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I wasn’t sure but I wasn’t going to rule it out. As you will already be aware, chances of qualifying as a corporate lawyer in September 2009 were grim. Recruitment consultants had no jobs of that kind on their books. The only companies which seemed to be recruiting lawyers with corporate experience were those with an in-house legal team. When I had registered with “the hunters” originally I had mentioned my interest in a move in-house. I was regularly told that these companies don’t generally take on NQs because they like their lawyers to bring experience and know-how to the table. I had my work cut out but if the opportunity arose I would jump at it.

So week one of unemployment began without a bang. The same jobs were still being advertised. Any new jobs which I thought I may be suitable for were apparently not for me, either not having enough experience or not having the right grades (apparently a 2.1 at degree level and a commendation on the LPC doesn’t excuse you from that B you were awarded at A-level). I was beginning to think that this whole unemployment thing could go on for a while. Maybe I should consider signing up for job seeker’s allowance – with monthly outgoings of over £600 per month, I would soon run out of my previous month’s salary.

I guess when you’re waiting for jobs to appear that aren’t really there, there’s not much you can do. I had decided that it would be a good idea to swat up on all the know-how I had accumulated throughout my 2 years training. My old firm was great for that. Every week there would be some sort of training course you could sign yourself up to. There was a constant stream of information feeding. The trouble was, when you have a full-time job to do, it can be difficult to fit in “extra-curricular” work which doesn’t count towards your billable hours, and there are only a certain number of hours in the day in which you can get your work done!

This meant that reflecting on what you had learnt in training sessions was a luxury rather than a necessity and after an hour’s seminar the PowerPoint notes you had accumulated would merely be filed away in your duly marked “Know-How” folder. Now that I had ample time on my hands to get round the Companies Act 2006 changes and other legal topics I decided to get my notes in good order, and get cracking.

I’d done it! The next day I received a call. I had managed to secure an interview. Arghh! Luckily I had been swatting up on commercial contracts and I had considered the contracts I had negotiated as a trainee, so at least I was prepared. I studied the company’s website for the products and services it offered, had a look at it’s annual accounts and made my way to interview. The interview lasted an hour and a half and was actually extremely enjoyable. I felt like I had found somewhere I could belong. I really wanted this job. I knew I would love it.

…and a month later, I still do (yes, I got the job!). I had made it to in-house!