Firstly and genuinely good luck to everyone looking for an apprenticeship. I know they seem to be about as rare as hens teeth at the moment.
Sorry to be negative but has anyone considered that it may be just as difficult to get paid employment as a solicitor when you are clutching your parchment in a few years time.
I qualified many moons ago (early 90s) and saw friends work for a pittance post qualification just to get post qualification experience. Some worked for the recommended apprenticship rate for a year after qualifying,some for considerably less (and the recommended rate was no where near what its is today even taking into account inflation) and some worked for free and at least two of my pals didnt work for a year! The last 10 years have been very good to most solicitors including myself but the times are a changin BIG TIME.
The reality for many small to medium size firms at the moment is the last thing they can afford is an apprentice right now. Many are considering letting qualified experienced staff(solicitors and back up staff ) go at the moment as between PIAB and the lull in conveyancing and the neverending stream of newly qualified solictors starting up their own practices (because they cant get employment) things are getting very tough out there.
If you really want to be a solicitor then go for it as there are many positives and despite the constants negative press it is still a proud dignified and worthy profession to be a part of. But if you are just falling into it or you are doing it for the money or the prestige then do yourself a very large favour and seriously consider doing something else. The fact that you already have your degree or FE1s does not mean you have to become a solicitor. A background in law will stand you in good stead elsewhere.
In the next few years I believe that the competition for apprenticeships,jobs for solicitors and actual fee earning work will becomee even more intense and cutthroat than it is now. The press ,the competition authority and the plain people of ireland may have you believe that qualifying as a solicitor is a licence to print moneybut it simply isnt true. You will work very hard in an ever more demanding environment and subject to ever more criticsm to earn your massive salary(if you are lucky).
So to those who really want it welcome but to those who are not sure or are just in it for the money believe me there must be an easier way to do it.
GOOD LUCK to all either way(and thanks to all for reading my little rant..I feel much better now)
Many thanks for this. I am one of those with the law experience, the FE-1s and the education but I have decided to stop the pursuit of an apprenticeship. The reasons you outline above are a lot to do with it. So far I think it has been the best decision I have made.
quick question - they say at career advice seminars etc to target fims who deal with an area of law you are interested in and to specify this interest in your cover letter thereby showing that you've chosen the firm carefully and are informed about the areas in which they practice...can anyone looking for a traineeship really afford to be fussy? Surely its more a case of beggars cant be choosers..?
Can I ask what job you decided to opt for instead?
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