Working as a lawyer in the public and not-for-profit sectors
For many lawyers and paralegals the possibility of working for organisations such as charities, trade associations, central government and local government, is extremely appealing. There are, however, significant differences between each area, both in terms the types of jobs available and the remuneration packages that go with them.
About the not for profit sector
For many people, the not for profit sector means the chance to work for a charity and ‘give something back’. You might think that charities only look for charity law specialists but you would be wrong. While an understanding of charity law helps, they are just if not more likely to need commercial expertise.
Lawyers working for a charity can therefore typically have a generalist role – much like you would if you were working in-house for a company. You will be expected to handle a diverse workload, from commercial contracts, intellectual property and copyright to fund-raising and employment issues.
In some cases you may be the only legally-qualified person in the charity. Even in the largest charities, the legal team can often be quite small. You will therefore be expected to handle pretty much anything that is thrown your way, but many lawyers thrive on that. Coupled with this, you will have to be fairly resoureful, as budgets to use external law firms will be limited.
Opportunities in the not for profit sector are not just limited to charities. There are also attractive positions available in trade and consumer associations.
Apart from a sense of giving something back, many lawyers are attracted to the not for profit sector for lifestyle reasons, as much of the work can be predictable and manageable. However, you should not underestimate the hours you may have to put in, particularly if you are the only lawyer in the organisation. There is also greater flexibility in how you work with many charities and associations open to people taking on part-time roles.
The pay is not comparable to private practice or even mainstream commercial in-house roles. Although it is hard to generalise, a newly qualified lawyer might expect to be paid between £25,000 and £30,000, while a more senior lawyer might get between £40,000 and £45,000. Most candidates, however, are fully aware of this and feel the other benefits of the job more than make up for the pay cut they have to take.
Other not for profit bodies such as trade associations can pay significantly more because they are likely to have corporate backers. A salary in excess of £100,000 is not unheard of for a very senior role at a high-profile association.
About the public sector
In the public sector, there are two distinct career paths – central government and local government.
In central government, the Government Legal Service recruits lawyers at all levels, for a wide range of government departments and bodies.
In total there are 1,700 lawyers spread over 40 different organisations. The teams range in size from lawyers on their own to teams of over 200 in places such as the Treasury Solicitor’s Department.
The work is often unique and challenging and is an attractive alternative to working in private practice. You will also be given the opportunity to move around and work in a range of different departments during your career.
In local government, the diversity of posts available is impressive. Local authorities need lawyers in a wide range of specialist areas such as property, planning, childcare, prosecution, and procurement.
In some local government teams, particularly those working in London Boroughs where teams can exceed 30 lawyers, you can continue to specialise if that is what you want. The work is often high quality and challenging and you will be involved in matters from an early stage.
On the salary front, there is a drop compared to private practice. However, depending on where you work and your level of qualification, it might not necessarily be that great. In our experience, job satisfaction levels are noticeably higher than in private practice.
Conclusion
Whether it is working for local or central government, a charity or a trade association, a career in the public and not for profit sector is not the "easy option" that people might think. But it can be extremely rewarding and a very good choice.
If you are thinking of moving into the public and not for profit sector, get in touch with our specialist team of consultants. We can advise you of your options and keep you informed on an ongoing basis of opportunities as they arise.
For more information, please contact paul.twentyman@hays.com.
