To move or not to move, that is the question. For some, it is an agonising decision. For others, it is one that is out of their control. Either way, moving to a new firm as an NQ Solicitor is not something you want to leave to chance.
In the first of a two-part series, we start by looking at what you should do to put yourself in the best possible position to find a new job as an NQ. In the next part, we’ll examine what you need to do to thrive in your new firm.
The end of your training contract is a watershed moment for any solicitor. But with the relief at having finally qualified comes one of the biggest questions you will face in your career: what next?
If you have been told you will not be kept on, your only option is to get out there and find a new job. Even if you have been offered an NQ role, you may be in two minds and want to see what your options are.
Here are our tips for moving as an NQ (and finding a more fulfilling job):
1. GET OFFERED AN NQ ROLE BY YOUR EXISTING FIRM
This may seem counterintuitive if you are intent on leaving, but one of the best things you can do is secure a position as an NQ Solicitor with your current firm. You will certainly be a more attractive proposition to another firm if you have been offered a seat at your training firm.
In our experience, the larger firms prefer candidates who are moving out of choice rather than being pushed. In fact, it was on the advice of law firms we spoke to during the design phase of NQSolicitors.com that we added a field that asks candidates if they have been offered an NQ position.
And, if you have been offered a position at your training firm but are unable to find a new role that suits you straight after qualification, it gives you breathing space until you find your perfect role.
2. START THE PROCESS EARLY
It definitely pays to be ahead of the game if you are thinking of moving. Begin the process well in advance of qualification and carry out plenty of research about firms that do the type of work you are interested in.
Although some firms won’t start recruiting until they have settled the situation with regard to their own NQs, things are likely to move quickly once they do, so it pays to be prepared.
Of course, if you do manage to find a new job before your existing firm has made up its mind, you don’t need to worry about securing an NQ post at your training firm either.
3. USE YOUR EXPERIENCE TO CHOOSE YOUR NEXT FIRM CAREFULLY
Unless you worked as a paralegal before starting your training contract, choosing which firm to train at may have been a bit of a stab in the dark. But you’ve had two years in the industry now, so it makes sense to use your experience wisely.
You should by now have a better idea of what is important to you in terms of the type of work you want to do and the atmosphere you want to work in. Find out from speaking to friends and doing your research what other firms are like and how well they match what you are looking for in your career, be it partnership prospects, work/life balance, etc.
4. CHOOSE YOUR RECRUITMENT CONSULTANT CAREFULLY
Discretion is the number one watchword when you go out into the employment market. The last thing you want is for your existing firm to find out your CV is being touted around as this could result in you losing your new seat. Not all recruitment consultants are created equal, so be careful which ones you choose.
5. UPDATE YOUR CV
You know this already, but make sure your CV is up to date. It can be hard to remember what you did in your early seats, but the more relevant detail you can add the better.
You don’t need to add an exhaustive list of everything you have done as a trainee solicitor, but you should give a good overview of your experience. Most importantly, you need to demonstrate that you know why you did what you did, what the vagaries and complexities were, and what the commercial angle was. This will show that you learned a lot during your training and are ready to move on to the next stage.
Contrary to popular belief there is no right way to set out a CV, but it should be laid out neatly and be easy to navigate.