I don't want to do Big Law

I know this is silly and I'm just being silly, but I really don't want to do big law or commercial or business or corporate. None of those fields. But I feel like I'm odd if I don't want to do them.

I go to KCL and I'm a first year and all everyone is always asking is if I'm applying to insight days and vacation schemes and going to open days and networking, but I'm really not interested in that side of law so I don't see why I need to do all these things.

I have other work experience plans too. I've decided I want to work in a small or mid-sized law firm or join the CPS because I'd rather do criminal, family, or immigration law - I just need to decide on one - so I'm going to apply to the firms which practice these for summer work experience.

I suppose my question is if I'm being stupid and should be applying to insight days and all. I just get stressed and freak out super easily and I have no idea what I need to be doing right now. Please, if anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it.

Reply 1

chalks

Original post

by maheen001

I know this is silly and I'm just being silly, but I really don't want to do big law or commercial or business or corporate. None of those fields. But I feel like I'm odd if I don't want to do them.
I go to KCL and I'm a first year and all everyone is always asking is if I'm applying to insight days and vacation schemes and going to open days and networking, but I'm really not interested in that side of law so I don't see why I need to do all these things.
I have other work experience plans too. I've decided I want to work in a small or mid-sized law firm or join the CPS because I'd rather do criminal, family, or immigration law - I just need to decide on one - so I'm going to apply to the firms which practice these for summer work experience.
I suppose my question is if I'm being stupid and should be applying to insight days and all. I just get stressed and freak out super easily and I have no idea what I need to be doing right now. Please, if anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it.

You're not being silly.

The question for those others in your year is "why do you want to do commercial/corporate law?". My guess is that few of them will have a convincing answer, save for the lure of the salary. You're right not to be sucked onto the conveyor belt of insight days, vac schemes and TC interviews if you don't feel that's for you. One caveat: do you feel you know enough, at your stage, to say that this branch of the profession definitely isn't for you - don't close out career routes too early. Likewise, what attracts you to criminal, family and/or immigration?

In my experience, those who pursue careers which more closely align with their personal interests and values are more likely to be happy in the long run. Rarely does that involve leveraged finance or securitisation...

Reply 2

maheen001

Original post

by chalks

You're not being silly.
The question for those others in your year is "why do you want to do commercial/corporate law?". My guess is that few of them will have a convincing answer, save for the lure of the salary. You're right not to be sucked onto the conveyor belt of insight days, vac schemes and TC interviews if you don't feel that's for you. One caveat: do you feel you know enough, at your stage, to say that this branch of the profession definitely isn't for you - don't close out career routes too early. Likewise, what attracts you to criminal, family and/or immigration?
In my experience, those who pursue careers which more closely align with their personal interests and values are more likely to be happy in the long run. Rarely does that involve leveraged finance or securitisation...

Thank you for the reply. Closing out career routes is my main concern with this as well because I know I won't enjoy corporate because I did a few practical tasks at a firm and virtual experience and I did not enjoy it. But my concern is that if I close it out right now, even if I'm not interested in it, what if I regret it in the future? I think I'm interested in the other three because I genuinely want to see an impact of my work and I don't see a point in working if I'm not able to help in that way, and I don't see that happening in corporate. I suppose my biggest issue is just weighing personal desire with the need for financial security, but thank you for the reply because your last comment really is resonating with me.

Reply 3

Crazy Jamie

Original post

by maheen001

But my concern is that if I close it out right now, even if I'm not interested in it, what if I regret it in the future?

Realistically, whilst it is a good idea not to close doors unnecessarily, you cannot keep every door open. That's the case for potential careers as much as it is for many other things in life. The important thing is that you are making well informed decisions. Big law is not for everyone, and in fact I would suggest that it probably isn't for most people, including a good number of those who end up in it. If you have made an informed choice that it would not suit you, I really do not see the harm in ruling it out as a potential career path.

Reply 4

Stiffy Byng

Original post

by maheen001

It's unlikely that you will grow into liking something you don't like at present. Unlike many aspirants, you have sampled what they seek, and you didn't enjoy it; so go your own way and find a more rewarding career, in the law or elsewhere. I think that the people being silly are those who flock towards Big Law with little real idea of why they are doing that, other than money.

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 5

maheen001

Thank you to both of you for replying to me! Honestly, it was very very helpful and I feel wayyy more confident in my choices now. [Also, for some reason it's not letting me rate your second message Stiffy Byng, but I really appreciate the response.]

Reply 6

UoL Students

Official Rep

Original post

by maheen001

I know this is silly and I'm just being silly, but I really don't want to do big law or commercial or business or corporate. None of those fields. But I feel like I'm odd if I don't want to do them.
I go to KCL and I'm a first year and all everyone is always asking is if I'm applying to insight days and vacation schemes and going to open days and networking, but I'm really not interested in that side of law so I don't see why I need to do all these things.
I have other work experience plans too. I've decided I want to work in a small or mid-sized law firm or join the CPS because I'd rather do criminal, family, or immigration law - I just need to decide on one - so I'm going to apply to the firms which practice these for summer work experience.
I suppose my question is if I'm being stupid and should be applying to insight days and all. I just get stressed and freak out super easily and I have no idea what I need to be doing right now. Please, if anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it.

Hi @maheen101

It is easy to feel as though everyone around you is chasing commercial/corporate law however I think that there are more opportunities available in the commercial/corporate practice area. Therefore, it can sound like everyone is pursuing that area of law when in reality a lot of people are just applying as they are the opportunities that are the easiest to find.

At the end of the day, you will spend such a significant amount of your life at work and it is important that you do something that you are passionate about. You sound genuinely interested in areas such as criminal/family/immigration and it is better to explore areas that are fascinating to you, not those that are fascinating to others.

As someone who is pursuing Big Law, it is intense and you are consistently asked 'Why commercial law?'. It is possible that graduate recruitment will pick up on your uncertainty regarding pursuing Big Law.

Overall, it is your life and it will be you who spends all the time at work so I definitely recommend pursuing the areas of law that you are passionate about!!

Claire
Law LLB

Reply 7

Stiffy Byng

I haven't found any figures on the numbers of solicitors working in large commercial law firms, but from experience I suspect that most solicitors do not work in such firms and instead work in small or medium sized firms, mainly in general practice. This forum can give the impression that Big Law is the only or main route, but that isn't the reality. It is likely to be easier to obtain a training position in a small or medium sized law firm than in a large firm. There are approximately ten applicants for each training contract, but that is an overall figure. There will be more than ten applicants for each training contract in a large law firm, and fewer than ten applicants for each training contract in a small High Street firm.

Reply 8

katana10000

I agree with the above. I work in a large corporate law firm and what I recommend to students is to think about the lifestyle you want and work backwards. The financial rewards of succeeding in a corporate law firm are immense enable an incredible lifestyle but you will need to sacrifice elements of your personal life and succeeding is difficult unless you enjoy the substance of what you do. If earning large sums of money are not important to you and you have an interest in less lucrative areas of the law, I would focus on that. One other point - you can always move from a corporate law firm to a high street firm but moving the other way is much more difficult.

Reply 9

yeslily

Original post

by maheen001

I know this is silly and I'm just being silly, but I really don't want to do big law or commercial or business or corporate. None of those fields. But I feel like I'm odd if I don't want to do them.
I go to KCL and I'm a first year and all everyone is always asking is if I'm applying to insight days and vacation schemes and going to open days and networking, but I'm really not interested in that side of law so I don't see why I need to do all these things.
I have other work experience plans too. I've decided I want to work in a small or mid-sized law firm or join the CPS because I'd rather do criminal, family, or immigration law - I just need to decide on one - so I'm going to apply to the firms which practice these for summer work experience.
I suppose my question is if I'm being stupid and should be applying to insight days and all. I just get stressed and freak out super easily and I have no idea what I need to be doing right now. Please, if anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it.

Hey I want to apply to kcl and was wondering what your predicted grades, lnat and actual grades were. And any tips for ps or lnat you might have. :smile: