To be surprised how posh most lawyers are?

[eggtat]

I grew up in a mining area in the north east. Not a poor background but parents never had much money. I was the clever kid in school, worked my socks off and got a law degree from cambridge. Then moved to London for work.

I thought that law firms would be full of people like me and some posh people. In my office I’d say a an overwhelming majority of people come from what I’d consider a posh background - parents who are professors, diplomats, barristers, partners at law firms, senior accountants etc.

People who grew up privileged, good private schools, academic households, then onto a top uni.

Anyway sorry to add this but I can't help myself. Don't know if he's posh but if anyone ever needs a criminal barrister, you can instruct Harry Potter.

https://www.25bedfordrow.com/site/people/profile/harry.potter

DS is like you, he tells me hilarious stories about nitwit colleagues who don't understand the value of money and think a £15 lunch is "a deal" 😂In other good news he was asked to organise a works event and freaked everyone by inviting the cleaners and building's handy man 😂.Shake em up OP. You are doing us all proud.

It's definitely changing ...it needs to change

“Across all five elite firms – Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Linklaters and Slaughters – nearly 50% of the 804 London partners hailed from one of the two elite universities

It depends on how you define "privilege" - the OP would fall into this category as hailing from one of the two elite universities, but doesn't consider herself privileged in terms of background.

It isn't a huge surprise that people from private schools will dominate - but quite a few children at private schools will not have come from posh or professional
backgrounds. Money doesn't mean posh.

I know plenty of people who lapse into more relaxed speech with people they are comfortable with.

Of course

In other good news he was asked to organise a works event and freaked everyone by inviting the cleaners and building's handy man

Love this. We are all doing important jobs. Imagine the chaos if there were no cleaners or handy man.....

Does that answer your earlier question?

you are a barrister

I missed the question mark! You are a barrister?

Honestly, as a profession we have a bad reputation. It’s a shame that people feel the need to live up to it.

Lawyers tend to be really bright, hard working and motivated but that only gets you so far. To succeed you need a portfolio of successful clients who are closely allied to you enough that they would move with you if you changed firms. Posh lawyers often outperform less posh lawyersl in the top law firms because they are better connected and can bring more business into the firm.

Your wealthy social circle (presumably including you, if it's your social circle?) isn't representative of all lawyers especially not solicitors.

I know several solicitors in London. Only one is 'posh'. The others are from a mix of working class and what some call lower middle class backgrounds. State educated (comps). One is still renting (in a cheaper area than Dulwich Village) because they can't afford to buy.

Background aside, current income/wealth of solicitors depends on the area of law and type of firm.

A Magic circle firm has high pay. In London or one of their regional offices outside London.

Whereas a London or elsewhere high street firm isn't always very highly paid at all. As an example, although this is about 15 years ago, a legal secretary at a corporate law City firm earnt more than a London high street solicitor.

That’s certainly true. The number of po-faced lawyers I come across is very depressing.

Really not, in commercial law firms. It is the quality of your work, your communication skills, your judgement, your ability to apply the law to any given facts, how easy you are to work with, etc which get you work and repeat work and referred work.

What are you talking about. You clearly don’t know what lawyers do if you think they are just actors. I am state educated in a small law firm in London, which is very diverse. I really think it depends what type of law firm you want to work in. MC and US firms are such a small sector of the sector. It’s really not representative of all law firms.

Isn't this the stereotype of people who go into law?

You were rude and superior. I am unfortunately not permitted to argue with you online.

As someone who works with lawyers regularly I do think it depends on the law firm and type of law. Ive seen a real mix of people. Id say it may be living in London too

I thought that law firms would be full of people like me and some posh people.

Why on earth, having been to Cambridge, did you think that?

I was joking, as I said. Jeez, I hope you’re better with clients.

It depends on how you define "privilege" - the OP would fall into this category as hailing from one of the two elite universities, but doesn't consider herself privileged in terms of background.

I think my paragraph after the bit you quoted made it clear what privilege I meant…

It isn't a huge surprise that people from private schools will dominate - but quite a few children at private schools will not have come from posh or professional
backgrounds. Money doesn't mean posh.

I never claimed it did but the majority of dc who attended private schools & work in MC firms will be privileged. Even the dc who get a scholarship place in the private schools are often from fairly mc backgrounds.

You were not.

I am not a solicitor advocate.

@Windchimesandsong that’s really good to hear. I’m pleased my experiences are not representative. Maybe I just know posh ones! I agree with you that I may be biased. I went to a comp myself and come from a poor part of the UK that isn’t in England but admittedly have plenty of posh mates nowadays! As well as more ordinary ones, of course. We’re also all in our late 30s/very early 40s too so things might be very different for grads coming through now.

I do hope this is true and my information is out of date. (35 years watching the careers London lawyers in my friendship group has at least taught me never to argue with a lawyer)