Having decided to take an impromptu year out before commencing the BVC in 2009, I have been giving thought to how I could fill that year best.
I haven't taken a gap year previously and this is actually something that I have regretted since. However, for some reason the idea of traipsing leisurely across the world doesn't really appeal to me right now because I feel I would prefer to get some good experience on my C.V.
I like the idea of working in the legal sector and earning money at the same time. This is because I would probably have something useful to talk about on my C.V. and I would be earning actual money. The next question I've had to consider is what sort of legal position am I interested in and where am I interested in doing the work. The answer to these questions respectively are: firstly, either a legal secretary or a paralegal position would be preferred; and secondly, as close to home as possible.
So far I have managed to fire off an application for a legal secretary position that was being advertised by a local law firm. I have since called about the position and to see how my application is progressing but, unfortunately, I have received no indication either way. The recruiting solicitor at the firm seems interested in my application but hasn't really taken any further steps since telling me so. The position remains advertised and I don't know what to do. I don't want to keep nagging at the solicitor so as to frustrate him; however, at the same time I would like to know where I stand.
Everybody I talk to about this gives me the same response: "Oh, well its the credit crunch, isn't it? These places will be having a tough time taking anyone on right now".
I'm not so sure though. If the economy is to blame, which it may well be, I would like to know. Mostly because its something I can tell my grandchildren about in a few years time and feel important about: "Your generation has got it easy. In my day, by the time I had graduated and was looking for a job, I had the challenge of doing so during the Greatest Depression on record!"
This has led me to start thinking of a short non-legal career. The easy one would be to get a job at the local supermarket. Long hours; not bad money; but a lower self-esteem is required than I am prepared to offer, I think. I am, though, teetering on the brink of firing off an application to them too. At least I will be earning something.
On the distant Bar-related side of things: I still haven't joined an inn yet. That is the first thing that I need to do. I think I might be in London later this year and so will try and fit a visit to some of the inns that I am interested in in my travel plans.
Bitsy the Raconteur Press Editrix
7 hours ago
5 comments:
There are other temp jobs than supermarkets, you know. Just visit your local job agency :D
Good point. Let me tell you why I didn't think of that. My current thinking that any temporary job that I am going to get is something that I'm not going to like. Working at the supermarket seemed somewhere in between a job that I wouldn't like and a temporary job that I wouldn't mind. I might have a look though. Thanks.
Lincoln's Inn is the place for you my friend! =P Be sure to have a look x
As a litigation lawyer, times are hard for everyone at the moment. Most of my colleagues are seeing a real drop off in work, not because of the credit crunch, but because of a general trend, which seems to run in the opposite direction to the runaway 'claims culture' which is always being portrayed in the media. Certainly where I am, there are no positions for litigators at the moment.
In Northern Ireland, all barristers work independently: we have no chambers system. This makes it profoundly difficult for people with no personal or family contacts in the legal profession to break into it. From my year of bar pupils a dozen years ago (I'm a solicitor but we studied together with the barristers), I'd say maybe half are still at the bar. Others have become solicitors or left the legal profession altogether. Not for the fainthearted, I'd say.
Good luck!
Interesting points - both about the trend in litigation and about solicitors and barristers in Northern Ireland.
I suppose an upside of not having much work on is that you have more time to delve into some great books. Indeed, from some of your recent and numerable reviews on your blog, that is exactly what you seem to be doing.
I read all of your reviews for this year's Booker longlist and found it to be a great source. I think I might also be looking at some of the novels that you suggest were strong contenders for this year's prize but didn't make the longlist.
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