Solicitors in Dublin - what kind of hours are you working?

linola_c

Hi Guys

I am a solicitor working in an international law firm in Sydney, practising mainly in litigation. I work long hours, in the order of 60-70 per week.

I was wondering if anyone could give me a perspective on the hours they work in any of the biggish Dublin firms?

I am considering returning to Ireland in the next year or so and would like to get some idea of the kind of work/life balance that exists in Irish law firms.

Thanks in advance,
Linola

Hunchback

Hi. I'm not qualified yet, so that's a disclaimer right there BUT I have worked in small practices as an assistant and everybody comes in at 9 and leaves at 5.30.
On the other hand I have a friend who works in a large firm and goes in every morning at 8 and finshes around 10.30 at night. But twice a week he'll be there until about 1 AM and his work usually spills into the weekend (but I don't know by how much). But he's a partner. So I suppose you would be better off hearing from someone who is a solicitor but not a partner and who works in a large firm. (In Ireland, referred to as a 'top 6' firm.

Elemonator

Lads, you are putting me off the FE1's

robman60

CKonetheonlyone wrote: »

Hi. I'm not qualified yet, so that's a disclaimer right there BUT I have worked in small practices as an assistant and everybody comes in at 9 and leaves at 5.30.
On the other hand I have a friend who works in a large firm and goes in every morning at 8 and finshes around 10.30 at night. But twice a week he'll be there until about 1 AM and his work usually spills into the weekend (but I don't know by how much). But he's a partner. So I suppose you would be better off hearing from someone who is a solicitor but not a partner and who works in a large firm. (In Ireland, referred to as a 'top 6' firm.

Holy. ****. Even as an undergrad I've heard the big firms expect long hours. Obviously it's a different story as a partner but no amount of remuneration could justify such hours to me, honestly.

Arbiter of Good Taste

robman60 wrote: »

Holy. ****. Even as an undergrad I've heard the big firms expect long hours. Obviously it's a different story as a partner but no amount of remuneration could justify such hours to me, honestly.

I wouldnt expect a partner to work those kind of hours unless they are salaried and looking for equity - which isn't going to happen anyway unless he learns to delegate.

OP, go in-house.

MarkAnthony

Again not qualified myself, not even going the solicitor route but I've worked for a couple of firms here and there as a 'paralegal' (read tea boy). In the criminal firm I worked for it was very 9-5, surprisingly so. Although someone go lumbered with the mobile at night e.g. was on call.

I worked briefly at a small firm doing more GP and hours seemed to vary. I've a few friends that we're doing PPC and it really varied. The ones working mental hours seemed to enjoy the work.

I really think, like pretty much any job, it really depends OP. Two things I would say - Aus is considered in many respects to be even more laid back than Ireland. A 60 hour week here in many professions isn't considered to be too crazy, especially if it's off and on.

crystalmice

I am a solicitor in litigation in a Big 6 firm and my hours are not bad - typically between 40 to 50 per week. I have never worked on a weekend. However, the hours vary massively between individual practice groups. If there is a big trial on or a group is temporarily understaffed, hours can be a lot worse than that.

Generally, I find the hours fine, much more humane than in London, and the long / intense periods are only occasional. There is an element of how individual people work also - I know myself that I sometimes drift into the habit of thinking it is normal not to leave work til 7 or 8pm and end up being less efficient for it.

Tea-a-Maria

crystalmice wrote: »

I am a solicitor in litigation in a Big 6 firm and my hours are not bad - typically between 40 to 50 per week. I have never worked on a weekend. However, the hours vary massively between individual practice groups. If there is a big trial on or a group is temporarily understaffed, hours can be a lot worse than that.

Generally, I find the hours fine, much more humane than in London, and the long / intense periods are only occasional. There is an element of how individual people work also - I know myself that I sometimes drift into the habit of thinking it is normal not to leave work til 7 or 8pm and end up being less efficient for it.

I'd second this. I'm a trainee in a top 10 firm and for the most part, the hours solicitors work are fine. About 9 to 7ish. It can vary by department. For example, Corporate can often have long hours due to international clients, but in Litigation, the floor is near empty by 6:30, unless there's an injunction or commercial case or the like. Weekends are very rare, maybe once a year. You wouldn't come in unless it was completely necessary.

Anecdotally from PPC1, the hours in the big 5 firms can be ludicrous. Midnight finishes and having to work weekends are not uncommon so I gather.

McCrack

I'm a litigation practitioner in a small office and hours vary and it really is dependent on what is going on at a particular time - in the run up to the High Court sessions or cases specially fixed it can be quite intense but nobody is asking me to stay after 5.30 pm and it really is my call as to what is needed - if I need to stay late I do, if I don't or don't want to stay late I don't.

Learning to time manage and prioritise and also delegate are very important skills that some younger practitioners lack somewhat and that in turn feeds into longer hours.

linola_c

Thanks guy this is insightful.

Legalfarmer89

Was an intern with a small but active Dublin city firm with 4-5 solicitors and the hours depended on the solicitor and the issue at hand. With conveyancing unless it was something unusual it was 9-5.30. With litigation it depended on the solicitor but it was really up themselves unless as someone remarked there was a big case the next morning or there was an injunction of some sort the it could balloon up to 10 or 11 o clock, however this was very very rare. This isn't the case with with large commercial firms im told by a cousin who is training with one of them with crazy hours being done!

The_Minister

The larger solicitor firms routinely break pretty much all employment law legislation with impunity.

I'm heard of people working six days a week, starting at 8 and finishing 11 or later.

I knew one person who finished at 2am, went home, got home at 2:30am, had to get up at 7am to be back for 8:30am.

I always said if I converted to a solicitor I'd want to be in a small firm of 2 or 3 nice colleagues, and I wouldn't go near the large firms.
You make more money, but it's a dog's life

Jasnah

In the big five firm I interned in, everyone in the department was invariably gone by 7:30pm, with most people clearing off before then. Those interns who stayed later at the time were heavily encouraged to go home. I had been told there were a few times during the year when late nights were required, but it seemed that these were quite rare.

However, there were departments where people regularly worked very late hours (11pm or so). As such, it seems quite dependent on which department you work in.

Caliden

I've a friend in one of the big five. She has to do her second stint in black halls so not fully qualified yet but her hours vary on the department she's in. Also depends on the time of year and what projects are on going.

Banking/contracts seemed to have the longest hours and meant she would be there with the partner until late/early morning most days. 100 hours over 7 days was the worst.
It hasn't gone unnoticed as she's doing quite well in there but she'll be going in house once it's over with.

lightspeed

Hi all

Im actually in a big 4 accounting firm and whilst ive had little experience of long hours, there some others especially at senior associate level just a year above me that have been regularly in from 8:30 to 11:00pm and some weekends.

Im in my first year and still not sure im sold on accounting and finding that jobs are so busy, im not getting much training and just copy and pasting from excel.

I did my degree in business and law and always had a passion for law. I chose to pursue accounting as heard its a better career choice given the state of unemployment for solicitors.

Im starting to doubt that choice and just wondering if any could advise how difficult is it to get into a big 4 law firm?

Jasnah

To be honest, from my experience, it depends a lot on where you went to college. Although now you've got some professional experience, you should be in with a better chance.

orl

my strong advice to you is go in-house. Nicer hours, better benefits, salary competitive. Lots of banks, insurance companies looking for legal counsel. plan your exit strategy from australia accordingly.

linola_c

Lightspeed - it is very difficult and very competitive to get into one of the big 4 irish law firms...not impossible but difficult!

Mr. Incognito

Hi there,

I've an unsual background as I trained in tax in a Big 4 and then went a top 20 Law Firm.

I work in litigation and hours are typically 9-6.

I would tend to work till around 6.30 most days but I'm at a level where I can adjust my hours depending on the work load.

Tomorrow morning for example I'm meeting a Barrister at 7am to draft proceedings with a client meeting at 8.30 to get a judicial review in for Monday.

I'd say an average week is about 50 hours.

Canadel

The_Minister wrote: »

The larger solicitor firms routinely break pretty much all employment law legislation with impunity.

I'm heard of people working six days a week, starting at 8 and finishing 11 or later.

I knew one person who finished at 2am, went home, got home at 2:30am, had to get up at 7am to be back for 8:30am.

I always said if I converted to a solicitor I'd want to be in a small firm of 2 or 3 nice colleagues, and I wouldn't go near the large firms.
You make more money, but it's a dog's life

You think that's bad, you should try working in some hotels. And for a fraction of the pay!