The pull of the profession

To secure a place in a law firm, ABS or other organisation is already a great achievement at a time when the number of new solicitor places is diminishing year on year and - if certain reports are to be believed - the outlook remains bleak.

Despite widespread reports of the demise of legal aid in national newspapers and TV reports, the legal profession remains one to aspire to join; in the public consciousness at least. Just this week, a survey by Virgin Media placed the role of the lawyer as the third most popular with parents when considering jobs they would like their children to do.

Although almost half (49 per cent) of those surveyed hoped for their children to become doctors, lawyers came in with 43 per cent, ahead of tech entrepreneur (38 per cent) and app developer (35 per cent). A surprise second on the list was engineering, just 2 per cent above the legal profession.

Becoming a lawyer is still considered a job for life and one that can effect real change. There's also a slim chance it might see you married to George Clooney. Not many engineers can claim that. The profession is also still viewed as being one with significant financial reward.

It might amuse you to know that a job in banking was the choice of only 18 per cent of parents and a more creative life as a musician or artist scored only 16 per cent to round off the top ten.

Separate research among children aged five to ten by VoucherCodesPro.co.uk suggests that this age group is more likely to follow their hearts where a job is concerned and found the top roles chosen were police officer (16 per cent), zoo keeper (14 per cent) and fire fighter (13 per cent). Only 10 per cent of children aspired to becoming a doctor and seemingly none chose a life in the law.

It is perhaps a concern that the top choices were simply 'rich' (22 per cent) and 'famous' (18 per cent). Rarely is this something that a career in the law can promise.

A mention must go to Joan Rivers. A former boss once (falsely) accused me of spending an afternoon with the comedy legend when she was visiting a local film festival. I had not. I did, however, go on to spend several evenings and much of the following week with her at the request of the festival, ensuring she was in the right place at the right time and showing off Sheffield.

Out of the spotlight, she was perhaps the most charming, kind and warm person I have met. Of course she had a natural biting wit, but never discriminated - anything and anyone was fair game. A sad loss but I, for one, have good memories that will always make me smile.

Kevin Poulter, editor at large

@SJ_Weekly

#SJPOULTER

editorial@solicitorsjournal.co.uk