Any solicitors out there... tell me about your life!

[Muppity]

Hi hun

Firstly, you don't need what is called an unrestricted practicing certificate to practice law. What an unrestricted practicing certificate allows you to do is run your own lawfirm and have a trust account (hold money on behalf of your clients). If you always want to work for someone else then there is no need to get it, but after you have done your first two years you can do the course for an unrestricted certificate any time you want (it is run by the NSW Law Society - there is probably info on their web site - it isn't like a uni course - more like a couple of weekends and a couple of assignments to do - but it is constantly changing) You would find that probably 60% (I am guessing here) of solicitors on NSW don't have an unrestricted practicing certificate. And if anyone is telling you that you earn less if you don't have it (if they are offering you a job for instance) then they are yanking your chain.

As for hours, depends a bit on where you work and what sort of law you practice. Something like criminal law can take more hours because you are working in court, and specially out of cities you can need to work some weekends to see the people who have been locked up on a Friday or Saturday night (sorry - I don't know exactly where you live - but in regional areas the solicitors in town generally share the duty - so it is usually only once a month or couple of months that you are on call for the weekend). Generally something like property law generally has better hours but is a bit dry - you are however unlikely to get clients demanding to see you at a moments notice.

However, as a young practitioner (in experience rather than age ) who isn't in a major city the chances are that you will do whatever the senior members of the firm don't want to do. Think the crazy woman who is onto her eleventh divorce and brings all 16 of her screaming children to every appointment (a slight exaggeration but still...)

In the end, with regard to subject choices, it may be that you don't get much (depends on where you study - some courses are quite prescriptive, others let you study pretty much anything). Do things that interest you if possible, it is always easier to do well in things that interest you. Career wise, it won't make much difference what subjects you chose.

Age, I personally dont think it is an issue - particularly if you want a job in the area you already live, showing that you aren't going to run away to the big smoke as soon as they have trained you is probably more important.

Good luck with your decision.

[PinkPalace]

Hi hun

Firstly, you don't need what is called an unrestricted practicing certificate to practice law.

Sorry my fault -i got the terminology wrong.

As for moving away lol No. We are not moving to the big smoke. Moved away from the city twice cause we hate it so much.

I am curious about whether you would get the tedious work in a small regional practice.

Watching DH's experiences with the city and the small towns, (different profession yet professional services nevertheless) he works very closely with the principle and gets great mentoring and experience, where as when he was in the city he was a lemming - put in a room with others with like experience drumming away medial tasks.

i guess it is a matter of getting in with a practice that is supportive and proving myself.

[PinkPalace]

Thanks Beda - yes Barristers too lol. i wont decide what or how i wish to use my degree until i am doing it lol.

As for the mature aged getting their way lol... i remember thinking this too when i finished my first degree. I wasnt a school leaver but noticed i got all the nights, public holiday (xmas) and late shifts because i didnt have kids to pick up and it frustrated me too lol!. I will remember this when i go back to full time work though and remember how i felt pre children!

[Pandora]

Is there much difference between the LLB and the JD (post grad) (Melbourne Uni offer a JD course) - is the qualification the same?

What about employment wise, is there a prefernce shown for one over the other

[Spring Angel]

Excuses any mistakes in my reply because I'm typing one handed on my iPhone whilst holding snoozing bub.

I've been admitted since 2002 and I love my job. I started as an Judges Associate (awesome job, I learnt so much) then became a Governmental Advisor and now I'm a Senior Litigator for a Government agency.

I find my job is never boring. I am always pushing myself and you can never know everything, there is always so much more to learn.

My work fits really well with my family life. I'm lucky to work for the Government because I have very family friendly working conditions. I am really pleased that I can manage to hold such a typically family unfriendly position and make it work.

In terms if being a mature student, I think there are some positives. I went straight from school to uni and to a certain extent the legal fraternity is still an old boys club ( although this us changing ) and I can't tell you how many times I had to go that extra mile to prove myself because people assume because I was young I didn't know what I was talking about.

All in all I can't fault my professional life. I've got to work with some amazing, inspiring people who have taught me so much. I've always worked in a very particular area of the law (Industrial Relations) and I feel that I'm getting to a stage where I'm now passing some of my knowledge to the more junior solicitors. That feels really satisfying,

I'd say go for it.