Lawyers- would I be crazy to move FROM local government to private practice?

[Acunningruse]

1 year PQE (Cilex) but 5 years experience in local government legal services team. I love the flexibility but the fact I could earn far more, coupled with the frustratingly slow pace and political constraints of the public sector, are tempting me to the private sector. Would this be utter madness with 2 primary aged children? Colleagues who have come to my local authority from private practice have told horror stories of billing targets, competitiveness and a dog-eat-dog culture- the opposite of where I am now.

Part of me thinks move now, as to leave it much longer I may struggle to be seen as commercially minded enough to make the transfer, however the other part of me thinks wait until the children are older- but then when is a good time with kids? I'm early 40s, for context, with a DH in a demanding job.

Thoughts appreciated.

It really depends on the firm. I work in private practice at a multi national firm in one of its regional offices, and it's fantastically supportive to those with childcare commitments etc. We do have billable targets but there isn't a nasty/competitive/dog-eat-dog culture here. My colleagues and I do sometimes work long hours, but this isn't very often and on the whole, our personal boundaries are respected by our superiors and we can work flexibly as to time/place. Wages are very good, but obviously not big bucks like US firms/Magic Circle, but I imagine life would be far tougher at places like that.

It really depends on the firm

Exactly what I was going to say before I read the first response.

It also depends on the team. I work in a busy team in an international law firm, but the team is fantastic. Very supportive and most are parents so understand the balance. The work still needs to be done but there is flexibility.