To ask what alternative job I could do for a similar salary

[Hunetp]

I work in law and earn 70k. I’m so fed up of it but as a single parent the money is needed. My mortgage is 950 and I’ve no way of cutting this back and if I was renting I’d be paying even more.

I feel like I have no options as I’m not qualified in anything else. I hate the culture and the arrogance and, being honest, the men! Mostly (not all) very difficult to work with. I’ve only been back a year since maternity leave. I suspect I am paid less than most men there too, I’m already 37 so feel like I’m on the back foot financially and would rather be on the back foot but doing a job I don’t despise the environment. Do I just have to suck it up? I am not skilled in anything else sadly and looking online tonight it doesn’t seem I would get any other work.

Can you work as a corporate lawyer rather than in a firm? Go freelance? Tutor? Pivot into HR?

Could you look for an ‘in house’ law advisory role?

@Hunetp what are your other interests? Also do you currently manage anyone?

I don’t think I could do hr or teaching that would be on 70k and I just can’t afford the drop in salary as ex is very unreliable regarding his contribution.

Go in house or public sector

Join the civil service. I’m a G7 and earn 63k, so you could come in at G7 or G6 (maybe 10k plus higher) level.

What are your other outgoings? £950 is not a huge amount for a mortgage on your salary.

That’s what I thought, I’m paying £1350 in rent and if I buy a flat which I’m hoping to it’s £1500 min

Claims management in insurance?

Depends what kind of law you do but if it’s corporate or similar then you could try an in house role either in the legal team or Risk or Compliance. Particularly in the Financial Services sector there are quite a few roles.

@Hunetp if you have a you other interests I suggest you look for director roles not-for-profits or charities. Your background in law would be a serious asset to any of those and if it was a directorship you would easily get that sort of money. You may have to lay the ground work for 6-12 months but I would say it’s easy after that. Join a board of the sort of place you’d like to work. A very small amount of training in the experience you lack and you’d be snapped up by the right org.

In-House, or Compliance/ Risk Management, at an Insurance company, bank or professional services firm. Loads of people from a law background…

Thought same, you must be taking home 3k per month ish. You could probably afford to drop to a 50k salary?

I would suggest changing jobs but staying in the same general field. There can be big differences in culture between workplaces. Also could you go part time? Most jobs become much more bearable if you reduce your hours. You would also then probably have reduced nursery costs.

What is your take home on 70k? How many DC? Unless you have very large outgoings which there is no way around, you might be able to take a bit of a salary drop eveif it seems impossible on the face of things? Our household income is significantly less than yours but I am still considering a new role away from intolerable working conditions in current profession, with which will come an eye-watering pay cut, but I'm pretty sure we'll manage. I really hope you find something; not enjoying one's employment is no way to live.

@Runningwater1 i don’t manage anyone. How would I get into these not for profit places? What would be an example? I honestly feel like this place just takes the piss and I have had enough, though am stuck to some extent as I’m on my own with dd

@TheMotherSide i think I could afford to drop a bit, maybe to 60k. I don’t have many other outgoings other than 250 a month on a car which I need

My sister is in HR and on over £150k. She studied employment law.

What area of law are you in? The answer is probably to change firm to start with

@Caggers does she work for a big company? What are her hours like? I can’t even imagine being on that pay!

@Footprintsinthesand corporate disputes

I work in house in the regions as an in house commerical lawyer, and on £85k plus bonus and other perks. I have a family and job is very family friendly and no sexism or anything like that at all. It can be done!

I would start by speaking to legal recruitment consultants in your area to see how competitive 70k is for your job in your area.

are you close to London, that would widen the options.

Look at the sectoral regulators - a principal or manager level role will get you that salary or more. They take a lot of people with backgrounds in law.

@Warmfire where are you based? I’m north of Bham/towards Sheffield. I haven’t seen any in house jobs on a better salary than 70k but would be interested in in house!

I am a paralegal and I came here to say the same as many previous posters - try in-house roles. Or do the CIPP qualification and get into Data Protection.