Where am I?  > Home  > Career Clinic

Career Clinic draws on readers' own experiences to assist others with their career conundrums. Click on a headline to post your advice or click here to email Career Clinic with your own difficulties and dilemmas. Special note: We will not attribute your comments to you unless you state otherwise.

CAREER CLINIC

Career Clinic: Will a law Masters help me get ahead of the competition?

"I am a third year law student at a top 10 university looking to go into public law at the Bar. I have asked around and it seems that the area I am most interested in, judicial review, is deeply competitive. I've begun to wonder if a Masters in Law wo...

11 Jan 2010 | 11:29

right

Career Clinic: New year, new career?

"I'm currently doing the LPC and have a training contract lined up, but I'm having a severe case of being hit by reality. It is late, I know, but I have come to the realisation that law is not what I want to do and I feel physically sick in this envir...

07 Jan 2010 | 11:09

Career Clinic: Is the recruitment market likely to pick up in 2010?

"I qualified in March 2009 at a well-known regional firm and still have not been able to find an NQ role. I have looked in London and the far-reaching surrounding area, broadened my practice areas and all I have managed to do is secure a temporary adm...

04 Jan 2010 | 10:19

content image

Career Clinic: The best of 2009

A look back at the most-read dilemmas from the last 12 months of Career Clinic...

18 Dec 2009 | 17:53

content image

Career Clinic: Should I cancel my Christmas holiday?

"After a pretty quiet period work-wise, things have recently really picked up and everyone in my team is very busy. Back when things were quiet, I booked two weeks' holiday over the Christmas period and planned to stay at home with my family in London...

17 Dec 2009 | 12:44

content image

Career Clinic: Promotion with a pay cut?

"I've been a counsel at a City firm for a couple of years now. I was recently told that partnership at the firm would be my next step, but I would have to take a pay cut, move abroad and be a local partner for a number of years before I would be even ...

14 Dec 2009 | 09:44

content image

Career Clinic: Would a job at a small regional firm be a step backwards?

"I qualified in September 2009 with a top 10 firm, but unfortunately was one of the many that were not kept on. However, I am fortunate enough to have recently been made an NQ offer by a small regional firm in my chosen department. I know that I am in...

09 Dec 2009 | 11:09

Career Clinic: My outspoken style is affecting my career

"'Everyone's afraid of you because you use your brain as a weapon'. I was given this advice by my uncle, who recently retired after a very successful career as a solicitor in the City. It's a reflection of the difficulties I've had in my career, parti...

03 Dec 2009 | 09:58

Career Clinic: Dealing with a difficult colleague

"I'm having problems with a member of my team who seems to have personal issues with me. She regularly contradicts me in front other colleagues and goes out of her way to be as unhelpful as possible. I'm not sure why she's acting this way, although sh...

26 Nov 2009 | 11:30

Career Clinic: I'm not interested in promotion!

"I'm an associate at a City firm - I've been in my current role for a while now, and unlike many of the naysayers I often read posting on this site, I actually enjoy my work. I'm happy in my team, I like my colleagues and I have a decent work/life bal...

20 Nov 2009 | 10:15

Career Clinic: Can I juggle study and work at the same time?

"I am considering taking the New York Bar with CLT in London. I have studied my degree and am currently doing the LPC part-time, so I am disciplined in balancing studying and working at the same time. I am not looking for advice on whether the NY Bar ...

16 Nov 2009 | 12:14

Career Clinic: How can I get into a more client-facing role?

"I'm currently a general corporate/commercial tax lawyer at a national firm with just over one year's PQE. Although I really enjoy the intellectual aspects of tax work and get on well with my team, I would like to move into a more client-facing specia...

12 Nov 2009 | 01:08

content image

Career Clinic: What's more important – getting on with your colleagues or enjoying your work?

"I am currently nearing the end of my TC at a mid-sized City law firm and am considering my options on qualification. I have narrowed down my choices to two departments, but I'm torn between a team I got on really well with and an area of work I found...

09 Nov 2009 | 12:02

content image

Career Clinic: Should I quit the magic circle to pursue my Bar ambitions?

"I'm currently doing a training contract at a magic circle firm - I really like the atmosphere, am keen to work for them and best of all, they seem to like me. However, I have always wanted to be a barrister. I did all the necessary CV garnishing whil...

03 Nov 2009 | 11:50

Career Clinic: Are private practice lawyers snobbish about public sector work?

"I have five years' PQE in commercial property, but I was made redundant in December last year and am finding it very difficult to find work - primarily I believe because I worked for a local authority. Although the quality of work which I have undert...

02 Nov 2009 | 01:35

Advertisement

SERVICES SECTION