Career Clinic: Swapping private practice for a more noble cause

I am amazed that you haven't been offered your choice of commerce and business roles. After all, a lawyer looking for an easier life because his hours have been a tad lengthy would be such a catch......

red robbo -19 Mar 2009 | 16:01

Don't assume that working for a NGO or charity means that your hours would be more predictable. In fact what happens is that you are paid less ('not for profit' means just that) yet are still expected to put the hours in. I work just as hard, if not harder, at a not-for-profit organisation, but the pay is at the bottom of the scale. Yes, you no longer deal with clients or timesheets, but you have new aggravating factors to replace them. It is not an easy life - do it if you believe in the cause/institution - that way you won't mind quite so much.

not for profit in-houser -19 Mar 2009 | 16:09

"A tad lengthy"?! I'm not sure red robbo appreciates just hard some people work. No-one is forced to do it, but it's a continuous balancing act between the sacrifices and the rewards. In the current climate, when partnership prospects are virtually non-existent for those without a solid following, it's only rational to reconsider your options. The question asked was perfectly reasonable and didn't deserve a such a childish response. Grow up, red robbo.

L1bel -19 Mar 2009 | 16:22

Utter bunkum LB1 or whatever your name was. The OP was whinging that he wanted an easier life because his hours were a bit long. Boo Hoo. I haven't seen my family for the last 3 weeks because I have had to travel from Cairo to Mumbai to Tokyo to sort out a variety of corporate and governance issues for the company I work for, consistently harder than I ever had to in 10 years at a magic circle firm. I have a great job, tough and demanding (as it should be) and nothing will turn off an in-house interview panel faster than the perception that some workshy fopdoodle is looking for an easy life.

red robbo -19 Mar 2009 | 16:52

Way to go Roboman, spot on. Mind you, did wonder how you managed to catch yourself a family, but that's off topic. This is all 'grass is greener' stuff but you are in the wrong profession. If you are a good lawyer then the professionalism that comes with that means you will put in the effort to do a good job wherever you are. In-house is not an easier option, nor are charities. The work/life balance may be better but only because you are doing something you want to do.

Optimist -19 Mar 2009 | 17:19

Red Robbo - dismissing someone for wanting a better life is symptomatic of the general legal culture in this country. Unlike you, he doesn't want to go 3 weeks without seeing his family, and good on him; they are far more important than a job ever will be. The fact is, he has his priorities straight; you are probably the sort of guy who measures his success by how long he has worked on a deal without sleep. Get a life chum, and you might not be so critical of others for desiring one.

Son of Adam -19 Mar 2009 | 17:41

Red Robbo - he wasn't asking for an easier life but a better life. If for you that's going for 3 weeks without seeing your family, then good for you, but it's not for everyone. Equating being professional/dedicated to your career with the number of sleepless nights you have is simply, for want of a better word, retarded.

Anonymous -19 Mar 2009 | 17:54

Red Robbo has successfully put me off wanting to work in-house. I mean, imagine putting up with him? Fortunately it sounds like his family doesn't have to.

Anonymous -19 Mar 2009 | 18:25

red robbo, what car do you drive, what's your postcode, how much are you in for in terms of UK shares and equities, where was the last vacation...? No, I'm not against you - all these things are important and demand effort in order to obtain. Workshys need not apply.

Investment Banker -19 Mar 2009 | 18:42

Red Robbo - I work at a FTSE 100 company. The GC regularly asks prospective recruits whether they expect reduced/regular hours. They invariably mumble something about appreciating that the job will be demanding etc and they're not looking for an easy life. His standard response is to tell them they are talking rubbish because everyone who moves in-house is looking for sensible hours etc and rightly so!

Anonymous -19 Mar 2009 | 19:21

"Workshys need not apply"? Don't worry, Investment Banker, you probably won't have any work to be shy of in the not-too-distant future...

Anonymous -20 Mar 2009 | 13:58

I just have to say, I couldn't agree with L1Bel more. Red Robbo is one of those lawyers that give the rest of us a bad name (judgmental? moi?). His comment annoyed me so.

tracy,private practice -26 Mar 2009 | 11:04

You are missing the point about banking - when things go down, you can also make money, if not more money than when things are going up!

Investment Banker -26 Mar 2009 | 14:09

Good for you. I can speak from experience as a former magic circle project finance lawyer. I looked around the office at everyone more senior than me - there were no role models, instead, an unhealthy, overweight bunch of miserable people who had devoted their lives to billable hours. I had no desire to become like that so left. And I resigned without having a new position lined up. I then really had the time to invest energy into searching for the right position for me after meandering down a magic circle path for too many years. As if you have time to do that when working a 12-hour day six days a week if you are lucky. Good luck, follow your dreams, you will only have one chance!

anon -01 Apr 2009 | 18:51