Jobbridge v Filing Clerk

Right Turn Clyde

I recently graduated with an LL.B (2.1) from TCD. I would like to train and qualify as a solicitor. I realise that even finding a training contract is a long and difficult journey (not to mention the FE1s). However, it's what I want to do and I simply have to give it a shot.

I never took part in the cycle of internships while I was an undergraduate, for one reason or another. So I need to pick up some work experience before I can even think about competing for a contract.

I'm eligible to take part in the Jobbridge (JB) scheme, so that's an obvious first step. JB gets a bad rep, and justifiably so in my opinion. Nonetheless, it's an opportunity. I have two friends currently on JB working as legal secretaries/assistants. They're quite happy with the experience they're getting and the level of responsibility they've been given. On one of those, the previous JB intern was offered a training contract when her internship finished. So it seems that at least some of the legal internships on JB are worthwhile.

On the other hand, I've noticed a few filing clerk jobs with law firms popping up, at roughly €23,000 per year. It's not a lot of money, but it's a lot more than social welfare. Plus, it's work!, meaning I can finally get off the dole (JB will have me working, but it's still social welfare). However, unlike the JB internships, these filing jobs don't offer much in the way of legal experience (or do they?).

So my choice is between a secretarial/assistant JB, or a paid filing clerk position. The JB seems like the best choice, given that I want to use the experience to compete for a training contract. However, it's extremely tempting to apply for a full and proper job, even though it seems to offer less in terms of legal experience. However, I won't be offered a job or a contract when my JB is finished, unless I'm very lucky. But in 9 months time I'd still be working as a filing clerk and not back on the dole.

I'm just mindful of something I read in another post - that it's important to keep working! You need to be doing something. I'm dying a slow death on social welfare. With that in mind has anyone any advice? Are filing clerk jobs a dead end in terms of qualifying as a solicitor, or do people in those jobs eventually move onto something else?

Thanks.

Phoebas

Why spend all the years investing in your education to take a menial filing job when you could be investing further by gaining experience on a jobs bridge.

Right Turn Clyde

Phoebas wrote: »

Why spend all the years investing in your education to take a menial filing job when you could be investing further by gaining experience on a jobs bridge.

Thanks. I just don't know anything about filing clerks, or if it's a job typically done by people in my situation. I mean is there any possibility of using it as a springboard to something else? If there's not, well then that answers my question. But I need to ask that question in the first place. I need to find out what my options are before I start to rule them out.

MarkAnthony

Seems odd that the decision is Secretary/Exec on JB or Filing on regular wages. Why not look for paid exec positions. You should leverage your college network here.

While I'm sure you don't need me admonishing you for not taking full advantage of internships etc. I point it out as a warning to others. You simply have to do these at undergrad level in this climate. That aside find people that did them, get contacts. Speak to people at college (societies etc. you were in), find contacts. Speak to lecturers/admin staff at college, find contacts.

Best of luck OP.

McCrack

A filing clerk in a solicitors office is an excellent position for anybody considering training professionally. A filing clerk will prepare legal documents usually using precedents for lodging in the courts offices. In litigation matters for example they can be summonses and motion papers. They can attend on Counsel in the motion courts too. The position is very practical, hands-on but you will be the office dogs-body and so be it. Most practising solicitors started like this - secretarial, administrative, clerking positions. It's excellent experience and will stand to you in time in ways you can't appreciate now.

If you can get a 23k position as a clerk which I think is a generous salary for a graduate with no experience in a legal office over a JB I'd take the clerk job.

JB will stand to you too but it won't pay you.

Good luck either way - you are graduating at a better time for opportunities and I get a sense you have a good and realistic attitude - you will be fine.

Right Turn Clyde

MarkAnthony wrote: »

Seems odd that the decision is Secretary/Exec on JB or Filing on regular wages. Why not look for paid exec positions. You should leverage your college network here.

Thanks for your reply. Paid exec positions would be ideal, but they're only occasionally available (unless I go cold calling) and they usually require a minimum of two years experience. They also usually require you to have specific experience in a given area. You're quite right though, they should definitely be on my radar. I'm just cognisant of my lack of experience at this moment in time. I'd actually be in a better position to apply for them having completed a JB. There's no substitute for experience.

McCrack wrote: »

A filing clerk in a solicitors office is an excellent position for anybody considering training professionally. A filing clerk will prepare legal documents usually using precedents for lodging in the courts offices. In litigation matters for example they can be summonses and motion papers. They can attend on Counsel in the motion courts too. The position is very practical, hands-on but you will be the office dogs-body and so be it. Most practising solicitors started like this - secretarial, administrative, clerking positions. It's excellent experience and will stand to you in time in ways you can't appreciate now.

If you can get a 23k position as a clerk which I think is a generous salary for a graduate with no experience in a legal office over a JB I'd take the clerk job.

JB will stand to you too but it won't pay you.

Good luck either way - you are graduating at a better time for opportunities and I get a sense you have a good and realistic attitude - you will be fine.

That's great to hear. Thanks. I think the best thing to do is just apply for both. I mean there's no guarantee I'll get either of them. The interviews themselves are valuable experience, so I guess I've nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Right Turn Clyde

MarkAnthony wrote: »

While I'm sure you don't need me admonishing you for not taking full advantage of internships etc. I point it out as a warning to others. You simply have to do these at undergrad level in this climate.

Absolutely. I should have taken full advantage of them, and I knew at the time that I was shooting myself in the foot. But I was supporting myself through college, and every summer I had very well-paid work lined-up that took the pressure off for the other 8 months of the year. It was short-sighted of course, but without it I may not have even completed my degree, so it's just one of those things.

MarkAnthony

Right Turn Clyde wrote: »

Absolutely. I should have taken full advantage of them, and I knew at the time that I was shooting myself in the foot. But I was supporting myself through college, and every summer I had very well-paid work lined-up that took the pressure off for the other 8 months of the year. It was short-sighted of course, but without it I may not have even completed my degree, so it's just one of those things.

As I say it's easy for me to be on my high horse at the age of 34 (an thus savings from a previous career) with a wife supporting me (although I do work PT). Leverage your contacts. I just know how much easier it is getting in the door when you're a known quantity.

Very best of luck to you!

PS I'm can't send you on the mails I get - I don't know you - but if you know anyone at other institutions get them to forward you mails. Cough - private colleges - cough, might me better at this than more academic ones. (That duffer friend at GCD/DBS/Indo might be useful after all :P)

sunshine and showers

You can applying for all the internships from January on. Lots of graduates do it each year. It's worth a shot as it's a good route to a TC.