"I have five years' PQE in commercial property, but I was made redundant in December last year and am finding it very difficult to find work – primarily I believe because I worked for a local authority.

"Although the quality of work which I have undertaken has been exceptional (regeneration, development and transactional projects all worth tens of millions of pounds), I have found that I am not considered by agents/recruiters or law firms when applying for commercial property roles, both in-house and private practice.

"Having worked in a local authority for eight years, I am aware that solicitors/barristers working within the public sector are seldomly held in high regard and I think this prejudice may be compounding my position.

"I no longer have the desire to work within the public sector (I want to work for a pure commercial entity), but should I continue to knock on doors which are firmly shut?"

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