[younglawyer]

Hi guys,

Looking for genuine advice please. I am very much set on a career at the Bar, I enjoy advocacy and whilst I worked in litigation, Court was pretty much the only thing I looked forward to.

However, there's no point being pushed via emotions/dreams/desires, one has to be practical also. Last year, I applied to 'test the water' and applied to commercial law firms. I was given a couple of final round interviews at major firms, including an American one. But I opted for the Bar because I couldn't see myself doing it at a law firm (having been paralegalling at the time). Pupillage is a long process and may require a couple of years on low/average pay (paralegalling etc), financially I'm in a difficult position and a TC salary is helpful.

So my question to you is, should I opt to join a law firm (knowing I probably won't enjoy it and will be counting my days) or should I take a plunge and do what my heart says?

Here's a thread from earlier with a snapshot of my CV: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show...425&p=38329490

Very much appreciated!

Thanks,

M

[chalks]

(Original post by younglawyer)
Hi guys,

Looking for genuine advice please. I am very much set on a career at the Bar, I enjoy advocacy and whilst I worked in litigation, Court was pretty much the only thing I looked forward to.

However, there's no point being pushed via emotions/dreams/desires, one has to be practical also. Last year, I applied to 'test the water' and applied to commercial law firms. I was given a couple of final round interviews at major firms, including an American one. But I opted for the Bar because I couldn't see myself doing it at a law firm (having been paralegalling at the time). Pupillage is a long process and may require a couple of years on low/average pay (paralegalling etc), financially I'm in a difficult position and a TC salary is helpful.

So my question to you is, should I opt to join a law firm (knowing I probably won't enjoy it and will be counting my days) or should I take a plunge and do what my heart says?

Here's a thread from earlier with a snapshot of my CV: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show...425&p=38329490

Very much appreciated!

Thanks,

M

A couple of questions:

- it doesn't appear from your CV that you've had any experience at any of the larger firms. How do you know that you probably won't enjoy it/will be counting your days?

- when you say you were a "commercial litigator" what do you mean by that?

If possible, you might want to give some thought to securing some summer vac schemes - preferably with those who have a strong reputation in litigation (Herbies etc) given your preferences.

[jacketpotato]

I've only got experience of the solicitor route, but I'm not convinced by your assumption that there is a huge pay difference between pupils and junior solicitors. The minimum award, which is what trainees/pupils receive, is around 12k in both cases. Obviously trainees at commercial firms in London get paid considerably more than the minimum award, but so do pupils at commercial sets (admittedly it is much easier to get into a Magic Circle firm than a decent commercial chambers).

If you want to be a barrister, I see no reason why you should try to become a solicitor first if you can secure pupillage. Obtaining pupillage is extremely difficult, unless you have an offer of pupillage this is a hypothetical question.