What am I going to do with my life?

Question

I am currently a trainee solicitor. I studied law, did my post grad and am going to qulify in a few months. I have "went along" with it ever since I started uni and now I am starting to think that I really do not want to do law. However, I am 25 and feel that in a way it is too late to make an change. I also feel that I may not be being too sensible or practical passing up a career where there is good financial gain and stability simply because I do not enjoy it. On the other hand, though, because I do not enjoy it, I feel I never give 100% to it - I am out the door at 5! I think that if I enjoyed something else more, then I would be better at it, and therefore able to gain more from it, both personally and financially.

I am really confused and wonder what others have done who have maybe been in an analogous situation. I enjoy reading, writing, travel and sport and would like to do something connected with that. I have also thought of PR/Marketing. Any help is appreciated.

Thank you all for all of your help. I really, really appreciate it. It is good to know that I am not being stupid here, and that there are other options. Many thanks again.

Answer 1

It sounds like you should be a journalist or free lance writer. Why don't you try a couple of taster courses in the evening or distance learning (may fit round your schedule better) before you quit law altogether to see if you could make it work as a career without losing financial stability. If that doesn't work take some time out and travel. A little distance often helps find perspective. Also 25 is still very young and your priorities are likely to change many times over the years so do what makes you happy.

Answer 2

If it is a few more months until you qualify then you should sit tight because your wage will go up once you have that qualification.

In the meantime think about what you want to do. There are many divisions of law you can work in e.g. Criminal, Corporate (where the money is I think), Pro bono, within compliance at a big Investment bank (I know for a fact they are desperate for people right now)

Do you hate it all? Every single field of Law. If that is the case then I would recommend you draw up a list of things you want to do and think about the upside and downside.

But remember you might quit this job because you are not happy but go to another job and have the same problem atleast with this you are rich! =)

The phrase "the grass is always greener on the otherside" is not true because all jobs suck! so stick it out for a few more months and in the meantime try to figure about what you want from life.

Answer 3

well the actor Gerard Butler was a couple of weeks from passing the bar when he decided to become an actor instead and the illusionist Derren Brown was going to be a solicitor when he decided to become an illusionist.

I wouldn't do law if my life depended on it, I'm an aspiring writer and in the meantime do admin to pay the bills.

why don't you try journalism, you could do sports or travel writing, in fact to do writing you don't even need to do journalism, just travel, write stuff down from a new perspective, and take it from there. though it would help if you had a job that involved travelling like being an air stewerdess.

at the end of the day, it's up to you, but forty years is a long time to be in a job that doesn't make you happy and law is not a job you can leave behind at 5pm.

good luck

Answer 4

Rather than changing so dramatically, why don't you just change the way you are going to work? I assume you work for a good law firm that makes good money. You could instead work for a law centre or some organisation that focus on people with little or no money. That way you would feel a sense of achievement as you'll be helping people who couldn't afford a solicitor. I don't mean criminals but there are people who are in genuine problem, like unfair dismissal and they have no money. Imagine if you could get that sorted for a person who would then truly be grateful to you. I think that's real job satisfaction!

Answer 5

It's definately not too late to set new goals. If a person isn't happy doing what they're doing, then I say do what you want to do. The hard part is actually dealing with people who want to get into your business by saying things like "Why did you choose this profession?" or something to that nature. I often wonder what would happen if people just followed their dreams instead of the dreams of others. I regret alot of things. Things I didn't do that deep down I really wanted to do, and of course things I did that I wish I didn't, but in the end, so far, my life is on a fairly steady course. I hope you make the right decisions. Good Luck.

Answer 6

No reason why you couldn't apply your knowledge of the law in PR/Marketing. As for reading, writing, sport and travelling, you could do that in your leisure time no probs.

The alternative would be to stick with law and bring in an area that you have an affinity with - an area of specialist training perhaps to help a particular group of people.

ie battered wives, children, discrimination, employment law are but a few examples.

Good luck in whatever you decide, I would definitely go with what feels right though rather than do something just for the money.

Happy Days

Answer 7

Stephanie, rather than too late I would say it's too early. Perhaps you should stick with this until you find a passion for something else. Right now you don't sound more interested in anything else and as unromantic as it sounds you've got to eat and pay the rent. The early stages of any career tend to be the "drudge" work, and it would give you security while you find out what your dream will be.
Good luck and be happy till you get there.

Answer 8

It is never too late to change. The Professor in my Department where I work used to be a street cleaner when he was in his early 20s! My cousin did a degree in sociology and is now in a top IT recruitment firm.

I graduated with a degree in IT and am now working in University administration and doing an MBA part time.

Do what you enjoy. You work for the majority of your life so make it interesting.

Live to work, not work to live.

Answer 9

Have you thought about journalism..?
The safest bet is to consult a careers advisor.

Answer 10

Your question makes me feel concerned.

I think you should seek Career Guidance, as soon as it is possible.

Good luck