Help! Fed-up solicitor wants job with no human contact!

[user1471456822]

Hi all,

Firstly sorry for the crap username, my account won't let me change it atm.

I'm 33, single, no DC (no plans to change either). Currently on £28,500/year (have moved jobs frequently). Have a mortgage of £550/month. No savings (oops).

I've been a solicitor for 10yrs. And I hate it. I've worked in a court roles and in more "chambers-based" practices. And I hate both. It's the CLIENTS mainly. The volume of them and their constant phone calls, emails and demands. I feel like I'm being picked at and tortured all day. Then I get to do my "proper" work at night (reading and drafting documents,). I've been working 80+ hours a week and it's still not enough. I also hate the schmoozing, dishonesty, backhanders and poor ethics which goes with it all. Plus the feeing targets and timerecording and spreadsheet reporting, like we're on trial all the time from the big bosses.

My direct boss is lovely but also works all-nighters. One team member is leaving next week and another is in tears regularly. It's not as if the powers that be are unaware. They bung us a few extra quid occasionally to keep us quiet but nothing changes. People in other departments are also fed-up.

I'm not ambitious (anymore, if I ever was), I don't want to be a Partner or achieve world peace. I just want to do a 9-5 job and come home and watch TV with my cat. I did law because I was academic and it was expected.

According to that Myers-Brigg thing, I'm actually an introvert who has learned to be an extrovert. I'm quite loud and confident and love a good laugh. But I only like people in small doses.

I fantasise about night shifts stacking shelves. Or picking items for Amazon. I like organising things. I don't like the noise and chaos that is common in our department.

I can't discuss any of this with my parents - they are supportive in general but would likely just tell me to "tell your boss you're feeling stressed" (mum) or "tough shit, life's a bitch, you've got a mortgage to pay so get on with it" (dad).

I'd be grateful for any advice or ideas. Thank you in advance.

[Girlwhowearsglasses]

What about VSO? Your qualifications must be of use?

[BabyGanoush]

Yes, find a better employer!

[Iamdazedandconfused]

Have you heard of "Lawyers on Demand"? I don't know much about it but have heard of a few lawyers near me moving into it. Might be worth a Google.

[user1471456822]

Hello all, quick update!

I finish work on Tuesday and (assuming my online test goes ok) start a temporary call centre job (I might start separate thread about this) on 5 Sep. It will keep the wolf from the door whilst I figure out what to do with the rest of my life.

I've started making lists of possible jobs, contacts etc. In fact, most importantly, I'm making an appointment with a careers counsellor as I'd really like to talk all this through.

Wish me luck!!

[daisygirlmac]

Wahoola! Good luck OP it's very exciting

[DiegeticMuch]

That salary is a disgrace. My cousin is a call centre team leader (and it's just customer service for a retailer, not a specialist/demanding call centre role like those in HMRC or DWP for example) working a 40 hour week on average (37h plus a bit of regular paid overtime I think) and she earns £25k in a typical tax year, for hardly any stress. You're being mugged off, as my teenager would say.

I also fantasise sometimes about an Amazon picking job. Lol. Ever since a friend's student son did it over Christmas (overnight shifts) and made quite a lot of money and lost a bit of weight from all the walking. He also had some funny stories about some of the orders. The bosses were very "observant" and untrusting though.

You're v organised. Set up on your own. Are there any trusted paralegals at your firm who'd go in with you? Take on as many clients as you can manage.

[DiegeticMuch]

Oooh just saw your update. Good on you for leaving!

[Fluffycloudland77]

Good for you. Keeping the wolf from the door is the most important thing for now.

There's a frugal living thread on credit crunch if you need to cut costs, it's not all sack cloth and ashes.

You can just lurk if you like.

[HiDBandSIL]

Well done OP! I just read your thread planning to post to say to hand your notice in ASAP because you are massively underselling yourself but you've already done it - great!

I'm a solicitor too (and not posting under my usual username) and, like you, would rather have a job that didn't involve people. I stupidly thought being a lawyer would involve studying books under a green lamp and furiously writing things somewhere quiet and dusty!!!

Anyway, I've just moved from being a transactional lawyer (not property but related) to being a PSL which based on my past experience will be much more up my street. I can absolutely do the transactional work but I find the human interaction really stressful. In my experience (large regional firm) PSL roles aren't the easiest to find though because they tend to be created for / go to existing employees.

I still might move on to something else but what I've found in researching other careers is that well paid jobs usually require qualifications and/or experience (I'm being Captain Obvious here). At this point, I couldn't take the financial hit to retrain (I've got a young family) so I'm thinking I'll have to stay within law. If you can survive on the salary you're currently on you have more options but you'll presumably earn more, more quickly and more easily in a legal job. There are so many local government and in-house jobs for property lawyers, and you've got loads of experience. On the other hand, if you've few commitments and are used to a lower rate of pay, perhaps now is a good time to pursue your Kondo dream! I'm a bit stuck because I want a career change and pay rise at the same time. I've also no time to study. I wish I'd trained as a computer programmer

I'm rambling. Just, good luck. I'm following and stealing ideas.

[HiDBandSIL]

Shit that's really long. Sorry - not really interesting or useful either!

[dotdotdotmustdash]

On those wages and 80hrs per week, you do know you were earning £6.85 per hour? Any job paying minimum wage would be an improvement.

What a bizarre situation! I was trying to talk my daughter into applying to do law at Edinburgh Uni with her 5 A grade Highers, but I think not.

[user1471456822]

Thanks everyone, it's all very clear now that too many people are just scared to leave law - I think maybe it's an ego thing for some people. But I don't care about that any more. The mugs are the ones that stay, not the ones who take a pay cut for an increase in wellbeing!

I'll keep you all updated.

[SlipperyJack]

I got fed up with being an employed solicitor (and in-house isn't always the holy grail it's often made out to be, believe me). I'm now self-employed - I get to choose the days and times I work, and there's now a direct relationship between how much I work and how much I get paid. Obviously I need to be available for clients, but within reason, I can control it. (For example, I've already told clients I won't be available during half term week unless it's an emergency - nobody has pulled a face yet!)

[SlipperyJack]

Just seen your update (must RTFT!) Well done on leaving. I doubt you'll regret it

[RipMacWinkle]

Off topic but I did notice a PT law job in Glasgow advertised today on S1. Money not amazing but given the amount of unhappy lawyers on this thread I thought I'd mention it.

Best of luck with the move OP! The initial jump is the hardest I would imagine. Onwards and upwards!

[Muddle2000]

1. Neighbors son age mid thirties works as a legal editor in London but i
   

think he originally trained as a barrister

1. Friends DB works for LAs as a sols
   
2. Male friend is an International lawyer. It is unsocial as he often has to
   

get up 4am to catch a flight But this is a bit morbid- he basically deals
with people who have died abroad and all the formalities incl getting
the body back home. Sounds like mostly obtaining/checking the docs
are in order. I guess it might be a bit tricky in certain corrupt countries
so patience needed. He's in it for the travel. Based in London.
Interesting job though All that travel

[user1471456822]

Thanks guys!! Love the idea of bringing home dead bodies for a living, would brighten up my tinder profile if I put that on!

I'm starting a call-centre job tomorrow which will keep a bit of money coming in. I've also made contact with a careers counsellor and need to fill in an initial assessment.

I'm doing some "princessing" as inspired by the Style & Beauty boards on here, as i'll only be working 40hrs a week (compared to 70!) I shall have more time for myself again!

[Fozzleyplum]

If you have some commercial property experience, or are prepared to be trained, how about seeing if National Trust for Scotland or the John Muir Trust are recruiting?

[SkyRabbit]

Watching with interest as I'm a jaded solicitor too!

Wow to OP - kudos to you for leaving - very impressed with your balls!!

I'm 17 years PQE, work in Crime, and I earn the same as the OP. Law is not the land of milk and honey people think it is! People actually think I'm lying when I say we earn about the same as teachers, except without the pensions and holidays (not denigrating teachers btw - it's just a useful comparison!)
I hate it - sick of the clients, sick of the other lawyers (who are often the slick shysters you think they are). I used to work in property too - god it was awful! So stressful, and we used to end up doing complicated leases on London flats for £110, (we were oop North) when the estate agents were getting £4k plus. Soul destroying.

[ChickenVindaloo]

Hey all (I'm the OP, by the way, with a name-change!)

I've finished my course with the careers counsellor. I'm apparently an ESFJ so extrovert, sensing, feeling, judger. I do however have some strong introvert tendencies. My idea production is very high as is my vocabulary. I am 50/50 specialist/generalist so I like a bit of variety in life.

I'm going to initially try and stay in law but in a different sector/practice area. I have made a list of loads of random things I'm interested in. Just need to start firing loads of applications in and see what bites!