Just Qualified. Considering a Career Change

[AdamP88]

I guess I’m just looking for feedback with this one. So I just qualified as a high school teacher last year and just got my full teacher registration processed. However I’ve begun to consider training as a Solicitor (kind of like a Lawyer but doesn’t deal with criminal law so much). I’m not making any move yet as I want to consider it carefully for a few months. The process would be shorter than going back to study law from scratch as I already have a university degree. I’d just have to sit the law exams and pass. Then I could apply for a traineeship with a legal firm. If I got into a larger firm I could be earning upwards of 40k immediately.
I guess my problem is that I do love teaching, but now that I’m actually working as a teacher I see a lot of the nonsense we have to deal with. The Irish government have also nearly destroyed teaching as a profession and it is increasingly difficult to be a man of faith in an Irish school. I have no illusions that law wouldn’t be a demanding career but I do think I’d be able for it and interested. I just don’t want people to think I’m a person that is always changing career. The financial prospects as a solicitor would also be much better, on the downside, the hours would be longer and the holidays less, at least in the initial years. Guess I’m just looking for some (name removed by moderator)ut other than myself.
Thanks

 

[Irishmom2]

That’s a tough one Adam. I have no doubt you would have no trouble doing what it takes to study law and pass the exam.

If you love teaching, maybe you could make a lateral move somehow. I know schools are different there, but would teaching in a Catholic school ease some of the problems you feel as a man of faith?

Still, there is the draw of salary as a solicitor. But yes, the hours would be longer. You would not have summer breaks free to spend with your children when you have a family. That is one great perk of teaching.

What about your wife? What are her thoughts?

 

[Anicette]

It is diffult to advise you as we don’t know you.

You can moove to law, but I think only if you will be happy as a sollicitor and accept the extend hours and work conditions. The pay would not be enough to compensate if you cannot support your work. Just do the moove because you struggle as a man of faith in a school won’t make you happy. People who love their work tend to be happy, people who hate it are likely to be depressed and impact their own family.

And on the the other side, if you feel that you cannot act according to your conscience in your school or in any school, and you are not feel good, it may be time to leave…

I suppose that you were already in a Catholic school?

 

[AdamP88]

Still, there is the draw of salary as a solicitor. But yes, the hours would be longer. You would not have summer breaks free to spend with your children when you have a family. That is one great perk of teaching.

True. At the same time, I’m not ever going to not be qualified as a teacher. I’ll always have that option.

What about your wife? What are her thoughts?

She would be happy if I was happy in my career I think. She’s very supportive. She sees it as just another way to better myself and our family.

 

[AdamP88]

Just do the moove because you struggle as a man of faith in a school won’t make you happy.

I know that. I do have an interest in the law aspect as well. I think I would be good at it.

And on the the other side, if you feel that you cannot act according to your conscience in your school or in any school, and you are not feel good, it may be time to leave…

I suppose that you were already in a Catholic school?

It’s a funny situation in Ireland. Many schools are “Catholic” but only a few schools, directly run by religious orders or the Church are really Catholic.

 

[Anicette]

The situation in France with catholic schools (up to 40% of the total of students in some regions) seems the same as in Ireland.

 

[AdamP88]

That’s a tough one Adam. I have no doubt you would have no trouble doing what it takes to study law and pass the exam.

That’s the other thing. The initial exams are not particularly expensive to sit. I was thinking that I could always give them a try and if I found they were uninteresting or that I felt this wasn’t for me after all, I’d only be down a couple of hundred euros.

 

[Irishmom2]

That would give you a feel for what that world entails. So, would you take classes first?

 

[AdamP88]

No. I have a friend who is doing the exams. He offered me his manuals to study. I’d also buy some past exam papers.

 

[TheLittleLady]

There is a human quirk that is more prevelant in these days of social media “Fear Of Missing Out”.

If I do this job, I might miss out on THAT job.

You qualified as a teacher. Try teaching, you have a chance to make a lasting impact on students, parents, your community and the world.

I guess my problem is that I do love teaching, but now that I’m actually working as a teacher I see a lot of the nonsense we have to deal with.

Yep, once we “see how the sausage is made” it can be quite jarring. Every job has nonsense. It is our duty to be loving and peaceful amidst the nonsense. To take the nonsense in stride.

Every person I know in the legal profession would read your words and tell you that if you want to have a nonsense free career, run as far from the legal profession as you can.

increasingly difficult to be a man of faith in an Irish school.

Look back to the martyrs, gain strength from their example.

Entering a new career is not a bad thing, but, do not run away from one job expecting a new job to bring peace. The peace “that passes all understanding” is not because the storm ended, but, a peace one has in the very midst of the storms.