Career Clinic

Career Clinic: Public or private?

"I am about to embark on my training seats and need to decide between public M&A; and private equity as my corporate seat. Can someone explain to me the pros and cons for each? At first glance, I would favour the latter; the environment seems to be more... more 10 November 2008 00:00

Career Clinic: How can I look busy when there's nothing to do?

"I am a trainee at a large City firm, currently sitting in corporate. There is hardly any work for me to do at the moment, but I don't want to appear idle, like I am sitting around doing nothing. Do I keep asking partners if there is anything can do at... more 06 November 2008 00:00

Career Clinic: I've been laid off from my in-house banking job - what now?

"I was made redundant a few months ago from my in-house job at an investment bank. I am finding permanent roles at banks hard to come by, and the ones that are around tend to disappear before I manage to move on beyond the first round of interviews or... more 03 November 2008 09:47

Career Clinic: Has my gap year request ruined my TC offer?

"Having secured a training contract with a City firm, I asked the firm for permission to take a gap year for further study and travel before I commenced my LPC. "After a few months in which I did not hear from the firm, I called up a partner of the... more 30 October 2008 15:03

Career Clinic: Should I mention my depression in job applications?

"I am approaching the stage in my four-year law degree where I am about to make my first round of applications for interviews for vac schemes and 2011 training contracts. However, after getting a 2:2 in my first year, I ended up repeating my second year... more 29 October 2008 11:50

Career Clinic: Have offshore jobs been tainted by the financial crisis?

"I am four years' PQE (magic circle) and have been considering a move offshore for lifestyle reasons. I am concerned that the current financial crisis could have serious negative repercussions for the offshore financial services industry going forward... more 27 October 2008 09:43

Career Clinic: I'm having a crisis of confidence

"I recently started my first seat as a trainee at a medium-sized firm, but after six weeks I am now suffering from a serious confidence crisis. "I feel like I'm too slow in doing my job (I'm in an area that I have no previous experience) and not... more 23 October 2008 00:00

Career Clinic: I'm worried I'll be pigeon-holed if I make the wrong choice!

"I am a trainee at a medium-sized firm, and have recently started my third seat in family law, having also done seats in company/commercial property and medical negligence. My problem is that I just cannot seem to settle on a seat that I would like to... more 20 October 2008 09:46

Career Clinic: Will the downturn hit my partnership hopes?

"I work in a mainstream department at one of the leading international UK firms. If all goes to plan, I will be up for partnership in two years’ time. Although I am still getting encouraging noises from the partners, I fear that I am heading into a black... more 16 October 2008 05:50

Career Clinic: Surveying the property landscape

"I am a 21-year-old building surveyor, working in Kent and in my penultimate year of a part-time BSc (Hons) Building Surveying. However, I am strongly considering a career change to law, as I do not feel that I will be able reach my full potential,... more 13 October 2008 10:10

Career Clinic: Would Hong Kong be a wise move?

"I am a recent LPC graduate who is currently in talks with a law firm regarding a move to Hong Kong to work in capital markets. My thinking is that with HK being the financial centre it is, and the Asia region itself being better off than the London and... more 09 October 2008 10:13

Career Clinic: "I'm really worried about the recession."

I am a law grad, and have just completed a masters in International Business Law in Manchester, and have delayed my LPC until 2009, leaving time to gain some practical experience. I have worked with a couple of top 20 commercial firms in the last two... more 04 October 2008 13:30

Career Clinic: Quitting my start-up in the sun for a return to the UK

"I’m 43 years old, I graduated in law twenty years ago and have been living abroad teaching for 18 years. Having set up my own business and achieved my goals here, I’ve started a distance learning GDL course and I am aiming to move back to the UK to... more 29 September 2008 11:27

Career Clinic: Can I join a first-class firm with a second-class degree?

"I’m a qualified solicitor - I originally qualified overseas at admittedly what will be regarded as a second-tier university (at which I obtained my oft-dismissed 2:2 graded at 75%). "I’ve tried to get a job in the magic circle, but following a... more 25 September 2008 12:19

Career Clinic: What now for real estate lawyers?

"I am a one-year PQE real estate lawyer who, as a result of the state of the current market, now has no job and virtually no vacancies to apply for. What do I (and all of the other junior real estate lawyers recently rendered jobless) do now?" more 23 September 2008 18:25

Career Clinic: Making the best of a bad decision

"I am an LPC student and I have a training contract at a magic circle firm. I chose a career in law because I wanted to work in the City, use my brain and earn good money, but most importantly - and the reason I did not choose banking - I wanted to be... more 19 September 2008 14:53

Career Clinic: Is London the be-all and end-all for a Bar career?

"Having just finished pupillage at a good set of chambers in the provinces, I have been offered tenancy. I have also been offered a third six pupillage at a smaller set of chambers in London, where I ultimately want to return and practise. Should I take... more 15 September 2008 15:36

Career Clinic: Is part-time a possibility?

"I am a junior construction solicitor currently working a four-day week for a national firm. I have been with my firm for three years, where my part-time hours have worked very well. I am looking to move to London and would like to find a position where... more 11 September 2008 14:23

Career Clinic: A new life Down Under

"I am currently studying the LPC at the College of Law. After completing my course I want to move to Australia to become a solicitor there. With a law degree and the LPC, how would I go about converting to practise in Australia? I'm finding it really... more 08 September 2008 14:45

Career Clinic: Can I avoid work that is against my principles?

"I am a junior associate in a City firm which has a reputable energy practice. Some of the members of the team have been working on nuclear power plant projects. I have a good chance of being asked to work with them. However, for a number of reasons I am... more 05 September 2008 11:52