Solicitor- career changers

[Bluesand1]

Looking for inspiration from solicitors who have moved into non fee earning roles. What do you do and how easy did you find the transition? Thanks.

Place marking

Anyone!?

Both really...

Public sector. The liberation from fee earning, year end and billable hours has been wonderful.

In house - no billing, better hours, interesting work. I wouldn't go back to private practice now.

Government, local government, NHS?

I'm a PSL. It's a great job but I question how much longevity the role has and what the career path from here is. I'm in a currently limited area of law though, if you are general commercial, corporate, real estate etc you would have more options I think

I'm due to start a new job next week; civil service. I'm nervous but excited at the thought of something completely different.

I moved to the civil service. You can switch to the GLS and stay a solicitor but I chose to retrain as a tax inspector. I have nearly finished the training now and I am so much happier in this job than I was doing law. It is much less well paid and it has its crappy aspects but overall the work is interesting and there are no bills!!!! I have no regrets.

I'm also trying to work out what to do. In-house jobs seem hard to get in my area. What other career can a solicitor do? It honestly have no idea but I know something needs to change.

Watching with great interest!!

In-house here. So much better than private practice, but less scope for promotion and career development.

I'm looking t developing my own career. I'm doing occasional fee paid judging, a bit of coroner work on the side etc, occasional mediation type stuff. I also blog and write for practical law. I'd quite like to build this into more of a career as the children grow up.

Thanks all

Secondary school languages teacher.....

I didn't realise (if correct) after training a tax inspector can earn late 40s upwards. That's pretty good unless you're in London.

I've thought about teaching but don't want to retrain. Any LPC tutors out there who can comment on job security etc?

Were PSL jobs difficult to come by?

Thanks.

What about lecturing at a local college?

I'm in house which is still relatively high stress, but no targets/hours etc. Much less pay and scope for career progression and I'm currently part time.

I don't regret my move.

all sorts of organisations are looking for in-house lawyers these days so keep your eye out.

Also would you consider a Company Secretarial role?

I will be a 'tax specialist' OP. 'Tax inspector' is really an obsolete term now, but caseworkers doing compliance range in grade enormously depending how complex the work is. I will be a grade 7 on completing the course - salaries for this grade can be found on the HMRC website. London pay is about 5k more I think. I am not in London.

Ah okay thank you emsyj

Legal charities. It's not entirely a career change as I'd worked for several in my career before now, but they were all fee earning roles. It's great but unless you were in a poorly paid area already, you won't like the money.

@Bluesand1 I am looking to give up my job as a solicitor and searched on here and your old 2016 thread came up. Did you make a change? If what are you doing now and do you like it ? Am looking for less stress and less hours. Currently in private practice doing 4 days per week

Hi macmacaroon
I'm also trying to get alternative ideas for a career after being a solicitor. I'm going to start a new thread about this.

@DameCelia excellent! I will look out for it. I can't make it work with 2 DC under 5 so need some options.