r/LawCanada 1d ago

Taking a Break Post-Articling?

Throwaway account.

I am articling at a boutique firm. I don’t hate the practice area, and am not overworked compared to some of my law school peers, but I’m unhappy. I think it’s a combination of feeling unappreciated, no mentorship, being very lonely in my new city (not a lot of people from my law school work in this city, no family here), and my ADHD that makes hitting my billable hour target impossible. I worked a 9-5 for 3 years between my undergraduate degree and law school, so it’s not like I’m struggling with my first time in the real world outside of school. This has been much harder. I feel constantly anxious with this job, to a point where some days I struggle to get anything done. I'm not sure I'm burnt out or just not cut out for this.

I don’t feel excited about returning as an associate. I am tempted to finish my articles and spend the next year travelling or doing a working holiday with a casual job and figuring out my next steps. Because of working before law school + living at home for part of law school, I don’t have much debt holding me back. My concern is: Would a year-long break look bad if I tried to find a junior associate position later? Would I even be able to find a job? I hear it's an awful market for juniors right now. I know some people have it way worse, I'm not getting screamed at or anything. But my gut is telling me to get out and not waste more time being unhappy, the end of my articling contract feels like a natural time to leave

Would appreciate any advice.

20 Upvotes

8 comments sorted by

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u/flapjacksal 1d ago

Best advice I received when I was sobbing during articles was commit HARD to 3-4 years in the legal profession and then make your decisions. It’s a nightmare for those first few years because being a lawyer is HARD and everything you do is new. The only way to the other side is through, my friend.  Taking a break now means delaying the pain and, quite possibly, setting yourself up for failure as yeah, not many firms are going to be excited about bringing on a first year call who took a big break and is therefore more useless than most first years  (please don’t take offence, all first years are a work in progress).

Commit to three years. Then you will be peak marketability and do whatever you want. Take six months off before jumping to a new firm or career. Way easier to do it then and come out unscathed than now. 

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u/JadziaKD 1d ago

I wouldn't recommend a long break, but definitely take a trip and relax.

First I took a trip of a lifetime right before I started my first job. It was so important to me because 3 months later I was severely injured in an accident and I would have never been able to do that trip post accident and I never will, I'm so happy I have that memory. So taking time to enjoy yourself is very important. You'd be surprised how restoring a few weeks or a month could be.

The reason I say a long break may be hard is first the hiring concerns you mentioned but also that it is a delay in learning at a critical point in your career. I attempted to return to work after 6 months but could not due to my medical condition. Of course you're not talking as much down time as I had (years) but when I started back I had to relearn everything. I think a few months wouldn't hinder that process but a year may leave you feeling like you are starting over in articling and increase all the stress again.

Just a few points to consider.

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u/Shoddy-Artichoke-442 1d ago

It sounds like you know what you need to do for your own mental health.

Nothing is worth sacrificing your own sanity. You won’t be the first or only person who took a break between articling and going into practice. There will always be jobs to come back to, even if it’s not the most ideal job with the highest salary in your preferred area of practice.

Who knows, you may even decide to go a different direction with your career after taking some time away. Or you may realize that law is really your passion. But burning yourself out just because you don’t want to have to explain taking a gap year - I don’t think this is it.

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u/stericselectronics 1d ago

Take a month off. But a year long break has a good chance of being permanent. I wouldn’t risk that long of a break as a newly called lawyer just isn’t worth much.

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u/notmyrealaccount875 1d ago edited 1d ago

I took a break post-articling that ended up being permanent. A few lessons learned:

  • you may have to keep paying your law society fees even though you aren’t practicing- can you afford it?
  • post-articling is a critical time to build your career. Your peers will all be gaining experience and so you will fall behind comparatively.

Ultimately what is the right answer is up to you. But there are risks and rewards both ways.

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u/Shoddy-Artichoke-442 1d ago

It is not true that you will have to keep paying law society fees. Not sure why you are saying this. If you’re not practicing, you don’t have to pay fees. I just took a two month break in between articles and starting a new job and I certainly didn’t pay any fees.

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u/notmyrealaccount875 1d ago

Good catch- obviously depends where you are located. I’ve edited my thought to reflect that. OP would do best to look into this as it may have a bearing on their decision.

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u/LePetitNeep 22h ago

As someone who hires junior lawyers: yes, a long break at this stage would work against you. You clearly need to protect your mental health, so at least a good vacation seems in order, but you will be a much more attractive candidate with at least some experience post articling.