Career crossroad – would love some input

Nickster said:
Thanks — really appreciate your take. I agree with you that legal tech offers better balance and exciting growth, especially with how quickly the space is evolving.

I think my biggest tension is around the long game in Big Law. The hours are brutal (12–15 hour days, regularly), and while the salary isn’t bad by local standards, it’s hard to ignore that I’m basically working two jobs for one income. Sure, Big Law could pay off in the long term if I stick it out to equity partner — but will I even make it that far?

With the new BEE codes, and my firm doing a lot of government work (which pays really well), I do wonder how realistic that path is for someone like me. To be fair, the firm has treated me well — extended my contract and made me permanent — but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about a ceiling.

The legal tech offer, on the other hand, pays significantly more now — which would make a real difference in terms of saving, investing, and long-term financial security. The company is well-established (worth billions in USD) and has real credibility in the legal tech space, so I’m not too worried about it vanishing overnight. I also have international experience and a pretty strong background in legal tech already, which I think is part of why they’ve come back now — there’s not a ton of local talent in this space yet.

The tough part is that if I leave Big Law now, that door’s probably closed for good. My articles weren’t at a large firm, so this is really my first proper run at traditional law at the highest level — and I don’t want to walk away lightly.

That said, it’s hard to ignore how unsustainable the hours feel, and how much of a gamble the long game is — especially when the short- to medium-term trade-off looks this good.
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It’s sad to see what real impact BEE has on the minority in SA.

It’s not you know what’s right for you in the end. Good luck with your decision. Do keep us updated though. I’d be interested to see how it goes. Either way.
 
Nickster said:
Thanks — really appreciate your take. I agree with you that legal tech offers better balance and exciting growth, especially with how quickly the space is evolving.

I think my biggest tension is around the long game in Big Law. The hours are brutal (12–15 hour days, regularly), and while the salary isn’t bad by local standards, it’s hard to ignore that I’m basically working two jobs for one income. Sure, Big Law could pay off in the long term if I stick it out to equity partner — but will I even make it that far?

With the new BEE codes, and my firm doing a lot of government work (which pays really well), I do wonder how realistic that path is for someone like me. To be fair, the firm has treated me well — extended my contract and made me permanent — but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about a ceiling.

The legal tech offer, on the other hand, pays significantly more now — which would make a real difference in terms of saving, investing, and long-term financial security. The company is well-established (worth billions in USD) and has real credibility in the legal tech space, so I’m not too worried about it vanishing overnight. I also have international experience and a pretty strong background in legal tech already, which I think is part of why they’ve come back now — there’s not a ton of local talent in this space yet.

The tough part is that if I leave Big Law now, that door’s probably closed for good. My articles weren’t at a large firm, so this is really my first proper run at traditional law at the highest level — and I don’t want to walk away lightly.

That said, it’s hard to ignore how unsustainable the hours feel, and how much of a gamble the long game is — especially when the short- to medium-term trade-off looks this good.
Click to expand...

On the flip side isn’t big law very much stuck in SA and makes it very hard for you to do the international jump down the line?
 
SauRoNZA said:
On the flip side isn’t big law very much stuck in SA and makes it very hard for you to do the international jump down the line?
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For some practices yeah, but fortunately I would be able to move abroad as my field has tons of overlap with the international market. Essentially the conventions and laws are the same especially in the UK context. I would not be able to practice per se unless I get dual qualified, but I could get into an in-house role or corporate gig.
 
Is the international opportunity WFH, significantly more pay and less hours?
Seems like a no brainer.
 
airborne said:
Is the international opportunity WFH, significantly more pay and less hours?
Seems like a no brainer.
Click to expand...
Like triple my salary so significantly into the 6 figures per month

Hybrid as they are renting hot desk office space type setup, they don’t have a physical presence here, for the rest of the team to collaborate when keen and also for there to be an office as some don’t want to work from home.
 
It is important that you are happy, no one lay on their death bed wishing they had spent more time at work. Working allows you to do the stuff you enjoy.
 
Nickster said:
Like triple my salary so significantly into the 6 figures per month

Hybrid as they are renting hot desk office space type setup, they don’t have a physical presence here, for the rest of the team to collaborate when keen and also for there to be an office as some don’t want to work from home.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a great opportunity, no matter how experienced or high up you go legal jobs typically equal very long hours and high stress, this might be a great move to both earn more and burn yourself out less. Your prospects going forward are still going to be awesome, you will take your experience with the current job with you and the new job will no doubt open some interesting new horizons. Do it!
 
Nickster said:
Like triple my salary so significantly into the 6 figures per month

Hybrid as they are renting hot desk office space type setup, they don’t have a physical presence here, for the rest of the team to collaborate when keen and also for there to be an office as some don’t want to work from home.
Click to expand...
Sounds pretty great. From what I’ve seen, there isn’t really a point where a legal career becomes less hectic. If you can get paid that much money now, that’s amazing.
 
Let me put it this way....

triple the pay = 5 years at tech company = 15 years at circus company OR 10 years at tech company = 30 years at circus company.

you can retire in 10 years, easily. Your salary will go up by 6%pa on average if the tech company give you a 0% increase pa, this is just the Rand devaluation per year on average since 1994.
 
I have not read all the comments. To me it comes down to a decision whether you want to remain a proper/traditional lawyer or follow a different career, although it has a link with law practice, but is not it.

Stay a lawyer or become an admin clerk? (Maybe too harsh, but is a conveyancing attorney not but just that?) I would never have been a fit for the bill. I enjoyed (now retired) the client and his/her problem solving aspects and the court arena, dismanteling stories and digging for the real facts too much and would not have given that up. Money is not the end all. Job satisfaction and self actualization trumps it in the long run. What is your personal pinnacle on the Maslow's hierarchy?

Hope this angle helps with your decision.
 
I suspect you would lose some of the experience and exposure of traditional big law, and leaving it and trying to come back in 5 - 10 years would set you back.
But, you would be pivoting into something arguably more exciting, higher pay, international ties and possible route for leaving the country and the exposure you get with dealing with the rest of the world is really valuable.

You wont know if you like it until you try it, and unfortunately it might set you back if you do, but from an outsider perspective, it sounds worth the risk.
 
Also had some stuff like this recently. Yours sounds really good!

The wife recently started working for a US based company and the hour overlap is an issue. She gets added to a lot of meetings between 7:30PM and 9:30PM that she has to attend so her evenings are gone. Something to consider as a potential negative.

I turned down a big raise for a UK based offer working remotely because it was not an employment contract. Their contract essentially treated me like an independent service provider meaning they could cancel on me with a months notice. You want to understand things like that, and if you get leave, etc.

Lastly, the biggest sometimes hidden risk is just this, you are remote and far away. Should they have to downsize they may well prioritize getting rid of you ahead of their local employees. Still, at the bigger salary I think it would be well worth the risk especially if you are frugal for the first year or two and build up a nice nest egg that you could use in the event you are let go and have to job hunt.
 
Nickster said:
Not sure the hours are better, but vastly better pay. I would probably have to wait until salaried partner to make similar money at my current firm. The only thing is I will be outpriced in the local market and probably won't get back into big law here in SA.
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Get the experience, use what you know, make a success. If you come back start your own legal industry with your new skill sets.
Overseas experience is without a doubt 1 of the best decisions I made way back when
 
Nickster said:
Thanks — really appreciate your take. I agree with you that legal tech offers better balance and exciting growth, especially with how quickly the space is evolving.

I think my biggest tension is around the long game in Big Law. The hours are brutal (12–15 hour days, regularly), and while the salary isn’t bad by local standards, it’s hard to ignore that I’m basically working two jobs for one income. Sure, Big Law could pay off in the long term if I stick it out to equity partner — but will I even make it that far?

With the new BEE codes, and my firm doing a lot of government work (which pays really well), I do wonder how realistic that path is for someone like me. To be fair, the firm has treated me well — extended my contract and made me permanent — but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about a ceiling.

The legal tech offer, on the other hand, pays significantly more now — which would make a real difference in terms of saving, investing, and long-term financial security. The company is well-established (worth billions in USD) and has real credibility in the legal tech space, so I’m not too worried about it vanishing overnight. I also have international experience and a pretty strong background in legal tech already, which I think is part of why they’ve come back now — there’s not a ton of local talent in this space yet.

The tough part is that if I leave Big Law now, that door’s probably closed for good. My articles weren’t at a large firm, so this is really my first proper run at traditional law at the highest level — and I don’t want to walk away lightly.

That said, it’s hard to ignore how unsustainable the hours feel, and how much of a gamble the long game is — especially when the short- to medium-term trade-off looks this good.
Click to expand...

Do you think BEE will still be around in 5 years?
 
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