Return to work as a solicitor 3/4 day week

[Yapyapyapping]

Hi all,

I am a first time mum and returning to work in June this year when my little one turns 1. I work for a large international law firm and did this full time before baby was born. The hours are long, and the work is demanding, technical, and very niche. I was 1 year PQE when i went on maternity leave.

My husband has his own business and works 6/7 evenings/nights per week.

I am currently deciding whether to return to work 3.5 days per week or 4. Most people at my firm that have children do 4 days minimum and all that really means is that they have the same amount of work as a full time associate crammed into 4 days. I am also unsure if a request for 3.5 days will even be accepted. Not withstanding the fact that other NQs will be way ahead of me now in terms of progression.

My little one will be doing 2/3 full days at nursery with the potential for 1 day with grandparents. However, they do not live very local either (30 minutes away) so this will mean going there the night before and sleeping over so i can commute into the office the following day but not having to worry about being back on time for a nursery pickup. My commute is also quite long (about 1-1.5 hours each way).

The current policy at my firm is that you must do 3 days in the office if you are full time and 2 days if you do a 4 day week. However i will really struggle to do 2 days in if i am on a 4 day week as i will not make it back on time for nursery pick ups. I am considering a 3 day wfh agreement and a 4 day week but not sure if this will be approved.

My husband is unable to do nursery drop off and pickups as he is unable to drive due to being diagnosed with epilepsy in his early 20s. This also means that he cannot take on childcare alone or be sleep deprived as this could trigger a seizure.

Financially speaking and from a progression aspect i would prefer to do a 4 day week. However, given my current situation, will this be too much? Are there any other lawyers working for regional or international firms that do under 4 days and does this work?

Hire help.

Taxi, for your husband to fetch the kids, nanny to help him look after them.
Do not give up your career

A nanny may be a better childcare option for you than nursery and inconvenient grandparents. You must be aware that a half day is unrealistic in this line of work, but also that it is not 9-5: there will be times you are required to work additional hours to complete a job. So you need ultra flexible childcare OR a different job in a sector more amenable to regular hours (in house or public sector)

I agree that a half day is very unrealistic in this line of work. Not sure why I even considered this an option as i will almost always go over whilst taking a larger paycut! I think i will try and get a 4 day week and try my luck with the 3 days wfh. In house is definitely something i have thought about. I forgot to mention i live up North and nannys are not as common here. I only found two in my area and they are a lot more expensive than a nursery and childminder. Although if you have multiple children it would make more sense to get a nanny.

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