How should I play this situation at work?

Hi all (Please forgive the typos, it’s late at night where I am!)

I have a career dilemma, of which I would greatly appreciate your opinions as to my next move.

I am a graduate doing a postgraduate law conversion qualification course (GDL) which will set the groundwork for me becoming a qualified lawyer one day. None of this is really focused in the issue I have per se, but the behaviour of my boss at work is the issue in which I really need some assistance in addressing.

Ever since I told him that I was attending law school part time to begin a career in law, he has become quite sarcastic and discouraging about my ambitions, even though the organisation I work for is a national regulator and consequently has ample influence in the legal profession. I appreciate fully that I work in the operations department and that I must train to get the requisite qualifications to work in/anywhere near the legal department, but every second word or comments he utters about my career goals and ambitions, are usually negative and try to imply to me that I am wasting my time with my course. When I was not studying at law school, he seemed to let me be and was quite apathetic to my existence in all honesty. I am particularly concerned by his attitude as everyone else I have encountered (including my previous boss at the same company who I had a love/hate relationship with) has been surprisingly supportive. I know the course and career path I am embarking upon is difficult- nobody needs to tell me that twice. But I would appreciate more support from my immediate superior at work, which does not seem to be forthcoming. So I am thinking of ditching my ‘honesty in communication approach’ (a motto that my organisation has ironically adopted) and telling him that I have dropped out of my law course, so that things can at least return to the status quo where he was not so negative towards me. My reasoning behind this is that it will allow some heat to be taken off myself from him, hence allowing me full focus to concentrate on my course and my job. The downfall of this situation, however, is that if any genuine and worthwhile legal work experience opportunities come up at work, I would not be endorsed, as my boss would now have assumed that I have ceased all interest in developing a legal career. What do you guys think? And, by the way, if you guys have any better ideas for dealing with my boss, please share them with me, as I am in dire need of inspiration right now!

Now listen to me. You are giving up way too much of yourself to an "EMPLOYER". I will not suggest you go to his superior, that is of coarse unless you have documentation and witnesses. Can you perhaps try not divulging your personal information and schedule? I understand you need to apprise the boss of you availability, so outsmart the poor thing (I say this because of the threat that he views you as) Before Your next term, put in for schedule change a month prior. Be creative with your reason for request. (But keep it honest, it’s all about the wording, vague is good) Above all, KEEP YOUR BUSINESS TO YOURSELF, THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF LIFES EASIEST TEST YOU WILL HAVE TO GO THROUGH, KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN, PLOW THROUGH. It just seems you care too much about what their opinion is, an opinion, frankly, that they may not have developed except for the fact that you invited them in. No employer has an opinion on the employee that just does their work, period. No chatting.No socializing. No letting your guard down. It feels like you need to take stock in how you have contributed to the situation. I am not suggesting it is your fault, but you sound very inexperienced with understanding personalities and situational conflict. Bottom line. No one can argue with you unless you open your mouth. This probably won’t help, except, maybe, hopefully, you will reevaluate your contribution to the problem. After all we can only control ourselves. NOTHING ELSE! Now go on and good luck! (and, for god’s sake, SHUT UP!)