To ask ex-lawyers what they do now?

[morescrummythanyummy]

Feeling a bit fatigued and uninspired by City law (I am quite senior, so I do have some flexibility and part time (company/corporate law), but the anxiety about missing things gets me down and I'd like to do something that feels more tangible or connected to a business, rather than pushing paper around on demand).

If you are an ex lawyer, or retrained after a professional job with young kids, what did you do?

Was a finance/regulatory lawyer. Now working in in-house advisory at a fintech business. My bosses and the people I work with are ridiculously young - some of them literally the same age as my children.

I love it. The enthusiasm and eagerness to achieve because people are passionate about what they do is infectious, and everyone is so nice, hardworking and fun. It can be stressful, but many satisfying jobs are. It’s great being part of a growing business in an exciting area.

Only now I am out of the law firm, can I see how stuffy and hierarchical it was. I actually liked it at the time, but I like this better.

Good luck - there are options out there.

I work with Product people, Marketing and Engineers, so am in the centre of the business, which is fascinating and interesting.

Sounds like in-house might suit you, as you'd get more sense of the value of your work within the business overall- less of a gun for hire.

@MindPalace

That is absolutely it. Yes, I just feel constricted and not "me". Maybe in house is the next logical move

@MissusPongo

Yes, I think that is probably right. Just need to find the right thing!!

Another ex-city lawyer working in house.
I was always interested in commercial strategy so it made more sense to me than sticking in private practice. I'm an IP lawyer so now work in-house for a luxury fashion brand. Hours are good, work is interesting and I WFH most of the time so it's very flexible with my kids.

In-house is the obvious answer! I moved in-house almost immediately after qualifying at a silver circle firm and have never looked back. I've been doing interim contracting for the last few years - usually about six months at a time - and have worked in everything from FTSE 100 companies to tiny start ups, FMCG to tech to retail to professional services. I've just accepted a perm role in a large tech company.

It's so much more interesting and engaging really being part of the business and feeling like 'part of the team' rather than being an arms-length adviser. I think there's also less pressure to get everything absolutely perfect and a lot more understanding if there are hold-ups etc. when you're just another team member doing their best as opposed to someone being paid £££ to provide a service.

Can't deny that the hours are a bonus too - it's very rare that I'm still at my desk after 6 and that has been the case in every role I've had. Lots of places are offering remote or flexi working as well post-COVID. The salaries are a wee bit below City law but (particularly with larger companies and in finance/tech etc.) not significantly so. Certainly not enough to outweigh the benefits!

The in-house market is booming at the moment - I'm getting approached by recruiters or HR teams on LinkedIn almost daily. With your level of seniority and experience you should have no problem whatsoever getting interviews.

I love working in-house - can you tell?? 😅

I'm in-house for a global tech company and love it, always have. Genuinely would never in a million years step back into private practice - the open culture, relaxed atmosphere and non-competitiveness of in-house life is the right fit for me. I was super stressed and just miserable in private practice (many moons ago now as I've been in-house for a decade now). There's some really amazing opportunities in-house at the moment in tech/biotech/fintech/pharma.

Have you thought about joining Lexis or PLC as a PSL? They are usually looking for corporate lawyers and work life balance is good. However, the chances are you'd have to take a significant pay cut if you are currently in a City firm. Might be worth it though and they have reasonably good benefits.

Working in-house is good if you want to be close to the business and decision-making, but I am not sure work-life balance is always that much better. You would have to do your research carefully and see what the expectations were.

I’m ex-big law, commercial/IP partner, now in-house (GC) in life sciences in the pediatric, on the board and a statutory director.

I thought I liked private practice but I think I might have had Stockholm Syndrome! I would never go back.

One thing that is often said about working is that nobody cares what you did today in six months' time. That doesn't apply to working in know-how, the work you do today really can help people - whether it's a trainee doing research or a lawyer drafting a certain type of contract for the first time. I have worked as a PSL quite a lot in my career and it is the one thing where I feel like I make a difference.

I've also worked in-house with differing degrees of interest and success. If you can find the right organisation for you, it's great but as I said above, I think work-life balance can be a difficult thing to get right in-house as well. Also, it can be precarious if businesses are bought or merge or just reorganise themselves and you lose your job. In a law firm, as long as you are bringing in the work, you are probably ok.

Go in-house. Totally different ball game, and at a senior level you do loads of stuff that isn't really strictly legal work, more strategy, commercial, management etc. If you can find a company you have an interest in it can be really rewarding. I've always found work life balance good too - although of course depends on the type of organisation you join. I've known lawyers who joined organisations as counsel and then migrated to other roles in the organisation too, so it's a good transition if you really feel law is no longer for you.

(From an in-house lawyer who would rather never practice ever again than work in a law firm!)

Thanks all!

I have been having a wobble on law, but I think that that is partly because I have stayed where I am longer than I should have done ideally (2 maternity leaves/chance to have day off with kids...) and I feel a bit stale. I am pretty sure the skills are there, lurking in the background, so maybe it is time to just jump in!

I'm less worried about a pay cut than having some flexibility - I have good savings as I am naturally quite frugal and we haven't over extended on mortgage so our outgoings are relatively low compared to current salary despite massive bills hike. I'd probably try to go for a 4 day a week job if I could, contract or permanent, then when my littlest is 3, I may see if I can do 5 shorter days / incorporate some school pick up. We will see. I am feeling much more inspired now. Thank you!!!

I’m currently retraining as a teacher (not in the UK).
I have just read through your own responses and am glad you’re feeling more inspired now though and I hope you find your groove and work life balance. It’s so hard hey!

My friend's mum was a lawyer and quit to open a cafe/bakery

I still remember the BLTs with fresh bread...so good

Local Authority legal? Obviously money nothing like city but wfh, fully flexible and working for local community.
I also know someone who left city firm during covid completely turned off from it and is now doing assistant coroner work.

Hi OP, just on flexibility, my current role is fully remote (with the option to go into the office if you want to or for socials etc.) and my core hours are 9 - 5. I usually start a bit earlier (8 or so) as I'm awake and happy to do so, but it's not expected. I am very rarely here past half five and am actively chastised by my boss if he sees me answer an email in the evening or weekends 😆.

My current boss has primary aged kids, and starts a bit earlier and works a bit later with an hour off every morning and afternoon to do the school runs. In my last role my manager also had little kids and worked 7:30 - 3 with a shorter lunch break so that she could get her boys from nursery/school and look after them for the rest of the afternoon. Every role I've had bar maybe one has been really open to all forms of flexible working (including part time) and there's zero element of staying late for appearance's sake. The only roles I've heard some horror stories about in terms of hours seem to be finance/fintech, and even then, only at some companies (and still in no way comparable to City firm hours!).

My friend's mum was a lawyer and quit to open a cafe/bakery

Think we may know the same person! Yorkshire way? 😊

I went in-house for a sports brand. I tried not to be the client who instructed our external lawyers on a Friday pm requiring it to be ready Monday am.