Simon Broomer Managing Director of CareerBalance talks about how lawyers can change career. Simon is a Qualified Lawyer who re-trained as a Career Counsellor and Coach. 

A short course lasting between 2 days and a few weeks, might be all you need to set you on an alternative career path, nail that dream job – or even change your life.

Sometimes a short course can circumvent the need for a second degree.

The government wants to turn career guidance into a regulated profession. CareerBalance backs this initiative. Simon Broomer, CareerBalance’s Managing Director gives his view:

We think that women in the UK have come a long way since the suffragettes fought a century ago for the right for women to vote. However, reports from the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Office for National Statistics confirm that women are being paid between 16.4% and 12.2% less than men. Perhaps we need another health dose of Suffragette-inspired fighting spirit.

Ever thought of working with your hands or wanted to see your designs gracing a red carpet? Two major initiatives are transforming career options in the British jewellery industry.

The founders of Notting Hill and Islington-based FRAE yoghurt decided there was more to life than a career in the law and instead chose… frozen yoghurt.

The seemingly elusive answer to work life balance can be found in small, subtle changes, apparently.

In a recent session at The School of Life on How to Balance Work with Life participants were asked to write headlines summing up their lives.  Responses included ‘Pressurised Manager Desperate For Dating Time’ and ‘Professional Hits The Wall Due To Deadline Pressure’.

Sound familiar?

The average time it takes to find a job is longer than it used to be. But here’s the good news. The state of the UK job market is far better than most people think, says Simon Broomer, Managing Director of CareerBalance Ltd, the Career Planning & Job Search specialists.

The latest Labour Market statistics from the Office for National Statistics show that there are 29.16 million people in employment in the UK. “Why should we be disheartened?” asks Simon. 

Thanks both to advances in technology and the recent economic turbulence, the way we work is undergoing radical change. A growing number of people are deciding to go it alone.

A quick online search yields a multitude of services offered by sole traders and small companies - from virtual assistants, to PR consultants, editors, coaches, interior designers, recruitment consultants and bespoke tailors. Across the country, the explosion of networking and breakfast groups like NRG and SpeedNetworking is testament to the increasing number of self-employed people ranging from digital marketeers to defence experts.

Many lawyers in their 40s face a difficult predicament.

As partners, they are typically earning well. But between the demands of meeting fee targets, managing and inspiring people, long hours, taking risks and bringing in new business, their responsibilities are unrelenting. Against a backdrop of fierce competition, firms are being forced to take on more work for less money. For lawyers who are not passionate about what they do, the job can be even more stressful.

Many lawyers love their jobs. But many others want to break free and crave more fulfilment. One 40-something lawyer we recently saw at CareerBalance sat down and said: “If I don’t stop, it will kill me”.