Career Clinic: When's the best time to tell my firm I'm leaving?

Why tell them?

Unless you will need time off for study leave (and this is something that you are contractually entitled to) or you need your hours to be made more regular to enable you to attend the LPC I don't really see any value in telling your employer that you plan to leave in nearly 2 years time.

Could they guarantee you or the firm generally that they categorically will not make them redundant in the next 2 years? Of course not, all it would take would be for a couple of partners in your department to head off with the clients you're working for and you'll get your P45.

Law firms know that there are few people who want to be a paralegal all their career if they have the opportunity to qualify. I doubt that it would come as a huge shock, surprise or disappointment if you handed them your notice in June 2013 to move to a TC.

Well done on the TC and just enjoy the fact that without worrying about your current employer's reaction to something that does not concern them at all.

botzarelli -08 Dec 2011 | 12:15

Keep quiet for now

Keep it to yourself until the latest time at which you are required to give formal notice.

Consider that if you tell them now, even if they don't 'sack' you, they may arrange for a replacement to take over when you leave. If your training contract is then deferred you may still be expected to leave and could find yourself unemployed.

Admittedly this is a worst case scenario but you should always cover your ar$e.

current trainee -08 Dec 2011 | 14:43

I agree with the other posters; do not tell anyone any sooner than is absolutely necessary.

We are in for a rough ride in the Legal Services sector, methinks. What is to stop the firm who has offered you a TC from deferring, or worse still, not delivering?

We have seen at least one example in this clinic over the last 3 years or so of a poster who has had a TC pulled at the last minute. Then there is the sorry tale of Haliwells and the young people they left high and dry.

I like honesty and integrity, OP, but you have to look after yourself when it comes to your career. Good luck.

high street solicitor -09 Dec 2011 | 13:54

Omerta!

Your contract will have a notice period in it and that’s how much notice you need to give. That period represents how much time your firm needs to plan around your departure. There is no conceivable advantage to you in providing 18 months’ notice! As others have said, things can change and you should keep all your options open.

I wouldn’t profess lifelong loyalty to your current firm or tell outright untruths but it’s perfectly acceptable to keep your longer-term goals and what you do out of the office to yourself. Frankly, a paralegal leaving for a better opportunity elsewhere isn’t exactly unusual or a big deal. Any sensible firm which employs law graduates in those roles will expect it. Don’t worry about it. Good luck.

Young Fogey -12 Dec 2011 | 11:30

Keep quiet

Yes, unity from all posters on this. Absolutely no reason to tell them and plenty not to. Keeping quiet is nothing to do with honesty-it's sensible for all the reasons people point out here.

City partner -14 Dec 2011 | 15:18

There's nothing dishonest about withholding your notice until the required notice period - it's all they've asked for.

Nobody expects people to intend to work in one company forever, and the notice period is how much notice they consider appropriate. They'd never give 'extra notice' of you being sacked/redundant, would they?

x1 -15 Dec 2011 | 06:35

Alarmed

Reading this made me really worry for you. Please don't think that your employer will show you the same concern. You could be the subject of redundancy discussions going on right now and not even know. Keep your job and give notice when your contract requires you to do so. It is lovely to know people like you do still care

alarmed -15 Dec 2011 | 07:42