Variety is the spice of life for barrister on the move

Nick Vamos says how his decision to give up advocacy paid off with varied work

For Nick Vamos, joining the solicitor's office seven months ago was 'definitely a good career move'.

The 31-year-old barrister had spent a year as a tenant at 1 Inner Temple Lane, specialising in criminal defence and prosecution.

'I was doing quite well in my practice but I found the sacrifices I had to make in terms of free time and social life were heavy.

I thought, if I started to do very well, those sacrifices would become too great, and if I didn't, I wouldn't want to continue because what is the point of being mediocre?

'I can't pretend that the salary, holidays and pension weren't a very good reason to join.

At the bar, I was 31 and didn't have a pension which was very scary.

However, the work is interesting enough to keep me on my toes and, while I accepted that by joining Customs I would be giving up advocacy, there is the prospect of a new advocacy unit being set up within the prosecution group, as well as the possibility of moving onto the investigative teams in the future.'

Since he started, he has been handling fast track cases - the less serious drug offences, a bit of excise and VAT.

While he only applied to Customs, he sees the opportunity to move around Whitehall through the Government Legal Service as a bonus.

He pointed out that people at the bar whose main interest is advocacy might not find the work fulfilling.

'But if you're looking for interesting criminal work and opportunities to explore different areas, plus a structured, stable working environment, then it is definitely the place to come,' he says.