TO LEAVE LAW OR NOT TO LEAVE: WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?
25 June 2009
My next port of call isn’t really a new idea. Journalism is the career I would have pursued had I been as confident and worldly at 21 as I am now. When I chose to do law, this seemed the less competitive “easy option”, an idea which is almost laughable now when I read about the fierce competition for jobs and the straight A students who are paralegalling whilst searching for elusive training contracts.
At the time I finished an English degree at university I rejected the idea of writing partly because I didn’t feel I had an “in” into the world of the media, but also perhaps because I couldn’t believe that anyone would take my thoughts and words seriously enough to pay me for them. Obviously times have changed and when I think of how much clients pay for me to draft documents I have little or no interest in, then surely my words on subjects I am actually enthusiastic about should be worth more.
Contributing to this blog is keeping me writing on a fairly regular basis, however if I am going to pursue this idea seriously, I need to do more. A journalist friend points out that since the advent of the internet, anyone can consider themselves a writer or a journalist, however the trick is getting paid for what you are writing.
I offer my services (unpaid so far) to a charity and find my offer is gratefully received. One article about the children I visited in Cambodia, and the editing of a piece about the Cannes film festival later, and I am feeling pretty good. Good and happy to keep helping them, but poor!
When a journalist friend mentions that her national newspaper uses freelancers (and, what’s more, pays them per word), I jump at the chance and immediately pitch an idea involving my experiences of credit card fraud. My idea is accepted and I am allowed 550 words, which proves to be a rather difficult word limit to stick to (especially when you consider that, in theory, the more you write, the more you are paid!) A few ruthless self-editing sessions later and it is ready to go. My opus is 587 words, and I think it reads fairly well, however the test is whether the editor likes it, so I have to wait…
It is always an anxious time for me to hand over a document at work and await the matter partner’s review and comments. A few bad experiences with some unpredictable partners have left their mark, however I feel much more comfortable submitting this article, yet also more exposed as it is much more personal.
Fortunately, the editor really likes my piece, suggests a couple of very minor amendments and lets me know that my article is ready for publication: the first piece of writing for which I will be paid. I feel great and also compelled to phone home and let everyone know to watch out for my article. I could get used to this: at work a well-received due diligence report, a comprehensive note of advice or even a completion doesn’t have the same effect!
To thank me for the article, my friend invites me along on to help her with a job she is doing for her newspaper’s weekend magazine. We have to go into a trendy shop, choose some outstanding items and take them to be photographed on a shoot, to appear in the magazine. I know not every day is like this but shopping for free is much more fun than anything I have ever done in law!
I also love the fact that my creative input is not only valued but is paramount: the photo shoot contains items I hand picked and I feel able to express myself and communicate in a way which the constraints of my current job do not allow. I could definitely get used to this and am already planning my next article for submission.
To contact the MTL blogger, email mtlblogger@moretolaw.com
PAST ENTRIES
30 April 2009: Move within the sector?