Ask Ash

Dear Ash

I am feeling at a crossroads with regard to my career. Although I’m in quite an enviable position when it comes to my current post and indeed salary, I am just not getting any job satisfaction at the moment. I’m an experienced corporate lawyer, but I was always driven to law because of my passion to do court work. I’m not a deluded Perry Mason fan; I did court work as a trainee and I loved it. The problem is that the pay would not be as much as I currently earn, and as the main breadwinner I’m not sure I can really afford a significant pay cut. I’m therefore torn between my heart and head!

Ash replies:

Sometimes we do all have periods of reflection about certain aspects of our lives and the grass can appear greener on the other side. I’m sure there will be court lawyers who may be reflecting on their careers in a similar way to you.

What you need to assess is whether your feelings are indeed based on a genuine desire to work in a different sphere of the law or whether it is because you are just feeling unchallenged in your current role.

If you work for a large firm, you may be able to seek some experience from your litigation colleagues by perhaps asking to collaborate on some litigation cases alongside your own caseload. This may allow you to get a taste for the type of work you are seeking without necessarily having to change direction at this stage.

If this is not a feasible option, you may want to consider volunteering with, say, Citizens Advice or a charity once a week in order to allow you to gain some insight into advocacy work. By doing such voluntary work from time to time you may be able to satisfy your need to do advocacy without having to give up on your day job?

Taking such steps into court work may of course only further whet your appetite to take up a role as a court lawyer, and you should seriously consider your options if that turns out to be the case. A change in career direction may not be easy to undertake, but if you are passionate about it then do try to see whether you can turn this passion into reality.

You may indeed have to make sacrifices by taking a cut in salary and changing your lifestyle, but this may be worth it if it brings you greater satisfaction and happiness in your work. After all, we spend most of our lives at work and therefore we should try, where possible, to seek maximum fulfilment.

Send your queries to Ash

“Ash” is a solicitor who is willing to answer work-related queries from solicitors and trainees, which can be put to her via the editor: peter@connectcommunications.co.uk, or mail to Suite 6B, 1 Carmichael Place, Edinburgh EH6 5PH. Confidence will be respected and any advice published will be anonymised.

Please note that letters to Ash are not received at the Law Society of Scotland. The Society offers a support service for trainees through its Education, Training & Qualifications team. For one-to-one advice contact Katie Wood, head of admissions on 0131 476 8162 or by email: katiewood@lawscot.org.uk