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Published: 18/08/2008 09:57
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People will tell you that you can't work in a regional firm and then move back to a city firm. I don't agree - Cardiff (and Bristol, if you're willing to commute) have some very well-regarded firms that do top quality work. And Cardiff is a far nicer place to live than London! Just be careful which firm you choose.
Posted by: Helen on 18 Aug 2008
There is no reason why you should not be able to move back to the City, provided that your Cardiff firm is well regarded and you have some relevant experience in corporate transactions under your belt. I think it is a mistake to assume that it is not possible to gain good quality legal experience outside the City. It is probably worth bearing in mind that it will be easier to make the move back to London if the corporate sector is booming and lawyers are in high demand. You are still at an early stage of career and it is generally much easier to move a few years post-qualification. It will much harder to make a move at senior associate level when you may be looking for partnership and needing to build up a client list. Good luck with your decision!
Posted by: in house legal on 18 Aug 2008
What's more important - a hard, dull and pointless career in corporate law, or a chance at a fulfilling relationship? What's going to give you greater pleasure in life? If it's the former, you're probably a born lawyer. If the latter, you're human.
Posted by: US Associate on 18 Aug 2008
Once you come to the regions you won't want to go back! I agree entirely with other posters here - the work in the top regional firms is often of very similar (if not equal) quality as in London - but with this you get a MUCH better work/life balance and quality of life. We have a solicitor who has recently joined us in our corporate team here in Bristol from a magic circle firm and she misses nothing about London - she's still getting high quality work and high value deals. With it she gets more responsibilty (i.e. she is able to lead her own deals) than she would in London yet still gets a much better work/life balance. Even if you did decide to return to London, I don't think you would be frowned upon for working in a high end regional firm as long as, as others have said, you've continued to get good experience under your belt. Good luck!
Posted by: Anon, Bristol firm on 18 Aug 2008
I did exactly this and moved to a regional branch of a city firm (albeit at three years' qualified) and moved back. I don't think you'll have a problem moving - but be warned, after London, regional work is generally pretty dreadful. This will evidently depend on what type of law you practice, but I was in finance and have to say my two years out of London were the two unhappiest (professionally) of my career as the work was soul-destroyingly dull. As an added extra, my relocation to the city terminated my relationship as well, so it was largely a waste of two years.
Posted on: 18 Aug 2008
A move to a decent firm in Cardiff won't of itself preclude a move back to the Metropolis so long as you don't go past three or four years' PQE, when your lack of contacts may be an obstacle. More damaging would be the appearance of not having been kept on when you qualified. It would therefore be good either to get an offer; or, if the firm knows you wish to leave, a letter saying they would have made you an offer and that your departure was your own choice for personal reasons.
Posted by: US Partner on 18 Aug 2008
Question: why would a top London firm choose a mid-ranking corporate associate from a Cardiff firm when there is usually an ample supply of corporate assistants from top London firms? I think you may find any move back a lot more difficult then the first few posters make out.
Posted by: US Associate on 18 Aug 2008
Stay in London until you are forced out by stress/kids or at least have a few years under your belt. In corporate you won't have time for a proper relationship anyway but might manage to meet up with your man occasionally at weekends or between deals. There is nothing to stop him coming to see you in the big smoke. The last thing you want is to be looking back in years to come at the lost opportunities in your career and blaming each other. From London, the world is your oyster. If it's love, then it'll work out where ever you are.
Posted by: Optimist on 18 Aug 2008
As a rule, one should try to avoid moving upon qualification as it always makes future employers raise an eyebrow. As to the quality of work, whether or not you get to lead deals and get to have a good work/life balance at the same time (highly improbable!) as other posters will have you believe, the nature of the corporate lawyer job means responding quickly to business needs of clients and this means the hours at times wither you are in Cardiff, Bristol or London. Also, I very much doubt internationally focused and especially overseas clients are going to instruct you in Cardiff or Bristol. It's the way of the world. There is a slowdown coming, but these clients are still active and will be for the next few years. Stay where the food is.
Posted by: Associate, US Firm on 18 Aug 2008
What's more important here - your heart or your career? Life is short. Go for it. And if it doesn't work out, then you'll sort it out, because that's what people do! Ignore the naysayers above; lawyers are so risk averse - not to mention rude about regional firms. Good luck dude.
Posted by: former lawyer on 19 Aug 2008
It very much depends on your outlook - I now work in Manchester and it couldn't have been a better move for me. That said, I'm not one to sell my soul to the job (there are much more important things!) and was heftily sick of the London attitude by the time I left. The pay cut isn't really an issue - thanks to living costs and being able to live in the city I probably have more disposable income than before. There are many people who know nothing but London - I would be wary of their opinion if their priorities don't match yours.
Posted on: 19 Aug 2008
Have you been on a night out in Cardiff? I went after watching Wales v Italy in the 6 Nations and found it truly shocking. Most of the women wear figure-hugging lycra tops with plunging necklines and tiny skirts despite being grossly overweight. Not a pleasant sight.
Posted by: US Associate on 19 Aug 2008
Why are you the one obliged with doing the moving? What about opportunities for him in London?
Posted on: 19 Aug 2008
I worked for a regional firm in Guildford which got a lot of international work. If they can get it, I daresay bigger and better-known firms in Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool etc can also receive international instructions. There is a huge snobbery by people in London firms - they truly believe that they are superior to those outside. I really don't understand why, as the training you get outside London (or outside the biggest firms) can be much better, more hands-on and more responsibility earlier on. I say that as someone who trained at a Magic Circle firm. Anyway, who says you'll want to come back to London?
Posted by: Helen on 19 Aug 2008
While I disapprove of falling in love with Welshmen, you shouldn't have any problems if you go to a decent firm. How about someone like Eversheds or somewhere else an internal transfer would be possible?
Posted by: Associate, National firm on 19 Aug 2008
Don't move unless you've got a ring! Seriously, don't move just to test whether the relationship will work; move only if you both believe that the relationship is permanent and that the move to Cardiff is the start of your life together. Otherwise, there will be a lot of pressure on him to make you happy to make up for the career (and the life) that you have sacrificed. Long-distance relationships do work if the relationship is right. If you are thinking about a return to London (without the boy), then perhaps you are not yet ready to make the move.
Posted by: Scot in London, Magic Circle on 19 Aug 2008
Ask yourself: what would Investment Banker do? (and what's wrong with Welshmen anyway?)
Posted by: Welsh Girl on 20 Aug 2008
Nothing wrong with Welshmen. I obviously have a thing for them! As for Investment Banker - I imagine he would tell me to stop being so soft and realise that money can buy love, so stay in London where I can earn the big bucks.
Posted by: In love with a Welshman on 20 Aug 2008
Do not move in with your Welshman unless you've a ring on your finger and are planning a wedding. It's not worth giving up your independence if your relationship is not near 100% certain to last. Better by far to stay in London until one or other of you is ready to commit permanently - then there'll be no issue about moving back if it does not work out.
Posted on: 20 Aug 2008
Yes, because marriage is forever...
Posted on: 20 Aug 2008
The fact that most people on this advice column are more interested in commenting on the love life aspects rather than work shows that if you scratch just below the surface, you will find most City lawyers (not sure about bankers) are a bunch of soft-hearted kittens who would sacrifice their career for true love if only they could find it. Aaaah. As for work I don't think that London lawyers are snobbish about the work being different down here - it is a reality that you will be exposed to a greater variety of more complex and high-value transactions In London top firms. And different (not necessarily better) clients. Having said this, a specialism in certain practice areas will always be transferrable. It is wise advice that you should be sure about the true lurve before you move though.
Posted by: City lawyer (a bit bored today) on 20 Aug 2008
Go to one of the nationals like Eversheds. They have a strong presence in the region but are listed among the top 10 firms in the UK.
Posted on: 21 Aug 2008
I don't think my firm would look on anyone unfavourably who had moved to another city for a relationship and then moved back if the relationship didn't work out. However, there is always a question mark when someone leaves on qualification - do you actually believe the applicant's story that they would have been taken on if they had chosen not to move? My advice would be to get at least two years post-qualifaction experience under your belt before heading to the suburbs for a better quality of life (and love!). At my (provincial) firm, those who have trained and had some post-qualification experience at a London firm are welcomed with open arms. If your man is worth it, he'll wait another two years for you!
Posted by: Cynical Cynthia on 21 Aug 2008
Don't listen to Cynical Cynthia! Don't put true love on hold! Never, ever put true love on hold!
Posted on: 22 Aug 2008
Ignore the snobby London types above - I've moved to Cardiff from London and am so happy here. Social life is fantastic, great community spirit(everyone knows each other), corporate work great (hours easily as long as London!), quality of work as good, very happily married to amazing Welsh man, beautiful countryside etc etc. DO IT, you won't look back
Posted by: Emma on 22 Aug 2008
3 things:- 1. Never move to be near any man until he makes him your wife. You have too much to lose. 2. Cardiff is a nice place to live and has some excellent firms. It is very much more dynamic than where I live and work (Solihull) and in the right firm the work is comparable to London quality. 3. What's so great about London ?
Posted by: high street solicitor on 22 Aug 2008
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