Life in the Fast Lane
updated on 15 April 2008
Dear Oracle
Once I qualify, will it be possible to get an NQ job in a corporate department that pays a City salary without sacrificing my life outside work?!The Oracle replies
In a word, no. Corporate salaries in the City are high because lawyers have to work for them. The nature of corporate work means that long hours are necessary. You'll probably be working 10-12 hours per day and then, every so often, you'll have to pull all-nighters, or all-weekenders. When a deal is closing there is a lot of work to do, and never enough time to do it. Most corporate deals are international in scope. They concern huge sums of money, blue chip and household name companies, and usually cross several jurisdictions. This means that you're treated well for your troubles: as well as earning the big bucks, you'll probably get to travel internationally and stay in fancy hotels.You can of course look at corporate jobs in national or regional firms. These tend to be a little more relaxed than the City - but it's still corporate which will occasionally incur long hours. And of course, because you're not in the City, you'd take a pay cut too.
As a trainee and a newly qualified solicitor, you'll probably work the hardest in your career. This is because your superiors know that you won't refuse work and because you need the exposure and experience. As you get more senior though, you may be able to slow things down a little. But ultimately corporate law is a major lifestyle decision. We don't live in a perfect world so make sure you understand what your choice entails. Life's always a compromise!
