‘I’m a high street trainee with City law ambitions. Should I quit my TC?’

Avatar photo

By Legal Cheek on

39

Rookie requires readers’ advice


In the latest instalment in our Career Conundrums series, one trainee solicitor is keen to make the move from the high street to the City upon qualification. But is it possible?

“I am currently doing my training contract with a high street firm. The firm specialises in conveyancing and private client work. I do not believe that I want to go in to these areas of law and it is making me very concerned about my decision to do my training contract at this firm.”

“I can’t help but think that I have made the wrong decision in accepting my training contract in a high street firm, which do not do the seats that I am interested in, when I really aspire to work in a City, commercial law firm.”

“My main worry is whether I will get taken on as a newly qualified in a City firm when I have done my training contract in a high street firm, and when I do not have a seat in the area of law which I want to go in to.”

“I am willing to do pro-bono and extra research in to the commercial type of work which I want to go in to, but I just do not believe that this will make me stand out as a newly qualified, going in to an area which I have not done a seat in before.”

“I am debating leaving my training contract as I feel like it is restricting me to a high street career in conveyancing and private client law.”

“I would really appreciate any advice on this!”

If you have a career conundrum, email us at team@legalcheek.com.

39 Comments

Kirkland NQ

You’ll fit in fine at my City firm, don’t worry. Get qualified then send me your CV, we’re bound to need a new janitor by then.

(39)(203)

Your Dad

What a snobby little rat child comment that is

Derivatives Lawyer

Sad really – all this comment reflects is how “Kirkland NQ” feels about themselves. You have low self-esteem and are projecting. Have you ever had a hug?

Yhsif Egnim

Kirkland NQ’s don’t do “hugs”.

They don’t have emotions.

They just have money.

Psychology enthusiast

Kirkland NQ made a ***tty comment, with you there. But seriously we need to stop butchering and misusing psychology terms. Pop psychology has gone too far. First of all, never, ever, challenge someone’s perception of reality (eg by accusing someone of projection) unless you’re 100% sure and even then take your time to think if you’re really doing it out of good intentions and for the right reasons and if it’s gonna have a positive impact. Secondly, I’m sick and tired of the misuse of the term ‘project’ in itself. Ffs. Projecting is when you hold a feeling you’re deeply ashamed by SUBCONSCIOUSLY (ie you’re not aware of it) and so you think someone else feels like that instead. It’s a defence mechanism against shame and so it’s really serious. That’s it. That’s what it means. The phenomenon you tried to refer to is “attribution” and even that is a massive stretch here. Please.

Non-Russell Final Year

Are we sure it’s even a real NQ?

ABC Solicitors LLP

Spat my coffee all over my desk reading this, where’s my janitor now huh

Ellie

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Scott Lang

The NQ market is a disaster right now – would not recommend trying to look for an NQ position anywhere, especially not if you don’t have any experience in the practice areas of the firm you want to be at

Boutique NQ

How is the NQ market a disaster?

James

Are you living under a rock?

Boutique NQ

I am not looking for an nq position in a City firm, so don’t know what is happening in that market. No need to be snappy. If you’ve got something meaningful to share please do so, otherwise keep your bad manners to yourself and have a nice day 🙂

Regional observer

The NQ market is a shambles at the moment because city firms are having significantly lower retention rates that previous years.

This September’s rates have not been announced for most but I suspect it will be low.

A lot of trainees are not being kept on at their firms, even for positions that were not their first choice. What’s worse is that this is happening across the board, so the trainees who aren’t being kept on at their own firm will also struggle to go to a similar firm because their trainees aren’t being kept on either.

There have been multiple articles on Legal Cheek about it.

Psychology enthusiast

No dear seriously you must not have looked at anything city legal or economy related for the past two years AT ALL to have asked that question and even then I still wonder if you have the internet at home. Situation’s really bad

Annon

I started a training contract at a high street Firm (in Harrow). Specialised in conveyancing and private client work. I was ridiculously bored a few months in and quit at 10 months. I then moved on to a city ‘legal 500’ Firm – paralgealed for 6 months before they offered me a TC. I’m currently at a silver circle Firm. I have no regrets.

Heidi

No harm in trying though, surely? You don’t embark on a whole career that you don’t want simply because it’s hard to change. The longer they leave it, presumably the harder it’ll get

Hypocrates

Many former high street lawyers at my shop (NRF) and former home (Bakers) so definitely a feasible move!

Misqualified

Going to a City firm does also not guarantee you getting the seat that you want; often you’re one of many and the Grad Recruitment teams have the ultimate power in finalising where you go and when.

CJH

The best thing you can do is get qualified and then seek to move afterwards. Plenty of peoeple in my commerical firm trained in high street practices and moved around until they made it here. If you are lucky enough to have a TC, definitely do not delay qualification any furhter.

City NQ

Being brutally honest, you will not have a chance in securing an NQ role at a decent City firm in the current market when coming from a high street firm having not done a seat in the relevant area. I know a number of prospective NQs from MC firms and the like who are all struggling with the lateral market at the moment. If your ambition is truly to work at a City firm, I’d suggest leaving your current firm and applying for vacation schemes in the upcoming cycle.

Truth Serum

Fully agree with you there mate.

In a buoyant market I’d say maybe but in this current market not a chance.

There are MC, SC, US and top UK city firm NQs unretained and looking for jobs at the moment.

Sorry but it’s true

The people disliking this are living in delululand

MC Poet

In this case delulu is really not the solulu

Harsh reality…

When the NQ market was hot and popping (2020 – 2022) there were top city firms hiring NQs from smaller firms and they were not as picky about university degree and educational background etc

In a dire NQ market like this I cannot say the same unfortunately. Firms are being very tight on budgets and NQ positions and they are being more selective than ever.

The interview process for NQs is more rigorous than it has ever been. Those who qualified in that buoyant NQ market between 2020-2022 will tell you how smooth sailing the interview processes were (the firms were practically selling the role to you!) and how most NQs were jumping ship to US firms left right and centre.

Gone are those days my friend…

Egg mayo

You are not my friend, my friend.

Experienced lawyer

Take it step by step and don’t expect it to happen over night – I qualified at a local authority legal team but ended up at an international law firm by moving strategically and being patient.

Firstly get qualified in an area that is linked to an area that City firms cover. When you qualify, don’t try to jump straight to a top City firm in that area, but aim to get a position at a well known national firm that will improve your CV. This will give you more options for the next move as you’ll have more relevant experience and a name on your CV that bigger firms will know and trust.

If you can get in to such a firm you can try to get as much experience as possible to put you ahead of other candidates for your dream firm. The next after that may not be to your favoured firm but always move to somewhere that will improve your CV.

It’ll be a slog but plenty of people have done it.

Sally Terris

Love this. Reminds me of what I want to say to aspiring barristers who ‘couldn’t get pupillage’. Slog on, as a legal secretary, paralegal, legal executive, solicitor, University lecturer. Plenty of chambers recruit laterally, e.g. from people who achieved a degree of success already and have something to offer. Oh, and speaking as somebody who did cleaning jobs whilst studying, never underestimate the janitor.

Useful Advice

Well you are certainly going to be up against it but some smart career planning could get you there.

No city firm is going to take you on with that background. But:

1. Complete your TC – Thats the hardest step in the process.
2. Target mid/regional commercial firms – they often have a high turnover in Corporate depts – Provided you can present a clear and coherent reason for your change of direction i think you will find one willing to give you a role.
3. Learn the ropes there and then when there a boom in the market go for a lateral shift to city firm.

You will be better for the experience but it will take you a lot longer than planned.

Good luck.

matloob

I am a principal solicitor in a local authority. One way of improving your cv is to look at in house commercial roles and there is a large market for in house lawyers . You will have a better chance of getting opening in house following qualifying and then ypu can move to a commercial firm once you have adequate ecperience.

Sally Terris

Great idea.

Retread

Absolutely right. I started life with a legal aid criminal law practice. I left after 16 years and joined a local authority as a prosecutor. Got a chance to retrain as a public procurement and contracting solicitor and took it. Some 6 years later I am in house as a senior commercial solicitor on £100K+. It can be done. My advice is to aim to be a general commercial lawyer not a commercial litigator.

A little positivity

As someone who has made this jump (high street to corporate), it is possible. Identify a firm that will value your experience and apply. Learn how to sell your transferrable skills. It may not be possible to move immediately to a Magic Circle or City firm, but other commercial firms offer valuable experience.

Traineeships are hard enough to come by as it is. Get qualified and then decide what you want to do.

TigerBear

Complete your training contract and manage your career from there. As there’s have said one step at a time and, I’d add, have a plan on how to reach your long term goal.

Obtaining any training contract is tough. My career started with a small high street firm, then to the Government Legal Service and from there to international firms and partnership.

Despite some very outdated attitudes which remain prevalent it’s is all possible.

Crimbo Bimbo

Do crime and have fun!

Commercial Lawyer

The odds are very much against you but I’ve seen very unlikely things happen before. This issue is, you won’t qualify into a relevant area, so why would anyone take you on as an NQ without a relevant seat? I’ve heard of NQs from small firms paralegalling in City firms to try and obtain a job, not sure if that has ever worked (it’s definitely worked for those who hadn’t yet trained).

Make sure you know why you want this and make sure stacks up to what you expect.

High St Trainee

It is doable but may depend on market as others have said. I trained at a high street firm with a similar focus to yours. I moved on qualification to the regional office of an international firm. This was definitely the best move for me as it let me get to grips with international work and the much more fast paced nature of things. I worked regularly with the London team (many of the big firms now do most work cross-office anyway) and, after a couple of years, moved the London office of another similar firm.

high street trainee to boutique nq

I was in a simialr situation to you. Took a TC at a high street firm as TC’s are so lucrative i felt i was better to be qualified that not. Turns out i was right.

I did my tc at a high street irm specialising in conveyancing and private client with a small disputes team as well. Unsurprisingly i wasnt offered an nq position there as i had absolutely no interest in these areas. I worked with recruitment companies and made my own applications to corporate and employment law positions as i felt that i could tailor my expeirence into these areas the most and still enjoy my work. I was told multiple times that i wouldnt be able to make the jump to a massive city firm straight away but would have to go up in stages throughout my career.

They werent wrong but they werent right either. Ive landed a great nq role at a boutique firm (high street in style) but with london work that you get in national firms. mayeb im lucky and i worked my ass off but its definitely doable. I can say for sure that i would have been rejected form any of the bigger firms though had i applied.

In house is also a great opportunity from a high street firm as you will have great client communication skills from your experience so this is very transferable.

Dont give up hope but certainly dont give up your tc. its not worth giving up something so rare and valuable.

City Lawyer- from the janitorial class.

The author of the question did not deserve a number of the ungracious comments.
The relevant question to a hiring firm would broadly be does the applicant have the experience that will help our business.
Experience in the two areas mentioned is of modest value.
There is likely to be a wider available pool to select from.
Additionally if the academic attainment of the author prior to joining the practice mentioned will naturally be disadvantageous.
So, there seems little merit in changing prior to qualification.
Private study and some pro bono experience will be useful.

one of those reviled recruiters !

Never ceases to amaze me, how poorly prepared junior legal professionals are and the lack of understanding they have on how the market works. It seems universities are keen to take people’s tuition fees give you a law degree and wave goodbye.

Do they not provide any kind of insight into how the real (legal) world operates?

If you’re being trained in conveyancing and private client, you’ll have an incredibly slim chance of moving into commercial law upon qualification. Especially given that other NQ’s with commercial training will be first and foremost in consideration.

Someone really should have advised you beforehand how it all works. I’m sorry that you weren’t aware of this or didn’t have the people around you to educate you.

While nothing is impossible, you have the odds stacked against you.

Join the conversation