Career Clinic: Should I give up my City job for an in-house TC?

What are you comparing?

Generally, I would not have thought in-house and "top 75" training would fling doors wide open at a magic circle firm later on; but if you're good enough there's no reason why this should stop you. Pick the firm and pitch yourself right, and you could turn it to your advantage when the time comes.

But whether you take this offer surely depends on what your current propects are. I would have said an offer of a job and a training contract elsewhere was the perfect opportunity to put your employers on the spot. Ask them. If you have made a good impression and they want to keep you, a rival bid could elicit a TC where you are now (which I am assuming you would prefer). But if there is no chance of a TC, then you know you're up a dead end and your decision should be far easier.

Anon -20 Dec 2010 | 18:45

Once you've spent time in-house my money is on you not wanting to return to private practice! If you do, you will have good relationships within the bank which will be valuable to other employers. The more important question is whether the bank you are going to has a good quality, well-organised legal department which will result in good training...

inhouser -20 Dec 2010 | 22:02

No brainer

Do you want to be a paralegal or a qualified lawyer? If there is no prospect of you getting a TC where you are, a role elsewhere with a robust (i.e. contractual) promise of a TC would be much better. From your comments you seem to value the buzz and prestige of working where you are very highly and are perhaps being naive. Clients, people and market conditions are in constant flux and a practising certificate will always give you more options than being a paralegal even in a tight market. If you rate yourself as able then you should be prepared to make short-term sacrifices for the longer term good and come through them with bells on. Good luck.

Young Fogey -21 Dec 2010 | 10:00

Time and again this question arises.

Such are the scarcity of jobs, solicitors with fantastic CV's are struggling to get interviews. The jobs have dried up and only the immensely fortunate are going to get them for the foreseeable future; certainly, having a great CV is not the only element any more, in a recession, you have to be horribly fortunate to get a decent job in the city.

So, from a paralegal's perspective, the question is what to do? Clearly, a TC does not appear on the cards at your current place, but your question is phrased to suggest that you are not promised it at the new firm either. Get certainty on the TC front and if you cannot get that, get real, be objective and stay put until you have the TC promises you need.

It is one thing to jump ships during the boom years, but to do it in a recession is profligate unless you are certain it will offer what you need. Better to stay put and get some guarantees from the current / new place than to jump ship prematurely only to find yourself in the same position. In terms of the job prospects - its a recession so see my comments above!

Best of luck.

Me

Me -21 Dec 2010 | 11:00

YES!!!!!!!!!!!

Wake up! There are reducing numbers of TC's and more and more poor sods being churned out expectantly by the law schools. If you are content to be a career paralegal, that's different, but the longer you sit on your laurels, the less likely you are to get another chance. Check with your supervisor who to speak to about the possibility at your current firm, to rule it out, but otherwise, get on with it! There is (much) more to life than the magic circle.

Recruiter -21 Dec 2010 | 14:00

If you were leaving for a definite TC I would say go for it - getting qualified is important. However, from what you say, it's another paralegal role with the possibility of a TC. How many people have had TCs dangled like carrots that have never materialised? If you like where you are, stay put. If you can get the other place to convert the paralegal job offer to a TC job offer, move.

Helen -22 Dec 2010 | 11:04

All the comments above re. TC is correct and you should carefully assess what you want long term. Being qualified will open more doors than being a paralegal in a MC firm, especially in the current climate.

I was a paralegal and did my TC in-house. Have met a few like me over the years so we are not an unknown breed but have not met any who have made the transition from in-house to MC. Difficult to say if that is completely by choice or lack of doors being opened. However it does not mean the quality of work is any less than a MC firm if you work for the right in-house dept/company; just less high-profile in the public eye.

Anonymous -23 Dec 2010 | 02:37

Trained in-house...

... and very pleased to have done so.

Although I'm not tempted to move into private practice (at least, not currently), I wouldn't consider it impossible by any stretch of the imagination.

Neil Brown -29 Dec 2010 | 22:10