On being a prideful square peg

[fox_c]

One of the big decisions I have to make this year is if I am going to pursue qualification as an actual lawyer.

To recap, in these isles, you have to do a 2 year apprenticeship (called a training contract) with a law firm who at the end registers you as a qualified lawyer. No training contract, no qualification.

Step back another step and realise

Comments

[wyvernmoon]

I guess in many ways it's a balance of head and heart. I know there are practical considerations on both sides, but I understand the self-worth and pride issues, too. Just recently, I was living with the sinking feeling that all my friends were following dreams/doing praiseworthy work/etc, while it looked like I was going to be stuck in a rut of a career path, a path of continuing to do what I was already doing and where I felt no personal joy in the work or its outcome. But I was really beginning to suspect that that was what I had to resign myself to. It SUCKS to feel that way. Therefore, I would say that you should at least keep trying for the work you want, even while doing the work you have. I don't think you'd forgive yourself later if you thought you'd just "settled" without really giving it a try first.

Oh, and to echo what Owl said, 31? Pfft. I went to law school with people in their 40s and 50s. Changing careers midlife is *not* unusual, nor have you yet reached the "midlife" point anyway. Don't bury yourself yet.

[fox_c]

Yeah, you know what this is like, but I suppose I just have to take heart that this sucks for everyone and being a decade behind all the other applicants is just another hurdle for me to clear.

But then part of me thinks I have given it a go - 100 applications in and what should have been a shoo in this summer, and I have nada. How many more applications are really worth my time?

On the upside, my job is MUCH better now than what it was a year ago. It has some intellectual challenge to it and I'm really well appreciated where I am. My boss and I have worked out a progression over the next year that's actually kind of exciting. But I know putting off the training contract makes qualification next to impossible later. I just wish there were a way for me to meld both together. . .