I'm a corporate lawyer looking for work-life balance!

Careershifter question

By londonlawyer

What's your personal and career background?
I am originally from Canada but have spent the past 13 years studying and working in the UK and the US - the past 9 as a corporate lawyer in the City. I was happy in my work but contemplating a move back to North America for some time.

I have, however, had to deal with the illness and deaths of both of my parents within the space of the past 15 months (both of them at relatively young ages) which has created a significant amount of tumult in my personal life.

What's your current work situation?
I am considered a strong performing senior associate in my group at a major international law firm and am on partnership track. However, I am no longer happy with my work and am finding the significant stress of life as a city lawyer in those circumstances very difficult to deal with in combination with all of the personal stress and grief that I am contending with.

Where ideally would you like to be in twelve month's time?
I would like to relocate back to Canada - in order to take advantage of being closer to the support network of friends and family that is there. I am also very much keen on trying a different career track - not necessarily walking back into a corporate law practice but trying to branch out and build on that skill-set and try a career which may bring with it a better work/life balance.

Where are you currently most stuck?
I am no longer happy living in the UK but looking for a job 5000 miles away is proving an incredibly complex experience with the demands that my work life puts on me.

ShiftDoctor answer

By Jenny Ungless

It seems to me that you have two separate issues to deal with here: firstly, working out what it is you want to do with your career and, secondly, finding that role in Canada while you are still in the UK.

I think your starting point should be to focus on where it is you want to be professionally. Think about your values (what motivates me? What kind of environment do I like to work in? What kind of people do I like to work with? How do I like to be rewarded?), your skills (not just all the skills you have, but the ones that you really enjoy using), and your interests (what issues/industry sectors interest me?). This should give you some useful pointers to start thinking about the kind of role, industry sector and organisation that will suit you. As a lawyer, you have a big set of transferable skills, but you need to try to focus on which of those you want to take into your next role, and which you would be quite happy to leave behind.

If you are struggling to come up with ideas for roles and industry sectors that would suit you, you might find it helpful to see a career coach. Yes, I would say that wouldn't I, but sometimes an objective perspective can help you see opportunities that otherwise wouldn't occur to you.

Once you have a clearer idea of what you are looking for, finding the role will be a lot more manageable. Use your networks - friends, family and their friends and family. Social networking sites like Facebook can also be helpful if you are trying to conduct a jobsearch from a distance. You should also be able to identify some specialist recruitment agencies who can help you. And, if you can identify a number of companies or organisations that interest you, it can be a good idea to make a direct, speculative application.

Finally, you might consider a "transitional" scenario, for example where you find a position with a UK company who also has a base in Canada, or a role with a global organisation which might offer you the opportunity for a secondment overseas, or, as a minimum, make it easier for you to build contacts and a network in Canada, with a view to moving there in due course.


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