"I recently secured a two-year training contract with a magic circle firm. Last year I completed the LPC, and I am currently taking a year out before starting my TC in September 2010.

"However, I am starting to wonder whether I might not have been better taking the New York Bar (which you can do if you have a Law LLB) and then applying to a US law firm to become an associate. The pay would be three times the amount I would get in London, the New York Bar takes 3-4 months rather than the year-long LPC, I would get to live in New York, and I would not have to spend two years doing a training contract before becoming an associate.

"This route is not highly publicised, but surely it makes much more sense to bypass your training contract (which most solicitors seems to dismiss as two years of photocopying and admin) and go straight to earning more money. If we are going to work hard in the City, we may as well work hard in New York earning more money…"

Click on 'Comment' below to post your advice in confidence. And remember, Career Clinic is only as good as the questions we receive, so email your career conundrums to [email protected].