Talk to me about being a Lawyer?

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My DS is a 1st year Historian at Cambridge, and has his eyes on the GDL in order to make a decent living, this was his plan before even applying to university.

Is it fulfilling? He hasn't decided whether he would like to become a barrister or a city solicitor.

He feels that the competition to become a barrister in London is far too extreme even if he did well at Cambridge. But thinks that City Law as solicitor is more reachable (he has applied to some schemes) or maybe become a barrister in the provinces, ee Manchester or Bristol.

Just looking for some people's experiences with a career in the law?

I am a solicitor and have been for 10 + years in the City. It depends what area he chooses to specialise in and what type of firm he chooses. Big firms doing big e litigation cases or transactions can involve long hours gruelling work (which is exciting when young but not as you get older) but it is mentally challenging and stimulating too. Alternatively some areas of law can involve good work life balance eg in my firm, pensions. Culturally law firms can be tough competitive environments. Get him to apply for lots of vacation placements etc early on. Barristers totally different ball game. All self employed and usually super bright and need to be good at thinking on feet and "performing".