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Original poster

Calling lawyers: what is there between City and no job?

70 replies

AmIKiddingMyself · 30/03/2010 00:01

Evening all,

I'm using an alter ego as have boss-might-read-mumsnet paranoia . Could really do with some advice from the lawyers out there.

So, I'm at a large City firm (non transactional dept). We are planning DCs soon (am 31). My hours vary from reasonable to very long. DH does even longer hours. Post-DC, I'd ideally carry on litigating, but in a job that lets me leave early every night. Or at least nearly every night. Happy to accept huge pay cut and much less "prestige" (whatever that is).

Does this exist? Or do smaller/cheaper firms demand the same amount of flesh, just for less pay?

I would love to hear your experiences and insights. If anyone can point me in the direction of this Nirvana I would be most grateful.

OP posts:
BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 30/03/2010 00:03

There used to be a fab web site called Lawyers with kids, it may be worth your while having a look on there

BelleDeChocolateFluffyBunny · 30/03/2010 00:05

www.lawyerswithkids.com Here you are. I did a LLB, I found it really difficult to get a job after that worked around school hours so I took a detour into something completely different. I do miss it though

Original poster
AmIKiddingMyself · 30/03/2010 00:12

thanks Belle - off to have a look at that now.

OP posts:
flowerybeanbag · 30/03/2010 09:52

Regional? In-house litigation dept somewhere big enough to have one? Public sector? Public sector tends to be more family friendly and open to flexible working?

Original poster
AmIKiddingMyself · 30/03/2010 10:53

hi flowery, thanks for your reply!

I'd certainly consider a regional firm (would have to be in London though as DH's job is here). But the ones I know about (Eversheds, DLA etc) seem to be almost as high pressure as the City firms. Is there a tier below that which would be less high pressure?

I guess I'm just a bit clueless about what non-City firms exist, or how to find out about them. All the information on the web/from recruiters seems to be focused on the top 50 firms. Any pointers?

In house litigation position would, I think, be great, IF I could find a London-based one. Rare though!

Public sector... Yes, I'd consider that, though ideally I'd stay in the private sector. Again though I just don't really know where to look to find out about the public sector options.

Think I need to do some more research! If anyone can suggest where to find more information about non-City firms/public sector options, that would be great!

OP posts:
vanitypear · 31/03/2010 14:54

Assume you are not interested in PSL roles? I can't blame you if you weren't attracted to it(particularly as you don't have kids yet). I'm 33, with two kids, was MC corporate associate and now am part-time PSL. It ticks the leave on time/keep your hand in boxes at least!

Pollyanna · 31/03/2010 14:56

in house - really good. Smaller firms didn't do it for me (hours still long,etc etc). I have less money, but more flexibility and prefer the in-house atmosphere to that of private practice.

flowerybeanbag · 31/03/2010 15:04

There was a thread on here recently where someone gave some useful info and I think a website about getting into public sector law. I can't remember exactly what or when though. [unhelpful]

I'll ask my DH who is a city litigator about the other stuff and see what he says.

CountessDracula · 31/03/2010 15:06

In house
PSL
TSol is certainly the best lifestyle choice I have heard of but is not much £££

CountessDracula · 31/03/2010 15:08

TSol website here they run regular recruitement exercises

CountessDracula · 31/03/2010 15:09

what sort of litigation do you do?

tvfriend · 31/03/2010 15:10

DH is a partner in London office of large regionalfirm (won't name just in case). His hours are OK and a a lot of the women seem to work part time etc.
They do promote themselves as being family friendly- not convinced they are especially, but he certainly doesn't work horrendous hours (he is a partner though so maybe the more junior ones do?).

tvfriend · 31/03/2010 15:13

Actually, it's not a regional firm as such. They have a large office in another city, a smaller one in London and a few overseas. Not big network.

Original poster
AmIKiddingMyself · 31/03/2010 15:14

thanks all

vanitypear, I've thought about PSL roles and think they are not for me. I've never really been someone who was that interested in keeping up to date with the law IYSWIM and I think what I really enjoy about my job is the analysis in actual cases.

pollyanna thanks. I will keep my eyes peeled for a London based in house litigation position. Interesting that a smaller firm didn't work for you. What sort of hours were you working in the smaller firm (and how small?), and what are your hours like now, if you don't mind me asking?

flowery I will have a trawl, haven't tried looking specifically for public sector law so will see if I can find it. Thanks again.

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MooMooMama · 31/03/2010 15:17

Just ot echo what others have said already, but have you thought of a PSL role?

I was a Corporate City associate pre-DS and had just assumed that it would be impossible to continue post-baby. I'm now doing a PSL role 3 days a week with very 9-5 hours. Having the predictable regular hours is a 'must' as far as childcare goes.

The other alternative could be lecturing at a law school? A friend of mine did this and says it's a more flexible lifestyle. May be worth looking into...

Original poster
AmIKiddingMyself · 31/03/2010 15:17

Ooh, I posted before I saw the replies from Countess and tvfriend

Countess, I'll have a look at the Tsol website. I have worked on cases opposite the Tsol before and they always seemed really stressed and with no facilities, which put me off a bit! I wonder how much they pay...

tvfriend, this is what makes it so hard... they all say they are family friendly but then so many aren't really (from stories at least).

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CountessDracula · 31/03/2010 15:17

TSOL is the govt in-house legal department
I have posted a link to it!

CountessDracula · 31/03/2010 15:18

Ah sorry x posted
I think the pay is crap tbh
I know a couple of people who work for them and they seem to have a nice lifestyle. They are very pro part time and flexible working and working from home

tummytime · 31/03/2010 15:19

in-house. Tis marvellous. And you can instruct people in city firms to work for you to a ridiculous deadline while you go home and have time with the babies.

Government legal service are very good employers and the quality of the work is amazing. no, I don't work for them.

Public sector all advertise in the lsg and often the lawyer basically would include government legal service which will recruit pretty constantly, london borough councils, tfl, some olympic work with oda, mayor of london etc.

CountessDracula · 31/03/2010 15:19

ah
it says from £46k on the website
but I guess that would be someone with not much PQE

Original poster
AmIKiddingMyself · 31/03/2010 15:21

tvfriend, just wondered, what do you mean by not horrendous... what hours does he usually work?

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tummytime · 31/03/2010 15:24

about a billion x-posts! I have a few friends who work for the gls/ tsol. They have quite big case loads and not a huge amount of administrative support but the court/ barristers etc are aware of it and I think it is not as important as it feels.

I was a city solicitor in a specialist dept doing both tranactional and litigationand were often against tsol.

Original poster
AmIKiddingMyself · 31/03/2010 15:34

Countess that's higher than I was expecting actually, especially if it's more if you're more senior. Though, after tax, I don't know if that would cover childcare in London, suspect not.

tummytime I'll have a look at govt legal service, thanks. Yes the delegation aspect of in house has always appealed! (In house lawyers always seem to call me at 5pm!)

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Pollyanna · 31/03/2010 15:37

I worked for a couple of firms after I left a very big City firm. Both still in the City but not magic circle. with one I did 4 days a week, which wasn't enough of a reduction - still had to work late when necessary and be contactable on my day off. Then I went to another firm and did 3 days which was much better.

At the time I found it really hard though - clients would phone me on my days off and I still had to work late on the other days - was constantly rushing around and was told I could be a partner, but only if I did 4 days a week. looking back it was pretty good, but with very young children (and a dh who was also at a City firm) I found it too hard to juggle and do childcare etc. My youngest at the time was very miserable too which put extra pressure on me.

I gave up work for a couple of years, but found it quite difficult - (went slightly mad to be honest and got a bit obsessed about menu planning) and then found my current role. I have worked all kinds of different patterns here - from jobshare at 2 days a week, to on my own at 3 days a week. Now I do 4 days a week, but can work from home at least one of those days. I can come in after school drop off time and can work from home if I need to. I don't have any pressure about billable hours, marketing or partnership. My "clients" are reasonable - they don't expect me to work into the night, and I have a pretty good legal budget to instruct lawyers if I need to. The work is much more varied too - I can do as much pure legal work as I want, or can concentrate on more policy or governance stuff and really get involved in the business side of things.

the downside? money! But I don't think I could go back into private practice now.

Original poster
AmIKiddingMyself · 31/03/2010 15:39

Countess I have done all sorts of litigation, am not in a specialised section. almost all corporate on corporate though, not individuals.

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