Perfect job with rubbish pay or ok job with good pay?

[Suzanne12]

So I work in a law firm in the finance department on a temporary contract. I'm also studying law part time. I have an interview for an entry level paralegal role at another firm but the pay is a lot less than what I'm earning now. The role is permanent, which is a plus in terms of security and it will open a lot of doors in terms of the legal career I want to pursue. But I don't want to live in a dream world and have to decide if I can cope with such a big pay cut. There are plenty of job openings in finance that I could go after instead and would probably get a better salary at than I have now but it's not what I want to do. I don't dislike what I do now but I feel like it's not where I want to be. But then what if I take the lower salary and take years to build it back up again?

Please any advice. What would you do? Perfect job with rubbish pay or ok job with good pay?

How much longer are you likely to be studying law for? If only up to four years than I would probably still with the better paid job.

I’ve taken a fairly big paycut to do my dream job.

It will go back up but it will be 3/4 years before I’m back where I was.

I’ve had to make some changes to my lifestyle but I’ve never been happier.

Go for the job you love. There’s more to life than money and you say there will be progression in the future.
So many people hit middle age and wish they’d gone with their hearts not their heads - as long as you can live with the reduced income I’d go with your heart.

AllFourOfThem, I have 2 years left of my degree and then probably a year to do the lpc. It's around this year that I need to start applying for training contracts but being a slightly older student, I can't really go down the typical route so I was hoping paralegal experience would give me a better chance.

I'm in exactly this quandary right now but in a different business.
I'm going for the sensible job that has better pension, holidays and career progression but at a lower level as I know I can work hard and work up the ladder again so to speak.
My decision is driven by having older teens and knowing if I hate it I can go back to the other industry which although is more friendly and I know it inside and out does not have the long term prospects I'm after.
Weigh up you life choices in the next few years, do you have kids? How would that affect both jobs?
Do you have the ability to go back fairly easily if it doesn't work out?
Do you want to take on additional responsibility?
I've gone with my head on this choice and may regret it, but I won't know if I don't try.

How long is it until you finish and will be looking for a training contract?

Is there any chance you could have a chat with someone within your current law firm regarding the impact each choice would have in your prospects of getting a training contract and if they think paralegal experience is preferable how much they would prefer so you can judge at what point it would make sense both financially and career wise to move into a lower paid role.

I am a solicitor and would probably go for the paralegal role. The experience would be good on your CV and could open the door to other options such as becoming a Legal Executive if you can't find a training contract.

No point of continuing working in Finance if this is not what you want to do long term. I would go for the paralegal job and move on after gaining some experience