Using the time before my LPC / TC - is unemployment an issue?

[Velikilawyer123]

Hi all, I'm currently in the very fortunate position to have secured a TC starting 2023, with my LPC starting September 2022. I gave my resignation at a job I didn't really enjoy that much not long ago, and am currently thinking of taking a bit of time to myself before the TC starts.

I haven't quite made up my mind what I'm going to do during that time, other than perhaps taking the New York bar, which has been on my bucket list for quite a while now. If this ends up being the only law-related / career-related thing I do for the next 10ish months (and the preparation for the NY bar is around 3 months in total), will it potentially be looked down on by my firm, or even by future employers?

 

[Jessica Booker]

Hi all, I'm currently in the very fortunate position to have secured a TC starting 2023, with my LPC starting September 2022. I gave my resignation at a job I didn't really enjoy that much not long ago, and am currently thinking of taking a bit of time to myself before the TC starts.

I haven't quite made up my mind what I'm going to do during that time, other than perhaps taking the New York bar, which has been on my bucket list for quite a while now. If this ends up being the only law-related / career-related thing I do for the next 10ish months (and the preparation for the NY bar is around 3 months in total), will it potentially be looked down on by my firm, or even by future employers?

No - it won’t be an issue. Plenty of people take the time out to do the things they want before starting their career, knowing there will be limited opportunities to do this again. Many lawyers would probably actively encourage you to do it if you have the financial means to not work during that time.

Most people won’t even know. By the time you get to qualification, very few people are going to be interested in that period of time - they will just be focused on what you did during your TC.

 

[AvniD]

Hi all, I'm currently in the very fortunate position to have secured a TC starting 2023, with my LPC starting September 2022. I gave my resignation at a job I didn't really enjoy that much not long ago, and am currently thinking of taking a bit of time to myself before the TC starts.

I haven't quite made up my mind what I'm going to do during that time, other than perhaps taking the New York bar, which has been on my bucket list for quite a while now. If this ends up being the only law-related / career-related thing I do for the next 10ish months (and the preparation for the NY bar is around 3 months in total), will it potentially be looked down on by my firm, or even by future employers?

I don't think taking time out to prep for something as significant and competitive as the NY Bar should/could ever be viewed negatively!

Ultimately, you have the luxury to design your time as you please while having the security of having a job at the end of it, so you really could do whatever you like with it. As Jessica said, I doubt many would be interested in this tiny break in the long run.

My top advice, cheesy as it may be, is to follow your heart, do whatever brings you joy in this interim period and lead with it. I too took a break between securing my TC and beginning my LLM in Sep '21 and, although unintentional, it was the most rejuvenating and centering thing I could've done for myself in the run-up to beginning a really intense academic course.

 

[Velikilawyer123]

Thank you both, that's very helpful to know!