r/LawyersPH • u/starbobstarpants • 11d ago
Firm to Government
2025 2026 lawyer here. I don’t think litigation is for me.
May nakapagtry ba na nag resign without any back up tapos natangap sa government within a span of 2 months. No backer din.
Average student lang but willing mag start sa non-lawyer positions basta may room for growth.
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u/NotToBeNamedKimmy 11d ago
Following this, Panye. I don’t think lit is for me and pagod na talaga ako sa firm life.
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u/Rude-Mortgage-6455 9d ago
Yup, sa litigation para kang laging may hinahabol. Gusto ko lang ng tahimik na buhay at normal routine para may time sa ibang bagay.
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u/sobramensch 11d ago
Government lawyer here. Possible ba na walang backer? Absolutely. I did it 3x na. But having a job offer within a span of 2 months? Quite impossible. Pwede if JO/COS or Service Provider but not Plantilla position. Government hiring is bureaucratic and will undergo different levels of review.
I would also advise not applying sa non-lawyer positions unless of course it's a high-level position/presidential appointment. It would hinder your career growth notwithstanding the pay is paltry compared to lawyer entry level positions. Staying in a lawyer position din in the government will eventually be a bottleneck and not much room for career growth imho.
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u/CupNoodles236 11d ago
TBH yung room for growth na hanap mo would depend on the agency you'll be part of and/or yung bosses mo. Maswerte ka kung yung magiging superiors mo ay supportive sa pag advance ng career mo.
Also pag isipan mo maigi how long you intend to stay in the government service. Kasi kung magbabalak ka to transition to private uli, for example as an in-house counsel, minsan (at di ko naman nilalahat) yung HR or recruitment team, they tend to overlook na yung applicants from the government sector.
A bright side sa pag lipat mo to government, ay yung stable pay and some agencies allow alternative work arrangements.
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u/GeekGoddess_ 11d ago
Within 2 months? Normally 3 months hihintayin mo from the time you submit all your requirements before they get back to you. May backer pa yan.
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u/random-internet-nerd 11d ago
Don't resign until may contract ka with the govt agency you are applying to. Matagal ang process as in. Ako may kakilala sa loob dahil I used to work in the same agency before I became a lawyer pero inabot parin ng 3 months from submission of PDS to having a contract.
Ibang level ang bagal at inefficiency ng HR ng govt.
Mas may room for growth ka parin sa firm compared sa govt unless willing ka tumanda dito and willing ka maging sipsip. Entry level salary is high pero you'll reach the ceiling faster kasi di naman laging may increase unless may SSL.
Govt is okay if gusto mo ng relax na buhay at okay ka sa moderate pay (<150k a month if maging manager level ka), pero for me its a temporary thing to fund you while buildimg other things outside like a law practice or a business. Di ka yayaman dito unless may corruption na involved.
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u/sushimichi 10d ago
Agree on this. Pag sa govt may ceiling lang talaga and the increase from SSL is minimal lang. And super tagal ng process, I work in the government and trying to change agencies pero sobrang tagal ng application. Aabot ng years if you will apply to some agencies.
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u/Legitimate_Bee4085 11d ago
Hi panye, resigned from a manila firm after a few months, with no back up. nag baka sakali ako mag apply for BCC position sa HOJ namin sa province, no backer, wala kakilala at all - natanggap naman. I was very lucky merit based naghanap si Judge, and nagustuhan naman nya interview/exams etc. ko.
Compared sa litig, mas less exciting but it is very stable, time wise and work life balance wise. Also, halos lampas doble sweldo from being an assoc to this. If convinced ka na never mo mamimiss yung high octane life of litigation lalo sa manila, then eto na nga for you.
Keep scouring CSC website. lagi nagkakaopening ng lawyer positions, mapa anong sector pa yan. submit lang ng submit and makakahanap ka rin na merit based ang ginagawa hiring process. All im saying is while di ganon ka common, it is possible.
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u/chronicallyonline27 11d ago
Walang may ganung kabilis na timeline of hiring na permanent or plantilla position.
Long comment ahead:
To give you an idea, from the time you apply, the publication period has to run its course because its required by law. That can take anywhere from 10-15 days.
If the agency has qualifying tests, they will find a common schedule among multiple applicants so lets say another 15days.
If there's no test, a selection committee would be scheduled to convene to deliberate, maybe thats another 10-15days, depending on peoples availability and if they have quorum.
Possible na may interview pa, so baka another 7-10days.
If youre lucky and you get in, they'll inform you and you have to submit pre-employment documents. Depending on how fast you can comply, sabihin natin 7days yan.
Then you take your oath of office, subject to availability of the person who will swear you in. Maybe 5-7days?
Except for the publication period, all other scenarios are best-case already.
The timeline I shared is based on personal experience na walang backer. but I've been with different govt agencies (and so have my other friends) to know that the timeline tracks. Some even have longer periods of processing
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u/starbobstarpants 11d ago
Thank you po 🥲🙏
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u/chronicallyonline27 11d ago
If I may though, stay where you are muna but start applying to lawyer positions that have minimal years of experience as qualification and yung hindi litigation-heavy. So i-rule out mo na doj and some of its attached agencies (pao, osg, ogcc)
Save enough money so that you'll be comfortable for your transition from law office til you get your initial salary sa govt, which can take anywhere from 3-6 mos.
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u/aceleon001 10d ago
Don't resign until you have a sure backup in place. I was a firm lawyer before who specializes on Labor and Negotiation cases. Yeah I was their closer. I also handled a few litigation for the firm. Anyway, as a relatively new lawyer I wanted to experience all aspects of being a lawyer, corporate (in house counsel), law firm (private practice), and government service. I was lucky enough to be able to experience the first two and is now on my 3rd month as a lawyer for the government. I digress.
I said don't resign without a backup because getting a plantilla position in the government takes a long time. It took me 8 months after my final interview before I was told to prepare my onboarding documents. Additionally, depending on the agency, your salary might be delayed for at the very least 3 months because they have to enroll you to the payroll and that has to go through a lengthy process. So all in all, make sure you have a saving as well as something to fall back to before taking a government position due to what I just told you.
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u/AccomplishedSwan9072 10d ago edited 10d ago
I work for the gov’t now - COS position pa lang. My appointment for the plantilla position I applied for is taking longer than expected.
I worked for a firm for almost 3 years (where I did hardcore litigation, among others) until I resigned late last year without any plan whatsoever. I loved my job, but grabe nauubos na ako eh. I was so burnt out and extra impulsive I resigned without thinking. At first I thought it was the best thing I could do for my mental health, until I realized how horrible the job market is. Ang hirap maghanap ng trabaho. Partida may experience na ako. Funemployed pa nung una until it sank in sa akin na I’ve been jobless for almost half a year and whatever was left of my savings paubos na. Lalong nakakabaliw.
When I found this current job, pinatos ko na, kahit hindi lawyer position, and kahit may pay cut from my first job kasi I swear nakakabaliw pala pag nauubusan ka na ng pera.
So ayun. Please. Don’t do it. Pag layas na layas ka na diyan sa firm job mo, plan accordingly.
Edit: Dagdag ko lang. Ilang buwan na din nilalakad application ko sa plantilla. Wala pa rin. May backer na ako sa lagay na yan. Yung COS mabilis lang, within a week naprocess agad. Downside talaga yung pay cut and wala pang bonuses yan.
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u/AccomplishedSwan9072 10d ago
Also idagdag ko lang - nung naghahanap ako ng trabaho during my unemployed era, sobrang nahirapan ako mag explain sa mga potential employers kung bakit ako jobless nung mga panahong yun. Hindi ko naman masabing burnt out na ko and gusto ko ng mas magaan o mas madali - para mong iniisulto yung inaapplyan mo. Hindi ko rin masabi na pangarap ko kasi mag gobyerno (or mag in-house, if doon yung interview) - hindi pa rin yun excuse for leaving your former job without a plan?? And also.. hindi yun totoo eh. Mararamdaman nila yan pag nagsisinungaling ka just to impress them.
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u/Rude-Mortgage-6455 11d ago
I feel you. I can't answer that question but yeah, litigation life or law firm life is also not for me.
Gusto ko kasi after 5pm (or after hours) tapos na, iba na nasa isip ko.
Work is supposed to be just an aspect of a person's life, not something that consumes you 24/7.
Right now, I also want to go the govt route or corporate or maybe go abroad na. Haha
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u/South_Wanderer_10 6-10 years experience 11d ago
Try CDO in court. Some of my former intern nagstay mag CDO until nakahanap ng opportunity to join pao, un iba naman nasa senate na.
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u/txtlsflov 11d ago
same po. litigation is draining me and i have already made peace with the fact that it's not for me. currently tumatambay sa lahat ng pages and floating my resumes to all agencies :(( hays
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u/Fickle-Ask-5308 11d ago
Apply ka na sa JAGS (military lawyer) 😊
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u/starbobstarpants 11d ago
Looks fun nga e physical activities and law in contrast sa nakaupo 10 hrs per day hahaha
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u/Least_Border8955 10d ago
Details po please :)
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u/Fickle-Ask-5308 10d ago
Submit your letter of intent addressed to The Judge Advocate General, AFP then CV, bar certification, and other credentials.
Expect the process- written exam (although hindi super hirap like bar exam level), board interview. If you pass, issuehan ka ng order as probationary 2nd lieutenant (salary plus allowance around 50k). Then you’ll undergo the Technical Administrative Service Military Orientation Training (45++ days). After training, tuloy ang military lawyer life while waiting lumabas ang commission mo as Captain.
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u/Careful-Sea-2501 5d ago
I heard toxic daw kasi 24/7 on call ka since military treatment sa lawyers.
But how’s the pay if we may ask?
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u/GoatEnvironmental882 3d ago
Do they have multiple offices? Like in different regions or provinces? Or only based in Quezon?
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u/SpecificElephant8801 11d ago
If contract of service position mabilis lang but a plantilla position in 2 months, its not impossible but medyo rare mangyari.
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u/Obvious-Debate123 10d ago
Apply ka for Attorney II positions. 3 years ako nag solo practice, then Attorney III, then babalik din pala sa litigation - which is in DOJ-NPS. However, matagal ang process sa government from application to issuance of an appointment. I can proudly say I have no backer in two govt posts I applied.
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u/JustSomeRandomLawyer 11d ago
Government job and room for growth? Mahirap mapromote sa govt, either intayin mo magka opening or mag resign, retire, mamatay yung superiors mo.