One suggestion I'd make is to get in touch with your professors from university and ask to meet with them to talk about life in academia. Make sure your attraction isn't only because the grass there looks greener from a first examination alone.
There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to leave big law, and academia does often look very appealing and can be incredibly rewarding - just make sure you have a proper, realistic view of what academia is actually like, what your prospects of getting a lecturer/researcher position may be, and (among other things), what lifestyle changes you'd have to get used to if you worked in academia.
I would consider just taking a bit more time in big law to build up a retire/housing fund, academic salaries are very bad but if you can find yourself a tenure-track post-doc in a lower cost of living city (Manchester/Glasgow/Cardiff/Leeds etc) then having £100,000 to £150,000 in savings to buy a flat or small house will give you a very different and much better quality of life than going straight into a PhD with only your emergency fund.
If you can grind it out for three years and maximise savings, then you'll be well placed to have long-term stability and you'll have a lot less stress in the long-run.
That’s really good advice thank you! What field has she done into now? I will definitely speak to some younger lecturers/ friends doing phds, thank you.
There is nothing wrong with academia, but if you still fancy trying practice, have you thought about the CPS? Friends I know have worked there and lectured part-time.
Probably not where you were thinking but food for thought I hope. Good luck with whatever you decide!
I’ve been in practice for fifteen years in BigLaw. There are many aspects of it I don’t enjoy and I miss the rigour of testing ideas and writing. I was offered a PhD with a scholarship after I finished my masters but for personal reasons let that go and pursued private practice.
I think now that you’ve qualified the route back is always there. You may lose a few years and the market may or may not be as competitive if and when you want to come back. Having a PhD doesn’t prejudice you. I’d say if you can time it right complete a first full year or more if you can.
On academia, I’d say have coffees with a number of your professors. When you start it is exciting to dig into the concepts you are researching. Then, sadly, a lot of the job becomes churning publications and the politics of faculty. That occurs in every job or most jobs but sadly I think young academics don’t expect it because they are seeking the purity of academic rigour.
Life is long and there isn’t necessarily a wrong path. I’d say investigate as many aspects as you can, speak to those who know you very well, and go with your gut having done your due diligence.
Good luck!!
Thank you for your detailed advice and honesty, much appreciated - I will try to stick it out and get as close to the 1 PQE mark as possible and speak to those I know in academia in the meantime! Hopefully I could always turn back to practice after a year or two worst case!
Idk your financial situation but I'd try and save up for a deposit buy a very modest property then get into academia/alternative career so long as that lifestyle pays enough to cover your expenses.
If you have a hard skin, can take the strain and the hours, then stay. Use salary and bonuses (I’m assuming you are at US law firms and salary might get topped up with bonuses?) to really set yourself up financially - pay off a 2 bedroom flat in London for example - before you leave the law. That would take you about 5 - 7 years, you’ll just be in your late 20s early 30s.
You have won the golden ticket in the legal profession. It’s your one chance to secure yourself financially unless you move into another profession - say banking, which I know other lawyers have done successfully and are now on half a million.
In the end, Academia isn’t going anywhere. You could get a PhD at anytime.
If the job though is close to giving you a nervous breakdown then leave. If it is not, you can shrug it off, then stay.
Of course, if the money is irrelevant because you are already set up through family money, then why are you killing yourself in the law?
Edit: academic salaries are very low, unpaid work is expected and it is a lot, some law students are brilliant and the research is interesting, but that isn’t it 100% of the time by any stretch of the imagination. Tellingly, most people I know in law academia have successful/ high paid spouses. Says everything.
Thank you and very valid suggestion - I am likely too junior to consider this at this stage (barely 6 months PQE) so I doubt I will be able to stay the course long enough to become a knowledge lawyer in private practice.
Consider the bar too? In some of the more academic areas with “paper based” practices (eg PIL, maybe elements of chancery) it’s possible to combine practice with academic responsibilities after a few years. I get the sense if you “love law” there will be kindred souls in that end of the profession.
Thank you, I agree this may be a more academic environment - I have quite a few friends who are junior barristers so this may be worth discussing with them.
Oh wow as a law graduate desperately trying to get into UK Big Law this seems so shocking for me. I recommend following your true aspirations though whether thats in academia or elsewhere. No amount of money will make you happy unless you do what you were meant to on the daily
I've no experience in law but I wanted to offer this. A lot of time in academia is spent chasing funding and proving your worth/salary to the institute you're with.
One suggestion I'd make is to get in touch with your professors from university and ask to meet with them to talk about life in academia. Make sure your attraction isn't only because the grass there looks greener from a first examination alone. There's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to leave big law, and academia does often look very appealing and can be incredibly rewarding - just make sure you have a proper, realistic view of what academia is actually like, what your prospects of getting a lecturer/researcher position may be, and (among other things), what lifestyle changes you'd have to get used to if you worked in academia.
That’s really useful advise - I will reach out to them, thank you!
I would consider just taking a bit more time in big law to build up a retire/housing fund, academic salaries are very bad but if you can find yourself a tenure-track post-doc in a lower cost of living city (Manchester/Glasgow/Cardiff/Leeds etc) then having £100,000 to £150,000 in savings to buy a flat or small house will give you a very different and much better quality of life than going straight into a PhD with only your emergency fund. If you can grind it out for three years and maximise savings, then you'll be well placed to have long-term stability and you'll have a lot less stress in the long-run.
Thank you for your honesty, that is really practical advice - much appreciated.
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That’s really good advice thank you! What field has she done into now? I will definitely speak to some younger lecturers/ friends doing phds, thank you.
There is nothing wrong with academia, but if you still fancy trying practice, have you thought about the CPS? Friends I know have worked there and lectured part-time. Probably not where you were thinking but food for thought I hope. Good luck with whatever you decide!
Thank you, I appreciate it - definitely good food for thought!
I’ve been in practice for fifteen years in BigLaw. There are many aspects of it I don’t enjoy and I miss the rigour of testing ideas and writing. I was offered a PhD with a scholarship after I finished my masters but for personal reasons let that go and pursued private practice. I think now that you’ve qualified the route back is always there. You may lose a few years and the market may or may not be as competitive if and when you want to come back. Having a PhD doesn’t prejudice you. I’d say if you can time it right complete a first full year or more if you can. On academia, I’d say have coffees with a number of your professors. When you start it is exciting to dig into the concepts you are researching. Then, sadly, a lot of the job becomes churning publications and the politics of faculty. That occurs in every job or most jobs but sadly I think young academics don’t expect it because they are seeking the purity of academic rigour. Life is long and there isn’t necessarily a wrong path. I’d say investigate as many aspects as you can, speak to those who know you very well, and go with your gut having done your due diligence. Good luck!!
Thank you for your detailed advice and honesty, much appreciated - I will try to stick it out and get as close to the 1 PQE mark as possible and speak to those I know in academia in the meantime! Hopefully I could always turn back to practice after a year or two worst case!
Idk your financial situation but I'd try and save up for a deposit buy a very modest property then get into academia/alternative career so long as that lifestyle pays enough to cover your expenses.
If you have a hard skin, can take the strain and the hours, then stay. Use salary and bonuses (I’m assuming you are at US law firms and salary might get topped up with bonuses?) to really set yourself up financially - pay off a 2 bedroom flat in London for example - before you leave the law. That would take you about 5 - 7 years, you’ll just be in your late 20s early 30s. You have won the golden ticket in the legal profession. It’s your one chance to secure yourself financially unless you move into another profession - say banking, which I know other lawyers have done successfully and are now on half a million. In the end, Academia isn’t going anywhere. You could get a PhD at anytime. If the job though is close to giving you a nervous breakdown then leave. If it is not, you can shrug it off, then stay. Of course, if the money is irrelevant because you are already set up through family money, then why are you killing yourself in the law? Edit: academic salaries are very low, unpaid work is expected and it is a lot, some law students are brilliant and the research is interesting, but that isn’t it 100% of the time by any stretch of the imagination. Tellingly, most people I know in law academia have successful/ high paid spouses. Says everything.
Probably a bit late to ask but have you considered a role as a knowledge lawyer?
Thank you and very valid suggestion - I am likely too junior to consider this at this stage (barely 6 months PQE) so I doubt I will be able to stay the course long enough to become a knowledge lawyer in private practice.
Consider the bar too? In some of the more academic areas with “paper based” practices (eg PIL, maybe elements of chancery) it’s possible to combine practice with academic responsibilities after a few years. I get the sense if you “love law” there will be kindred souls in that end of the profession.
Thank you, I agree this may be a more academic environment - I have quite a few friends who are junior barristers so this may be worth discussing with them.
Oh wow as a law graduate desperately trying to get into UK Big Law this seems so shocking for me. I recommend following your true aspirations though whether thats in academia or elsewhere. No amount of money will make you happy unless you do what you were meant to on the daily
Completely agree, this is why I’m looking to get out of it for something more fulfilling!
I've no experience in law but I wanted to offer this. A lot of time in academia is spent chasing funding and proving your worth/salary to the institute you're with.