WORK IT WORK IT WORK IT

Along with my "new" exercise regime I've had a pretty full week or so.

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The phone has been ringing with rec cons URGENTLY wanting to speak to me (go figure), and people informing me of potential openings, and telling me how wonderful my CV is. CVs have been sent out, however the phone today has been eerily quiet. I wait with baited breath (well I don't really, I continue to search, but I do so without the use of traditional rec con methods nowadays unless they get in touch with me). Still pro bono-ing.

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I decided not to renew my practising certificate. I couldn't justify the cost whilst I'm not earning, and as so far, any promises of work have not come to fruition (yes rec con who linkedmein - I'm still waiting for your call and wont be chasing again). I figure that I'll have the time to renew when a job comes my way. So now, I am a solicitor (non practising). I wonder who I'll be mingling with at my upcoming admissions ceremony to practice my new title on. Anyway, contrary to what I thought, it wont stop me from working at my local law center - yipee!

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Do you all remember my first ever blog post, which was also used as a guest blog piece for @charonqc's blog? On nepotism? Well this week I was asked to interview for a commercial property firm, which is incidentally the area of law which fellow trainee used to jump up and down over. Ironic how fellow trainee got a job in the area of law I was after and her ideal job came my way. Tempted to snap it up so I can gloat.

(Rec con who gave me the heads up about this one, also told me that the position at "Wedolaw" (see previous blog post) is still open, and interestingly, we had the same views on the kind of law firm they were. She also told me that the salary that I had tried to negotiate for myself was absolutely acceptable.)

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I applied for a pro bono role which would take me a little while to get to, but as expenses would be paid, thought it would be a great opportunity to keep working, and give something back. Had a long convo with the manager of the dept who was absolutely incredulous that I'd give up my free time to do it, especially with so much travel required, and even more surprised when I suggested that I would continue my commitment by working from home where appropriate and if I could. Manager couldn't believe that someone with such a great CV (I'm not making this up folks - her words not mine) is unemployed and said she'd be happy to have me even for a day if it meant that I'd found a job. Part of me thinks its a shame that its only when we're in need of work that we offer to give up our time for charity. A few hours a week/month isn't too much to ask of us all is it, whether we're employed or otherwise? Or maybe its that there is a lack of awareness of volunteer opportunities?

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Attended one of the freebie CPD courses yesterday. Fantastic seminar given by Wragg & Co's employment department. They seemed so happy and such well adjusted lawyers. I day dreamed throughout that it was me giving the presentation and the super lawyer life. Wragg & Co obviously care about their lawyers' well being. Already checked, no vacancies.

For the first time someone came over to sit next to me and it was really nice to have a chat. Interesting chap, barrister, local councillor, and pro bono-er. Unfortunately he zoomed off to network with Wragg & Co before saying goodbye. Never mind.

Oh and posh tea bags which do not allow peculation - what is the point? Nothing beats PG tips or Twinnings.

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Got a mention in @NeilDenny's piece in wikivorce about legal aid cuts. Sparked some personal sensitivities as on first read I thought it suggested that I was expecting too much in hoping for an NQ job at a salary higher than £20k. On second read I realise that it is an article about concerns about the future of legal aid and legal aid practitioners. Worth a read so have a look!

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That's all for now. I think. I can't imagine anyone is still reading...and don't you guys think I haven't noticed the lack of comment on my last post...

The war - but who won?

So interview 2 with a firm we'll call WeDoLaw LLP.

Like last time, I'm early. Like last time, I'm kept waiting. Eventually I'm met. I stand up, try to walk, and have to struggle to move my right foot as it got stuck to some chewing gum embedded in the carpet. Great.

This time, arrogant partner isn't there, but is replaced by a stunning partner who had some kind of fascination with my hands.

The usual questions were fired at me, "How do you handle stress?", "Why do you want to work here?" etc etc. They told me about the position, and I have to be honest, it sounded exciting. The department was in its youth, and I would be able to shape it and I already had ideas...the first was to build up a non LSC funded case load as currently, that was the only way they made their money and I knew they were missing out on making a reasonable wad, and also giving a their clients a service that didn't leave them high and dry on the date of their final hearing.

They liked me, but reasonable partner says, "Well obviously you tick lots of our boxes but there are some things which are still missing. Firstly, you have some skills sets we need to work on" This was a reference to me not knowing how you turned a fixed fee funded case to an exceptional case so you could charge the LSC hourly rate for the work done. "Sorry Mr Reasonable, but I don't think that is a skill set I'm missing, but rather guidance I need to read on the parameters within which LSC funding worked." All it was was some reading I needed to do.

"The other concern is that you'll have a 3 hour commute. You're going to get here and obviously not be at your best." My commute has always been around that much, plus why would they want someone who wasn't their best when they got into work? Plus there are ways to manage poor performance.

"In terms of salary, we're thinking £20k" I'd done my homework, and considering the travel, considering the long office hours (which I'm not at all afraid of), and considering they wanted me to commit to staying with them for a number of years, I said "I've read some salary surveys and they put the average in this kind of area, doing this kind of work, at £28k, but I'd be happy with £25k which I think is reasonable".

Usually reasonable partner says something about how they'd invested good salaries in NQs before, and they'd either been crap at their job, or been good and left after a year. And they wanted me to stay for more than a year on £20k? I didn't get it.

"Plus our current 3yr pqe solicitor is on £28k"
"Sorry, Mr Reasonable, if I can expect to be on £28k at 3yr pqe, this isn't the place for me."

Reasonable partner shuffles a bit, and muffles something about the solicitor being a locum, and to make up for the low starting salary, they'll give me an extra review in 6 months (rather than an annual review). I asked about the bracket within which my salary may go up and they couldn't tell me. So I asked about the commission/bonus structure, as Rec Con told me that they had a great scheme, and again, ums and arrrs. That said it all.

I told them that although it sounded like a great opportunity and the kind of work and challenge I'd love, that without an idea of how I'd be rewarded for my hard work, I would be cheating myself by accepting. They wanted someone to stay for a number of years, and I could not commit to that without knowing how much I could expect to be earning. Plus they'd already pre-judged me. Because they'd had bad solicitors who they paid well in the past, they were not going to give me a clean slate and this offended me.

For the first time ever, I'd not sold myself short. I know that we're in the midst of an economic crisis, and maybe I should have just snapped it up, but I knew I was worth more than being pre judged or working for people who already had low expectations of me, and would happily see me work all hours for an unknown reward.

And you know what? I was more afraid of what people would say or think about me when I told them that I turned it down, than of the prospect of still being unemployed today. I still am worried, but I know that I made the right decision.