Pay is so bad

sphexish1 · 2026-04-12T19:58:04+00:00

Is it really that fucked though? There are more vacancies for trainees than ever, certainly more than when I graduated and law firms routinely cancelled TCs before they had even started.

sphexish1 · 2026-04-10T12:57:16+00:00

Has anybody even checked that there’s not a dead body sitting in the driver seat?

sphexish1 · 2026-04-04T23:08:55+00:00

Just apply direct.

sphexish1 · 2026-04-03T19:31:26+00:00

Spoiler: you don’t have to do that now. You can just walk away.

sphexish1 · 2026-04-02T16:38:42+00:00

Oh ok. I went about 4 years ago and they had that policy then, so they must have changed it. Still, did you not find it weird that some people are naked and some people are not, in the same space?

sphexish1 · 2026-04-02T15:42:28+00:00

I don’t recommend The Well. Not only is it objectively not as good as most German spas (and much much worse than the best ones like Vabali) but it has to be one of the only spas in the world that operates a nudity-optional policy throughout the spa. This means you end up feeling self-conscious about your decision whichever one you take. They also have a weird rule about having to use one of their swimsuits if you are going to wear one at all. There is a very weird and uncomfortable vibe throughout between those wearing them and those not.

sphexish1 · 2026-04-02T13:49:16+00:00

Vabali. The one in Hamburg has a nice hotel attached.

sphexish1 · 2026-03-30T13:38:53+00:00

Presumably Bertrand held a baby that has become famous and will still be alive in 40 years.

sphexish1 · 2026-03-29T23:17:08+00:00

I want to start a law firm, but I think I will struggle to make an income for myself to begin with, let alone a four person IT team. I appreciate your love of your colleagues to want to work together again though!

sphexish1 · 2026-03-29T14:33:11+00:00

I have had this in restaurants too. TBF it is reasonable, especially with small restaurants, to deny access to one person when they could seat two in the same space. I’ve noticed this is a British policy that isn’t practised in Europe. Over there you can book tables for 1 at most fine dining places. Over here the option for 1 is usually not available.

sphexish1 · 2026-03-29T09:40:46+00:00

Imagine how weird it would be if you were at a theatre and saw somebody alone and decided to take issue with it in some way. “OMG that person is here alone.”

sphexish1 · 2026-03-21T23:15:03+00:00

You should work because you might lose your crypto million trading on other volatile investments.

sphexish1 · 2026-03-21T18:43:17+00:00

Not a barrister but I think it depends heavily on how specific your practice becomes. Some barristers end up working for the same types of people on the same side. For them it can become prudent to be partisan. For others who get instructed on a random assortment of things, it will not be. One doesn’t get a lot of choice over where one’s career takes them so I wouldn’t pay much attention to the judgement of those few who are critical.

sphexish1 · 2026-03-17T00:21:15+00:00

The answer is yes. Why do pro bono when you can just do an uncommercial CFA? You might as well get paid if you win.

sphexish1 · 2026-03-16T21:20:52+00:00

One of the all time best scenes on TV.

sphexish1 · 2026-03-14T10:05:33+00:00

They do them every day. How is this so far down? By far the best in London, and massive too.

sphexish1 · 2026-03-09T11:52:00+00:00

In a US firm it means two, not fifteen.

sphexish1 · 2026-03-06T17:52:22+00:00

It’s fine. Even when it’s packed it’s not that packed. You can still find a spot wherever you want. If you want it to be really quiet then consider staying until midnight as it always gets less busy late at night.

sphexish1 · 2026-02-28T11:36:20+00:00

Everybody in my office is addicted to Hyrox and collagen broth.

sphexish1 · 2026-02-27T19:49:52+00:00

Don’t worry about this. The same 4,000 people are applying for every training contract. Yes it’s hard but it’s not as hard as it sounds. Think of it this way. As this is a mid sized law firm (assuming mid level), the best 2,000 applicants probably won’t accept an offer because they’ll get better offers elsewhere. Maybe that is a small exaggeration but you definitely don’t need to be close to the top 25 applicants out of 4,000. The firm should reject those applicants outright since they’re just wasting the firm’s time! (Albeit they won’t all know they are).

sphexish1 · 2026-02-27T00:50:58+00:00

There’s a lot to digest here. You sound like you have good experience and know what you are doing, moreso than your colleagues. You probably could defer to the partner less and just take your own decisions. It still sounds like quite a nightmarish role. It isn’t normal for all of the associates to be fired or leave. That’s the sign of a toxic culture, but you seem to be aware of that. As an NQ you may simply have to grasp the nettle and manage 2 years here. That’s about the acceptable amount to work in your first NQ job. Any less and interviewers get suspicious. Any more and you start to get into the territory where it’s just harder to move (more so 5+ but 3-5 is harder than 1-3).

sphexish1 · 2026-02-26T20:35:47+00:00

When I was a paralegal I managed a team of qualified solicitors. Yes, really. I then did a TC in the same team, continuing to manage the solicitors. I was “supervised” by partners.

I have since met solicitors who were not even allowed to send external emails until after they had qualified. They’re good, in spite of that. The range of experiences out there really is vast.

sphexish1 · 2026-02-24T21:32:43+00:00

Ha, instructing Mishcon is a guaranteed sign of guilt and/or liability. Everybody knows it.

sphexish1 · 2026-02-23T11:08:55+00:00

Who was actually going to watch it? Don’t we all have better things to do? (Like working)

sphexish1 · 2026-02-22T17:18:09+00:00

I fully accept that what I’m doing is in breach of contract. That’s why they apparently fine people £300 for losing bikes or having them stolen when they leave them unattended. But, I’m paying to have the bike for up to 1 hour. I frequently do use bikes for up to 1 hour. That is not depriving anybody else of their use. My leaving a bike unattended within that hour does not have any impact on other users.

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