, even big ones.

I did a part time study/part time training contract (posted before I saw your update!).

I worked 4/5 days a week as had a 1 year old. I didn’t find the studying hard to fit in on top of work to be honest - the LPC isn’t rocket science. I did it in one calendar year, and did my final LPC exams 38 weeks pregnant with no 2!

Commercial property lawyer for 14 years.... Now a software tester in a firm that makes software for lawyers. Don't miss law, miss the salary.

.... But if you've got the op to train and do the lpc before the new system comes in grab it! New system for quali looks waay worse, LPC not that bad to do.

I'd be working full time during the week and doing the weekend part time LPC over two years

This is what my daughter is doing, uni sat and sun every other weekend, and course work during the week, plus working five days a week. Yes it's a lot and any one who's done it this way I think agrees, but it is doable, as said, I understand it's not hard, it's just a lot of work if that makes sense.

However if you want to be a solicitor I'd get on and do the lpc. I think probably getting it done and getting qualified is the answer then you can look to move firms.

In the mean time get some applications in, you never know.

I'm 1 year pqe and I really enjoy my job. I work for a non-london office of a major firm. I have a great work life balance being non city and have flexible working open to me, especially with having a child. My departmental partner is lovely and incredibly supportive, as is my supervising associate. No one bats an eyelid at me being out the door at 4 to get to nursery. I'm not expected to take work home with me. I trained from a paralegal and my firm really has an emphasis on progressing from within. I could get better money elsewhere, but don't need to - being a two income family, I can opt for the enjoyable job with a work life balance.
You've done the hard bit in getting the TC, which many graduates would give their back teeth for. My opinion would be stick it out at your firm and do the TC and then move on as an NQ. It will be much easier to find something as an NQ than another TC IMO!
You don't have to stick with conveyancing/land.
Would there be no option of qualifying into one of the other seats? You need to do 3 others in your TC.
The LPC is fine, it's just a paper heavy course, I met people on the PSC who did their LPC alongside their TC. I did mine full time alongside a full time job in a restaurant. It's not hard subject matter. My advice would be to do the LPC before the uncertainty of the SQE.

Definitely qualify first, grit your teeth through the current training contract, then worry. You'll have loads of options as a qualified solicitor. Doing the LPC concurrently is ideal.

I'm a conveyancing solicitor. I like it but accept most people find it dull.

Getting a TC is a large part of the battle.

What area of law do you want to qualify into? Could you do a seat in it with your current firm then apply for NQ positions in other firms?

I have friends who love their work but they do tend to be partners or work at larger firms.

waves at Namechange

I’m a solicitor. I work for a top 50 law firm, regional, and agree with all those saying just get qualified and then think about your options. The TC can be tedious, but like another poster said, you’re likely to get more meaty work to do and a greater breadth of experience at a high street firm. Unless the firm is exclusively conveyancing but I doubt it if they’ve accepted they can offer a TC as you need experience in three areas of law.

I sit on our graduate recruitment interview panel for second line interviews. We get over 4,000 applicants for 14 TCs and the calibre of applicants that end up at interview are largely clones in terms of academic accolades, they have stacks of extra curricular experience and volunteering and it is SO tough deciding between them. My point being it’s hugely competitive to just get a TC so use the one you’ve got and then work out how to diversify after qualifying.

LPC is lots of reading, it’s not hard but the volume makes it tricky when working FT. I did it with 2 kids. My advice would be do a train commute and use that commute to read on the way in and type up notes on the way back.

It’s the PSC you can’t start until you’ve commenced your TC.

I’m amswer to your actual question though, I love my job, it’s mentally taxing and interesting. I work in litigation and I enjoy the exposure to new problems every day. That said, the politics at our firm is poisonous and the firm are beginning to get so big the staff are just a commodity so I’m looking to move. But that’s just because my values no longer align with the firm. I still love the law.