Career Clinic: I want to work at a firm with a better reputation

I'm in a slightly similar position in that I have an offer for qualification and am looking to move, but under slightly different circumstances - I want to move away from a firm with a "good reputation" in favour of some more reliable hours and the practice area that I really want. In your circumstances I would make two points; firstly, now is the absolute worst time to be moving as an NQ unless you have a very good reason - if you even stuck around for six months or a year then you'd surely be better off, and if you can qualify into the practice area you want at your current firm, then until the market improves you should. Secondly, being at a firm with a so called "good reputation" isn't all it's cracked up to be, and the novelty and pride you might feel will soon be replaced by the same daily monotony, but probably in a less friendly and more unreasonable environment.

MC Trainee -11 Dec 2008 | 11:45

MC trainee has made some good points, especially the advice to stay put for now. Bit gloomy though to say a firm with good reputation is going to be longer hours and less reasonable environment. Stick it out for a year or two where you are, especially since you have been assured you can qualify into the area you like, that must be worth something. Good luck.

May -11 Dec 2008 | 16:07

I think you're worrying too much. Very few firms who are looking to make redundancies in a particular area in the medium term will bother to recruit for that area at all. The fact that a firm is recruiting an NQ means that they have at least made financial provision for that employee and have work to give them.

Associate, US firm -11 Dec 2008 | 16:10

If you have been offered a place in the practice area you want to qualify into, I would stay put. Even if now was a good market to make a move, the fact that you moved immediately on qualification suggests that you weren't kept on in the department of your choice, and you cannot afford to make yourself look less in demand than you are. I would look at other options and, clearly, if you were to get offered by an amazing firm then you would be a fool to turn it down. But unless that happens, on balance, I would sit tight. What practice area are you thinking about, out of interest?

Recruiter -11 Dec 2008 | 16:11

I agree, you should stay where you are for now and for at least six months post-qualification. At least where you are, you are reasonably settled and don't have to worry about new relationships and proving yourself to the same extent as you would on moving to a new firm. Also it gives you some practical experience in the area you want to work in so that if, worse case, the firm with the better reputation doesn't work out for any reason then you still have something to offer if you find yourself moving quickly on. Of course, you could always work at improving the reputation of the firm you are at.

Optimist -11 Dec 2008 | 16:43

There is no right or wrong answer here. Do whatever your gut tells you is right, which is no doubt what you will do anyway.

US Associate -12 Dec 2008 | 00:51

Stay. NQ's are cannon fodder. A top firm will only recruit for a position none of their home-grown talent wants, which should tell you something. Hang around for 18 months then you can move with specialist knowledge which will make you much more employable.

Dullard -12 Dec 2008 | 16:14

I would find out what area MC Trainee has been offered a place in... if by some strange coincidence it's the same as yours, perhaps you could just swap jobs!

Logic -12 Dec 2008 | 17:34

Great point made by dullard - and what's more, if you move, you are moving into the uncertain at a time when, if you are honest, you know very little about the real legal environment at all. Trainees are very often cushioned from that, which is pretty obvious to everyone else, say 1 year pqe upwards - i know i was! Moving when you have some real experience is of markets and what work a firm can offer you is invaluable.

Anonymous -17 Dec 2008 | 16:14

I agree that you should stay put for at least one year PQ, if not two years. The first year post-qualifying is tough, as you have to make the transition from trainee to NQ - you don't want to have the added pressure of a new job and your contemporary being more established than you. Once you are two years PQ, you become very marketable and the market may have even picked up by then so firms will be falling over themselves to recruit someone at your level. Also, by then, you will have a better idea of the area on which you want to focus which may rule our or rule in certain law firms.

Moved from Scotland to London at 2.5 years PQ -17 Dec 2008 | 23:11

Thank you all very much for your comments. It's been really useful to hear your views and has definitely helped to reassure me. The area I'm keen on is Banking by the way. Thank you!

Poster -18 Dec 2008 | 21:08