Moving between corporate and criminal/immigration after training

Sarat123law

Hi there,

I'm halfway through my FE1s and have had a contract secured in a large corporate firm since final year. But I'm beginning to have some doubts about whether corporate is what I want to do with the rest of my life, maybe I would be better suited to the criminal/immigration side of things. Is this a decision I need to make now or is it simple enough to switch from one to the other after finishing a training contract?

Thanks

Fruks

In theory, once you finished training you could apply for any role you wished. However, unless you have some practical experience in those areas from a previous intern role or similar, it would be a major adjustment. Personally, I would not want to start in an entirely new area on qualification. Have you any actual exposure to working in the areas you mentioned? In all honesty I think you’d be mad to go near either.

chunkylover4

Fruks wrote: »

In theory, once you finished training you could apply for any role you wished. However, unless you have some practical experience in those areas from a previous intern role or similar, it would be a major adjustment. Personally, I would not want to start in an entirely new area on qualification. Have you any actual exposure to working in the areas you mentioned? In all honesty I think you’d be mad to go near either.

As above it would be difficult to transition into the area unless your firm has a similar department. Maybe white collar crime or international investments (IIP, STEP processing etc) which could be used to pivot to a smaller firm if you'd like. There is very little money in either of those areas and I'd be surprised if you could find a firm that would cover the cost of your training in the current climate and obviously even if you did the salary would be very significantly lower.

You could also volunteer with FLAC and other related legal charities.

Sarat123law

Fruks wrote: »

In theory, once you finished training you could apply for any role you wished. However, unless you have some practical experience in those areas from a previous intern role or similar, it would be a major adjustment. Personally, I would not want to start in an entirely new area on qualification. Have you any actual exposure to working in the areas you mentioned? In all honesty I think you’d be mad to go near either.

Thanks for the reply I did an internship in a criminal defence in the US, but have no such experience in Ireland.

Sarat123law

chunkylover4 wrote: »

As above it would be difficult to transition into the area unless your firm has a similar department. Maybe white collar crime or international investments (IIP, STEP processing etc) which could be used to pivot to a smaller firm if you'd like. There is very little money in either of those areas and I'd be surprised if you could find a firm that would cover the cost of your training in the current climate and obviously even if you did the salary would be very significantly lower.

You could also volunteer with FLAC and other related legal charities.

Ok thanks I hadn't really thought I'd have the time to work with flac/ mercy law etc on the side, but I suppose I won't know till I start!

Sonrisa

chunkylover4 wrote: »

As above it would be difficult to transition into the area unless your firm has a similar department. Maybe white collar crime or international investments (IIP, STEP processing etc) which could be used to pivot to a smaller firm if you'd like. There is very little money in either of those areas and I'd be surprised if you could find a firm that would cover the cost of your training in the current climate and obviously even if you did the salary would be very significantly lower.

You could also volunteer with FLAC and other related legal charities.

I agree with this, it will be difficult but not impossible to transition. I work in family/immigration and my corporate solicitor friends would be starting from scratch if they came to work with me (equally I have no clue what they do on a day to day basis).

You can certainly volunteer on the side but depending on what corporate firm you're in and how hard they work you this will require stamina and determination!

I think you should investigate options with other firms that work in those areas, and then you can probably make a more informed decision. It will be less money but in my view its worth it for better job satisfaction and better lifestyle.

Sarat123law

Sonrisa wrote: »

I agree with this, it will be difficult but not impossible to transition. I work in family/immigration and my corporate solicitor friends would be starting from scratch if they came to work with me (equally I have no clue what they do on a day to day basis).

You can certainly volunteer on the side but depending on what corporate firm you're in and how hard they work you this will require stamina and determination!

I think you should investigate options with other firms that work in those areas, and then you can probably make a more informed decision. It will be less money but in my view its worth it for better job satisfaction and better lifestyle.

Yeah thats what I've really been weighing up, a better salary vs better job satisfaction, and i think in the long run job satisfaction matters more. But you're right, I will have to do more research to make an informed decision. Thanks