[kronsington]

well im due to qualify next april, and after that i dont know whats going to happen. ill know before xmas whether the firm are going to keep me on or what. i intend to seriously explore the possibility of moving abroad if possible. i dont think i could go through the whole re-qualification process thought. to be honest, im pretty disillusioned with law and have realised there is no way i can see myself practising forever. im just not particularly interested in it and its been a struggle to get where i am. i am hoping the qualification will possibly enable me to pursue other areas (i dont know what exactly yet) in the future- a lot of the skills we learn as solicitors are (hopefully) transferable to other professions. does anyone know of anyone who went from practising solicitor to a new career? id be interested to read of some peoples experiences. for now i just want to get qualified and explore every option over the next few months. i'd advise anyone to seriously consider whether they want to get into this profession. im 29 now and kind of regret it. there's nothing keeping me in ireland once i qulaify and i think it may be the best thing, assuming i can find work. anyone have similar thoughts? thanks

[chopser]

Originally Posted by kronsington

well im due to qualify next april, and after that i dont know whats going to happen. ill know before xmas whether the firm are going to keep me on or what. i intend to seriously explore the possibility of moving abroad if possible. i dont think i could go through the whole re-qualification process thought. to be honest, im pretty disillusioned with law and have realised there is no way i can see myself practising forever. im just not particularly interested in it and its been a struggle to get where i am. i am hoping the qualification will possibly enable me to pursue other areas (i dont know what exactly yet) in the future- a lot of the skills we learn as solicitors are (hopefully) transferable to other professions. does anyone know of anyone who went from practising solicitor to a new career? id be interested to read of some peoples experiences. for now i just want to get qualified and explore every option over the next few months. i'd advise anyone to seriously consider whether they want to get into this profession. im 29 now and kind of regret it. there's nothing keeping me in ireland once i qulaify and i think it may be the best thing, assuming i can find work. anyone have similar thoughts? thanks

I have read a lot of pieces knocking the legal trade and the writer saying they wish they had chosen another profession, your piece also puts me thinking as to why I in fact want to become a solicitor.

Can you explain what you dislike about it and why you became so disillusioned?
Is it the money, the work, the stress, the paperwork, the declining business?

[shaneybaby]

Originally Posted by kronsington

well im due to qualify next april, and after that i dont know whats going to happen. ill know before xmas whether the firm are going to keep me on or what. i intend to seriously explore the possibility of moving abroad if possible. i dont think i could go through the whole re-qualification process thought. to be honest, im pretty disillusioned with law and have realised there is no way i can see myself practising forever. im just not particularly interested in it and its been a struggle to get where i am. i am hoping the qualification will possibly enable me to pursue other areas (i dont know what exactly yet) in the future- a lot of the skills we learn as solicitors are (hopefully) transferable to other professions. does anyone know of anyone who went from practising solicitor to a new career? id be interested to read of some peoples experiences. for now i just want to get qualified and explore every option over the next few months. i'd advise anyone to seriously consider whether they want to get into this profession. im 29 now and kind of regret it. there's nothing keeping me in ireland once i qulaify and i think it may be the best thing, assuming i can find work. anyone have similar thoughts? thanks

Good article in this months gazette about going to OZ and working, some places sound like crazy outback kinda stuff but i attended a talk with him there a few weeks ago and he made it pretty interesting. About 20/30 people there.

www.rrrlaw.com.au

[FreudianSlippers]

I'm playing it by ear over the next 3-4 years. I'm similarly in my late 20s and while I love my job, the money isn't really there.

Perhaps I'm greedy or whatever or perhaps I've just been raised accustomed to a certain lifestyle, but while I'm really enjoying the work and the people I work with - the lack of money is really starting to depress me a bit and looking at more senior colleagues doesn't give me much hope.

Unlike the OP though, I really don't want to leave Ireland and it would have to be a very solemn and thought out decision to make as returning would be impossible.

[Zambia]

In relation to Oz

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...p?t=2056308011

[whydoibother?]

Originally Posted by kronsington

well im due to qualify next april, and after that i dont know whats going to happen. ill know before xmas whether the firm are going to keep me on or what. i intend to seriously explore the possibility of moving abroad if possible. i dont think i could go through the whole re-qualification process thought. to be honest, im pretty disillusioned with law and have realised there is no way i can see myself practising forever. im just not particularly interested in it and its been a struggle to get where i am. i am hoping the qualification will possibly enable me to pursue other areas (i dont know what exactly yet) in the future- a lot of the skills we learn as solicitors are (hopefully) transferable to other professions. does anyone know of anyone who went from practising solicitor to a new career? id be interested to read of some peoples experiences. for now i just want to get qualified and explore every option over the next few months. i'd advise anyone to seriously consider whether they want to get into this profession. im 29 now and kind of regret it. there's nothing keeping me in ireland once i qulaify and i think it may be the best thing, assuming i can find work. anyone have similar thoughts? thanks

I know that in London, the magic words on nearly all job descriptions that aren't training contracts are "post qualification experience". So if you get an offer of a post qualification position in your current place of employment, consider staying for a while for tactical reasons even if you want to move abroad. I don't know if you were just talking about moving abroad as a back-up plan if that doesn't happen.

As regards the technical requirements and qualifications for practicing in the UK, I believe this is the website you need. http://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/qlts.page
I won't attempt to summarize the rules for you as I haven't read it in detail. But it should all be there hopefully. Look at the FAQ's too.

[shaneybaby]

Originally Posted by whydoibother?

I know that in London, the magic words on nearly all job descriptions that aren't training contracts are "post qualification experience". So if you get an offer of a post qualification position in your current place of employment, consider staying for a while for tactical reasons even if you want to move abroad. I don't know if you were just talking about moving abroad as a back-up plan if that doesn't happen.

As regards the technical requirements and qualifications for practicing in the UK, I believe this is the website you need. http://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/qlts.page
I won't attempt to summarize the rules for you as I haven't read it in detail. But it should all be there hopefully. Look at the FAQ's too.

I believe that a change in the requirements to qualify in england as an irish solicitor will change in the next few months. The requirement thereafter will be one exam (constitutional i think). Ken Murphy said as much at the OZ talk.

[kronsington]

Originally Posted by shaneybaby

I believe that a change in the requirements to qualify in england as an irish solicitor will change in the next few months. The requirement thereafter will be one exam (constitutional i think). Ken Murphy said as much at the OZ talk.

i attended that talk as well- it was quite informative and ill be looking into the oz option over the next few months.

to answer an earlier question im just basically disillusioned with everything really. the money (lack of), the pressure, the work itself, the whole ordeal of qualifying, securing an apprenticeship, the expense involved. if they do decide to keep me on for a while after my contract expires, of course ill take it, i would be a fool not to. i just cant see myself practising in a few years. if its possible to get a decent job abroad next year, ill take it. id personally like to live away from ireland for a few years maybe anyway, have no mortgage, kids etc. i know its a great qualification to have and its been bloody hard work to get to. im curious to know does anyone who any stories of people who moved into other areas/professions once they qualified? im just curious. from my brief research, it appears there are oppurtunities for solicitors to pursue non legal careers. i havent researched or thought bout it fully as of yet. just this time next year i would say its likely ill have moved abroad or will be planning to

[NoQuarter]

Not exactly what you asked but I know a newly qualified solicitor who just moved to Toronto and has found work with a law firm over there!

[chicachic]

I qualified in April 2010 and being based outside of Dublin, I have not worked in legal since qualifying as there are simply no jobs. Due to personal circumstances I was unable to move for work opportunities. I am now considering several options, one being a transfer to legal costs accounting. Can anyone offer any words of advice on this area?

Other options I am going through at the moment are taxation or compliance. Again there does not appear to be a demand for either outside of Dublin.

I simply need work. While taking a non legal job since qualifying (financial necessity) I found that it was simply dragging me down and did nothing but depress me. I have since left and now find myself unemployed for one month. I feel I am banging my head against a brick wall. I have never had such little direction and feel that I am on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Rant over!

If anyone has any advice on the legal costs accountant route I would be very grateful.

[kizzyf]

I know a lot of people who have taken up research positions and love them. The Gazette run an article each month I think about Solicitors who are working in different roles now. Might give some insight.
Being a Solicitor is very stressful, underpaid and can be unrewarding in many ways. I would advise anyone who is only at FE1 stage to reconsider as the jobs just aren't out there now.

Moving away is a great idea and can be quite beneficial. I'd highly recommend it.

[Grolschevik]

Originally Posted by kizzyf

The Gazette run an article each month I think about Solicitors who are working in different roles now. Might give some insight.

To be honest, a lot of those "Outlaws" pieces are profiling people who qualified years ago and have never worked as a solicitor: eg furniture store manager, poet, sports psychologist, novelist etc.

As the esteemed moustachioed one said a while back, "would it be accurate to describe Miriam O'Callaghan as an unemployed solicitor?". Well, yes: unemployed 'no', but also solicitor 'no'.

On the other hand, the career support columns seem to be labouring under the belief that simply getting your parchment qualifies you to be Taoiseach, the Pope and the Dalai Lama all in one...

[HellFireClub]

How about employment law? One of the weathiest people I know works in that field.

[Scarlet 27]

Hi, I am due to qualify as a solicitor in December and I am fully aware of the non existent job market for NQ solicitors here. I think there is a possibility that I will be kept on where I am but I would imagine my pay would be minimal and I am not keen to stay on in my current firm, so I would prefer to hear some feed back on what other people have done upon qualifying and I was wondering if people have successful moved into other areas or if they had found work abroad?

[shaneybaby]

Originally Posted by Scarlet 27

Hi, I am due to qualify as a solicitor in December and I am fully aware of the non existent job market for NQ solicitors here. I think there is a possibility that I will be kept on where I am but I would imagine my pay would be minimal and I am not keen to stay on in my current firm, so I would prefer to hear some feed back on what other people have done upon qualifying and I was wondering if people have successful moved into other areas or if they had found work abroad?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...php?p=73232953