Comment
Is HBJ keeping on the current Manchester trainees?
@Anonymous 22 Jul 2010 3.52pm - what planet are you on? I just looked up the definition of 'moron' in the dictionary and it said 'Anonymous 22 Jul 2010 3.52pm'.
You have done no more than illegitimately draw extreme conclusions from some very general principles. Your comments are neither helpful, inspired nor any sort of received wisdom. I suspect you think you come across as wise and understanding of how the world really works. To those who have even half an iota of knowledge, you only betray your extreme ignorance.
See my comments below, inserted in your text in square brackets and come back with a sensible second draft or just keep quiet.
"Think of this as a lucky escape [One can escape at any time during a training contract, or later in one's career, by simply resigning. Training as a lawyer provides valuable skills which are highly transferrable and valued in many other professions. If the Halliwells trainees were to be kept on, their job prospects would be significantly better than they will be now. Furthermore, and put simply, a job is better than no job.]
The trainees have avoided years of worry about job security [On what basis? They would have had a minimum of two years guaranteed employment, after which time the economy is likely to be in a much better position than it is now, and until recently, job prospects for lawyers were always exceptional. It was almost guaranteed that a trainee would be kept on. I suggest you refer to previous years' retention rates. Arguably, there is always room for good lawyers, even now (agai, look at increased reterntion rates).] and wage deflation [A deflated solicitor's salary is still tremendous in comparison with that of other professions. I suggest you look at recent articles on the highest starting salaries - law is top.] due to excess supply and falling demand [In what areas? The need for litigators has been increasing exponentially]. There is no future in law unless you want to work in China or India [There will always be good deal of property, criminal, commercial work etc. in the UK. It is not legal to move to India to and practice law there unless one is indian qualified. The Chinese legal market is actually already swollen with vast numbers of UK and US lawyers. The Chinese courts are not trusted and English law still prevails for international commercial and corporate work.]
Now these trainees can turn their minds to finding a career that genuinely serves the interests of the post modern society we live in [Is that why they went for a commercial training contract? Research the term 'post-modern society'. It is now historic.].
We badly need high quality engineers [Good point. There has been a lack of emphasis on innovation which is supplied by engineers. You may keep this in your second draft], tradesmen, mechanics [Seriously doubt these last two. Any evidence for this?] teachers [This was true a year or two ago but not any lomger. We have more teachers than jobs now, by a long way. This is mostly because the government has been pumping money into PGCEs etc but also the recession led to many moving into teaching.] etc etc.
As we have past peak oil production (2004/2005) [OPEC controls oil production rates, to a greater or lesser degree, and could easily have the world producing significantly more oil overnight. It is for economic reasons only that it does not (i.e. high supply equals a lower rate per barrel for its members). Furthermore, countries such as Kazakhstan have huge supplies coming online over the next few years, more oil is being found daily (recent exapmles include the North Sea and Cornwall).] we will increasingly need farmers [We do not need farmers, that's why they don't get any money (supply and demand issue again) and they are upset that we keep buying the same stuff from European farmers much cheaper. Currently farmers get paid less per pint of milk than it cost to produce. See recent documentaries on the plight of British farming] not office workers as globalisation is reversed due to energy shortages [What energy shortages? We don't have any right now, or anticipate any in such a short period of time that it would affect someone's prospects as a trainee. Is oil going to run out, yes but there will be a replacement. The world moves on, we innovate. Consider the solar powered plane recently receiving press coverage. Wind, water, hydro, waste energy etc. Who are the lawyers who are getting into this - those who already know about energy - i.e. oil and gas lawyers, regulatory lawyers. These are huge new areas of law growing by the minute, which creates more demand for lawyers.].
Think it through [Is this advice? Is this instruction? Is this meant to come across patronising?]."
Hush now little one.
