A SENIOR LEVEL LEGAL RECRUITER'S VIEW ON THE MARKET; IDENTIFYING TRENDS AND AREAS OF GROWTH WITH INSIGHT INTO THOSE AREAS WHICH AFFECT THE LEGAL ARENA
The common phrase about the grass not always being greener on the other side has been used to describe many situations.
As a legal recruiter it is an argument we face often where the fear of the unknown may lead an applicant to start doubting themselves or the wisdom of making a move, at which point we will talk through those concerns on a one-to-one basis. Usually our doing so will give the candidate the chance to reflect on why they were looking to move in the first place and realise that this move will indeed improve their lot. On rare occasions those concerns may be well-founded, at which point the move will break down.
A question which is rearing its head more often than not is whether a solicitor may wish to move into or out of the public sector. Many of us who work in the private sector have over the last few years had to deal with the consequences of the recession; uncertainty over job prospects, pay freezes or cuts and a general tightening of the belts have been prevalent.
Since the start of the recession the public sector has suffered far less, with more than 335,000 new jobs being created since April 2008 at the same time as 1 million jobs have been lost in the private sector in the same timeframe. During this period civil servants have also continued to enjoy pay rises and retained excellent benefits packages meaning that moving out of the private sector has never looked so appealing.
However following George Osborne’s budget the threat of cuts is now looming large over the public sector and with this loss of confidence the legal recruitment market is now starting to see a trickle of lawyers looking to moving back into private practice.
One of the interesting considerations for those solicitors looking to leave local authorities is that the skill set they are able to demonstrate is often one which is in short supply; for example planning, employment and regulatory law are areas where the legal recruitment market is very active and yet where the lawyers to fill these opportunities are not readily available. Consequently the timing is now right for those considering making a move from public to private sector, which may have been tricky 18 months ago but the market is now more receptive to those who have been out of a direct fee-earning role for some time.
There does remain a certain level of snobbery attached towards those moving out of the public sector, with many firms reluctant to look at lawyers without previous private practice experience. However we have found that many solicitors we are talking to have both a high level of technical knowledge and are also able to provide a different slant on many matters, which a private sector lawyer may not be able to offer.
For example, a planning lawyer who is used to working closely in “coalition“ with a planning department may offer a different slant on a matter from one who has spent their career fighting against them. Within employment law, equal pay matters are still relatively niche whereas solicitors at a local authority who have spent time defending claims of this nature may prove to be a worthwhile addition to a team.
It is likely that as the public sector cuts continue to bite that the trend to move back into private practice will continue for some time. The grass may not seem greener but it is something but it is undoubtedly a move which the most committed and adaptable will make work for them.
And it’s certainly better than having no grass at all.......
To discuss opportunities in the private sector call one of our specialist consultants at VG Charles & Co on 0121 233 5000/020 7649 9094 for a confidential discussion about your options, or visit our website www.vgcharles.com.
If you are trying to make your own grass greener visit the Gardeners World website www.gardenersworld.com. Plenty of useful tips, but few of them likely to find you a better job and improve your life.