Solicitors?

[Zoelda]

Who else is out there?

?? Not sure what you mean. I'm a solicitor (non practising)

I used to be a solicitor - I quit just before Christmas last year and felt like a huge weight had lifted off my shoulders.

I work for myself at the moment (totally non law-related) but going to a public sector job in September.

What did you practice in? Did you not enjoy it? Too stressful? Work life balance? I last left practice nearly 5 yrs ago and I've been a freelance writer ever since. I miss being in the office though!

I did private client and pensions at various times. I didn't mind private client, but hated pensions. I just got fed up with office politics, lack of flexibility and staring at a screen all day. Also, chargeable units are the work of the devil. It wasn't so bad when I worked in London, as you pretty much just put down 100% of your time, billed 100% of your time and got paid for 100% of your time - it's much more stressful in smaller regional firms where you have to do 10 hours' worth of work for 3 hours' chargeable time .

I'm now going to HMRC to join the graduate scheme to become a tax inspector! Hoping this will be more flexible hours and interesting work - money is not as good, but I'm not massively money-motivated so don't care about that too much.

I'm a solicitor. Bottom feeder of the legal world - personal injury. I enjoy it though.

Wow you don't often hear of lawyers going to join hmrc! Usually the other way around.

I was wondering whether there are many self employed solicitors on here. I am one.

Oh no not self employed. Not qualified long enough for a start.

I couldn't imagine anything more stressful than being self-employed as a solicitor OP! What kind of work do you do?

I originally looked at joining HMRC as a lawyer, but didn't fancy the work that the lawyers do - although would like to maintain my qualification and hopefully go into contentious work somewhere down the line and cross over a little bit.

Chubbfudler, that made me laugh re PI work - so true!

I used to be work in private practice (pi!) but now run my own writing business (writing for law firms) and love it. Have not looked back (well the office banter was good sometimes and the Friday night after work drinks, but that all stopped when DCs came along!).

I'm a solicitor, non practising also. Moved from commercial property into management and letting which I far prefer. Same kind of work, just the interesting bit of it.

No time sheets, no clock watching, no office politics and so much less aggressive. Besides miles more flexible for family life. No round the clock days here, everone goes home at 5pm!

I'm a solicitor, again non-practicing. I used to do Property Finance work. A bottom feeder in the City. I once upon a time did all the toxic loan stuff that brought down the banks. Was made redundant after the crash, got pregnant and haven't been able to get back in. Just contemplating self employment, but it doesn't seem feasible with the PI cover needed to insure the practice. I've got an interview tomorrow for a public sector role

I was made redundant too. Lots of us here were let go just after the crash, amazing how many were 30 something women who had just started their families!

Another self employed lawyer here.

I'm a self-employed solicitor, specialising in private client and charity law. The money isn't as good as working in a big firm, but I wake up happy every day knowing that I don't have to deal with office politics and glass ceilings.

Hi - a question for all you self-employed solicitors: what do you do? Have you set up sole practice? Is the prof indemnity insurance a nightmare? Are you enjoying it? I posted a new thread the other day (please read it if you want to know my current situation etc). I'm grateful for any thoughts/experiences please. Thanks very much.

I'm a lawyer. Commercial litigator in quite a large firm. I have an 18 month old and I'm a single mother.

Leavingthelaw - take a look at Keystone Law for starters; and look at Andrew Wolley's set up (www.family-lawfirm.co.uk) and also look at www.constructionlawconsultant.co.uk/ - website of a freelance construction lawyer and mother of one.

.

Hope iy goes well for you! As to your books, I woulg think that engaging an accountant familiar with tax returns for solicitors - would be more cost effective than navigating the process yourself. The time youd spend in terms of lost chargeable hours would surely be far in excess of what the accountant will charge and you accountant will give you good tax saving advice as a matter of course.

In the ever present threat of redundancy in my firm, I have been considering self employment for a little while. However, the PII run off cost terrifies me so looking at other ways to use my skills (20 years qualified). Seems a terrible waste for the law in general to see lawyers leave the profession after such a hard time in getting and staying there.

The PII itself is not so bad in year one, but I have heards horror stroies of it almost tripling for some sole practitioners in next one or two years - and the effect of that on run off insurance is extreme. Big big risk if your practice closes in the early years.

The opportunity for consultancy or locum work for me is limited unfortunatly. I wish you really well with your new enterprise - good luck