Good insights! Not bad at all.

From my experience in community law, criminal law is interesting as every case has its own set of unique facts and it feels rewarding when your client receives a lighter custodial sentence or a fine.

However, I dislike contentious divorces with a passion. The legal work itself is alright but clients drain you emotionally. Immeasurable amount of times I nearly lost my temper providing advice to them and reminding them that it is not about "punishing" the other side. Of course, uncontentious divorces are much more pleasant to handle and it's relatively easy money.

I have done PIMA/NIMA cases in my previous firm and that is an area of law I vowed not to be involved again.

So rare to see people talk about PIMA NIMA! One of the forgotten areas of law that nobody in law school thinks they will ever (have the misfortune to) do. Any chance for Defendant-side PIMA NIMA lawyers to move onto bigger things, like high value Gen Insurance and Re-Insurance work? Or do most of them get stuck doing low level motor claims?

Any chance for plaintiff side NIMA PIMA lawyers to move on to bigger things

Just had a thought with my evening reading:

s://.gibsondunn.com/lawyer/doran-kenneth-m/ - Gibson Dunn's Managing Partner: University of Southern California

s://.lawgazette.co.uk/people/wills-power/5070538.article - Freshfields London Regional Managing Partner - University of Liverpool

s://.linklaters.com/en/find-a-lawyer/aedamar-comiskey - Linklaters future Senior Partner - University College Dublin

Maybe HR is snobbish about universities as a way to sift CVs but they're not at all related to work once you start practising...

For community law, what are the grades required, career progression, working culture, work hours and exit opportunities like?

How long to become partner at Chinatown firm?

Which area of community law has more exit opportunities?

Lifestyle differences of corporate vs community law?

honestly speaking, community law = no exit options. the nature of it is that you're doing work for the common man, like divorce, wills and probate, power of attorney, simple PI litigation, simple contract vetting for tenancy agreements, some Letters of Demand, some criminal defense. not attractive for any kind of commercial industry whatsoever. you must really want to serve the community and not be in it for the money or prestige (because there's absolutely none). maybe can go legal aid bureau or those less prestigious stat board?

I really doubt any lawyers can survive just doing this kind of work, without doing the bigger liti cases once in a while. or really specialising in something like family law.

cant speak for culture or hours, but i imagine all legal work has its own stress. laymen clients are far worse and more troublesome than institutional clients. and they'll probably lodge lawsoc complaints far more often too.