What else do Solicitors do?
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Rude-boy

Original Poster:

22,227 posts

250 months

Tuesday 19th January 2010
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Fairly simple question really. Unlike a plumber, doctor and a million other trades and professions, other than for the very few, it is all but impossible for a Solicitor admitted to the role in England and Wales to ply their trade outside of these fine shores.

That said there are, I am sure, 1001 other jobs that someone who has had over 8 years of experience in Commercial and Residential Property and the running of a busy office can do. The only problem is that I have a brain block on what these might be!

For a little background my job is as secure a job as anyone's is these days and I am not really interested in moving to a different Firm. If I was to do anything drastic it would have to involve a move somewhere else in the World.

Anyone got any thoughts, experience, information or humour they could impart?

johnfm

13,712 posts

267 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
it is tricky - as you are limited in jurisdiction to practice in 'nice' places.

Apply the commercial knowledge you have into running your own business.

Though I would be tempted to find a manual process heavy element of your profession and look at whether some clever IT solutions could be applied. Plenty of clever IT blokes around looking for work. Plenty of law firms trying to squeeze more work our of fewer staff - a bit like that woman who made millions out of simplified local authority searches.

Mate I know is pitching various IT related cost cutting measures to the legal aid lot - can save them circa £15million a year - so they may take him up on it.

mybrainhurts

90,809 posts

272 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
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HTH...

Rude-boy

Original Poster:

22,227 posts

250 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
Cheers for the thoughts.

MBH, tried tree surgery but it appears that I am nearly as bad at that as I am comedy!

Yep, running a business is certainly the intent but not too keen on the IT angle. A thought though!

johnfm

13,712 posts

267 months

Wednesday 20th January 2010
quotequote all
Rude-boy said:
Cheers for the thoughts.

MBH, tried tree surgery but it appears that I am nearly as bad at that as I am comedy!

Yep, running a business is certainly the intent but not too keen on the IT angle. A thought though!
Not really IT - more like business process consulting, but specially for legal processes.

I would expect that there are still quite a few law firms who, when busy, could really churn out more work/hr just by some serious process planning and better use of technology, electronic document management etc.

Prime example, I can see a time where some court applications, pre trial conferences etc etc will take place remotely, using video eetc to reduce travel costs etc.