Make a big life decision for me

[advicedout]

Soov535 said:

I think my good friend and sometime partner in crime tonker should speak to you about working in a Law firm in London.

I assume you're around 5PQE so Associate level.


You're going to get BEASTED on hours. You do realise that? Will you have a target for billables? Will you be expected to attend events in the evenings? Will you be cancelling holidays at a moment's notice? Yes to all three.


Seriously, have a word with yourself and get real, quickly.


FFS.

In-house, so no billables. No business development required, and no need to cultivate a following.

So no to all three.

[advicedout]

Rosscow said:

They're optional extras

And as for the commute, he's already stated a 20 minute tube ride and 10 minute walk once in London.

So say an hour and a half on the main line - plenty of time to read and snooze

30 minutes to station, 2 hours on west coast main line, 20 minutes on a single tube line, 10 minutes walking.

These are all conservative timings, rounded up. When I did the journey for the interview (at the same time I would travel when commuting) it took 2 hours 47 minutes door to door.

[advicedout]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Risk and compliance work have its own department. General commercial work, NDA's, service contracts, advice on projects, structuring and all other generic stuff. Have panel law firms for anything which requires specific expertise. Report to GC who reports to the board.

No idea what respect business has for the legal team, not sure how I could find prior to taking the job. FTSE listed company.

[advicedout]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Already pretty nervous that i'd going to be recognised if someone from either the place i'm leaving or the place i'm going to reads this thread. I know the chances are slim, but don't want to confirm it for anyone if they have a suspicion.

[advicedout]

Soov535 said:

Interesting. I am GC and Head of Compliance for a big med co.

All of my 5PQE people are doing timesheets and 60+ a week.

Timesheets in-house? I'd rather be flung back into the hell of PP.

[advicedout]

[redacted]

[advicedout]

AyBee said:

Thought you lived up North, not Bristol...?

West coast main line runs from the north west

[advicedout]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Current job isn't particularly exciting, but also never boring.

New job isn't with a bank or an insurer. Anything interesting i'm sure i'll be able to keep myself

[advicedout]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I'd be doing lots of commercial negotiation, with lots of board interaction. Certainly won't be stuck in a room drafting all day.

[advicedout]

Soov535 said:

So you're on decent enough wedge living in the North, in a job which isn't boring with a manageable commute.

And you're chucking that in for a huge commute into London, to an unkonwn job in a bearpit with no idea of prospects or whether it'll work out.

For £10k.




Knock yourself out you loony.

Isn't that any job?

[advicedout]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I don't disagree. But I don't think there will be a need for face to face negotiations more than 3 times a week. Also, if i'm driving negotiations, I will be able to arrange meetings to my liking, and I don't think anyone will kick up a fuss if a meeting needs to happen on the Thursday as opposed to the Wednesday. It's not going to be M&A work with deal deadlines.

[advicedout]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Well it works that way where I am currently. Unless it was extremely important, nobody would force you to comply with an obviously unreasonable request.

[advicedout]

p1stonhead said:

advicedout said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Well it works that way where I am currently. Unless it was extremely important, nobody would force you to comply with an obviously unreasonable request.

Hmm. You may not have thought this through. A lot of big law firms make people do plenty of unreasonable things or its out the door. 70 hour weeks are common.

Thanks. I worked at one for 4 years, so know what its like. That was the reason why I moved in-house, where it has been much more pleasant - but doesn't seem that this in-house experience is universal.

[advicedout]

All - thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts.

I think the sheer number of you who have said that I would regret being away from my family and the two lawyers who are adamant that I will be beasted on hours (contrary to my current role) has made me a bit more wary.


I've decided to speak with my boss as someone suggested a couple of pages ago. Scheduled a call with him at 3.

Edited by advicedout on Thursday 10th December 15:48

[advicedout]

Vaud said:

p1stonhead said:

And if you hand your notice in I bet you get a counter offer similar anyway.

Late to this thread...

My 3 points...

1) No need to resign, just have a 1:1 with your boss and say you have been approached and there is a flattering offer that has been made. You would rather stay, but could they help close the gap (to counter an argument about not 100% matching London weighting)? Plus you would like to take on more responsibility and you have x,y,z ideas. Make it a positive meeting. Nothing to lose.

2) Married with a 1 year old? No f*cking chance. It will ruin your marriage. The increased salary will not mitigate the unhappiness and tension that this level of commute will cause. 3 days a week? Maybe possible. 5 - no chance.

3) As 2, but seriously, you want to lose incredibly valuable, irreplaceable time with your child? Committing to this would mean missing bed time stories, maybe first steps, bath time, etc for years to come and you would become a weekend dad. Probably a tired weekend dad.

The only way I'd consider this would be for enough money to pay for a cleaner/housekeeper to support my wife, and only for a fixed period.

So basically, no.
Edit to add: I haven't read all 19 pages.

Edited by Vaud on Thursday 10th December 07:14

Thanks for the advice. I'm going for what you suggested in point 1.

[advicedout]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

The balance of power in negotiations is likely to be very even - doubt anyone is going to say sod you because i'm not available for an additional 24 hours.

[advicedout]

shep1001 said:

rattyuk2000 said:

Another thing to think about: "All travel and accommodation paid for - Everything, including fuel to station, train tickets, hotels etc."

Do check carefully your BIK / P11D implications for this if you're travelling to <> from your "permanent place of work".

I am currently wrangling this very problem with my own employer and HMRC.



Never been an issue for me in the last 20 years, work from home as my 'base' written in my contract as soon as I step out the door I am on expenses.

permanent place of work in my contract is my home address. Travel will be to various offices in London. I don;t see how it can be seen as a BIK.

[advicedout]

Pommygranite said:

There's a few things interesting from the first post.

Firstly it's says 2/3 days a week from home. Not 3 but 2/3. Feasibly they could just start enforcing 2 days.

Bonus - bonuses are never guaranteed and although as said everyone gets one so far it's not bankable at all.

Lots of comments on here have put them in as definite a when clearly they're not.

Is there much recruitment spin going on here?

Getting too taken in by thinking how good your cv will look rather than how it's actually going to feel getting out of bed at 4.15am on a cold Wednesday in January and getting home at 9.45pm only to repeat the next day?...

Made clear at interview that this is not a 'commute to London' role, and they stressed enough for me to believe they do not care about face time for me to believe them.
Point taken on bonuses, always a risk.
I would never travel twice in 2 days, i;d just stay over.

[advicedout]

Had a 30 minute conversation. Was less awkward than I thought - but had to point out several times that I wasn't actively looking elsewhere when he said he hadn't realised i was unhappy here. Not sure whether he believed me.

But he did say he was extremely happy with me and wouldn't want me to leave. He's going to speak with the HR Director and his boss to see what they can do on salary.

[advicedout]

johnwilliams77 said:

advicedout said:

Had a 30 minute conversation. Was less awkward than I thought - but had to point out several times that I wasn't actively looking elsewhere when he said he hadn't realised i was unhappy here. Not sure whether he believed me.

But he did say he was extremely happy with me and wouldn't want me to leave. He's going to speak with the HR Director and his boss to see what they can do on salary.

Good work
So London is a complete 'no' now?

He made it clear they wouldn't be able to match the London package, but said "i'll see what I can do". I'm anticipating a slight increase. Will find out tomorrow.