Are there any solicitors out there?

[MrsFogi]

I am a solicitor in a magic circle law firm. I've always done niche finance work that is only done by large city firms. DH and I would like to move away from London at some point but I'd like to be able to continue working and am wondering if it would be possible for me to retrain to work in a firm outside the city doing something like conveyancing (I really don't want to do corporate stuff). Does anyone have any idea how difficult it would be to make such a transition or have any ideas I may not have thought of?

I'm a solicitor of the high street variety but DH works in city and wants to move away. In our experience, your magic circle status will work very well for you if you move away. I'm sure that if you are realistic about your salary level dropping and don't come across as arrogant, that they will be only too glad to take you on and re-train you as it will reflect well on them that they have hired someone from a top tier firm. From experience, I'm not too sure about conveyancing especially as the market is in a bit of a wobble at the moment. It might be worth finding a firm you like first and asking what sort of law they would be interested in training you in?

You'd be more likely to find openings in commercial property or have you thought about being a PSL?

in -house?

Thanks evelynrose. In-house won't work as that would be in London and psl is something that doesn't appeal to me at all I'm afraid.

Mrs Fogi, how far away outside London? Will it still be another big city, like Bristol or Dublin?

How about working for the local authority eg in child protection?

Hi MrsF. I completely understand wanting to leave the city! I left a magic circle firm a couple of years ago and went to a US firm (frying pan / fire?!) and now can't bear the thought of returning full time in a few months. I can't see any difficulties at all with leaving to go to a HS firm - the only issue is that your salary might well be cut in half. Alternatively, if you're going to accept a significantly reduced salary, why not stay where you are but agree fixed hours. To be honest, I've never yet met anyone who was actually able to stick to their agreed hours, but there's always a first!!

Good luck - I totally sympathise!

MrsFogi- in-house wouldn't nec be in London. Lots of blue-chip companies (like mine) employ specialised finance lawyers outside London (unless you are derivatives or similar in which case I see your point)

Not conveyancing..............probate / trusts . Massive lack of good quality lwayers so plenty of jobs and firms are desp to find people who want to do it!

Come and work for me I will re train you in no time!!!!

Scuse the hijack, but I have to ask - MadamBlackberry - I'm a (very ex) lawyer (left commercial litigation in 1997, now doing training/assessment work after rebranding with a psychology degree) with a dh who'd love to be an ex PI lawyer. Where would we look to find firms willing to retrain us - or indeed where are you based..?

Worcester..............you would have to be realistic on Salary..............back to the sort of level that we pay our 1 to 2 year qualifieds.......say £30 to £35k but there are something like 100 firms in the Midlands alone looking for private client lawyers. Its not seen as sexy enough but I think its fab. We have a great time !

Its more about commitment and drive than knowledge. We have so many drippy solicitors who want a work life balance ie they get paid for doing not much.so anyone who shares the same enthusiaism as me I would happily retrain.

What on earth for? I suggest therapy and staying in London. Will be better in the long term than conveyancing.

Thanks for all the answers. In answer to the questions - Probably a move to Berkshire, Bucks etc. Probate or trusts appeals, but not in the Midlands I'd like to stay in the South East but not commute! Does anyone know what the salaries are like in SE? Yes, I'm in a niche finance role so not general finance a company could use in house.

lots of in house jobs on the M4 corridor, especially if you can blag a working knowledge of IT contracts (dead easy to mug up on)
or else have a read up on divorce/ancillary relief/children and become a family lawyer (again, not brain surgery and self-contained and completely portable)
I'm ex magic circle and now in wilts - cat me if you want some additional cunning ideas I don't particularly want to share with the whole board!

Have you considered a firm with a London office that also has branches outside the city? They can be quite flexible with you based in say, Bristol, but hotdesking at the London office once a week/fortnight or so. Know a few lawyers that do that.

In a similar position myself - have left magic circle firm where I was a finance lawyer working horrid hours to be a SAHM (sorry Xenia!) and absolutely loving it. Very exciting to discover there is a life outside the four walls of my office.

We are moving out of London in a few months and I want to revert to my high street family law roots ie to work I know I will enjoy and care about so any tips gratefully received!

MrsFogi - I know several ex-City solicitors in Tunbridge Wells and they have a great work-life balance (and earn decent money) - you can live in a lovely farmhouse in a village and have a twenty minute drive to work. Also excellent schools (grammars and private) around there.

Hmmm, so it looks like there is life outside London - good luck OP!

MadamBlackberry : luckily I think both DH and I would be pleasantly surprised by salaries as current rate for 10 yr+ PI lawyer is (only!?) £35k here in't North... And I would definitely be keen - although I was at getting my highest LSF mark in Probate and Trusts - seemed so deeply uncool at the time... If you're still about, would you mind dropping me an email - I'm at vjarmstrong at gmail dot com, so I can get my head around who to approach and any pre-work to do...

VickyA have emailed you..........

MB

What about Public Sector? I have worked in Local Gov for last 6 years as a solicitor - money isn't great - probably £35k for full time but benefits are very good - fixed hours, flexi leave, pension etc. I work in litigation but plenty of opportunity in bigger authorities for high profile property work - most of the complex work is sent out as often Local Gov doesn't have the in house expertise. You could always try locum work on a trial basis to get a feel for the work - pay can be quite rewarding especially if you set yourself up as a limited company.