Leaving corporate law

[FTMSunnyGiraffe]

Posting for traffic. I'm a first time mum, I have a 16 month old and work in the City as a solicitor in a niche area of corporate law. I'm really struggling since going back to work. It was hard enough before the baby but now it just feels impossible. I work about 50 hours a week at least, my time is never mine, I have to log in after putting DS to bed, constantly on call etc. I get maybe 6 hours of sleep on a good night.

Any mums on here that have left to do something else? Did you regret it? The usual route seems to go in house but I had a few interviews with clients in my area of experience I could go to and honestly the hours are still bad, 8-7 and only WFH one day a week. It would actually be worse than my current firm.

I know some become PSLs but they tend to have 10-20 year of experience so I would need a lot more years of experience before I could get into that.

Never went back. International finance at magic circle firm I worked day and night.

Took 7 years off as sahm Dh supported us. Set up my own business totally different area of law but still law last year I out earned Dh.

Why are you putting DS to bed if you’re the higher earner? If DH is the lower earner then he does that and most of the domestic grind and you focus on your job.

This is how men would think.

Government lawyer here. And have been for my entire professional life. Yeah the money is terrible but the quality of work is superb and the work life balance great. The culture is such that you never have to pretend you don’t have kids and disappearing for this and that is always fine. Highly recommend.

I became a PSL at 6PQE. 9-5, low stress, lovely team.

I’m on mat leave and will be going back 3.5 days, 1 day in the office.

Highly recommend!

Edited to add I earn over £120k FTE. I took a big pay cut from fee earning but it’s been 100% worth it for the better life!

How much do they pay you and what type of pay cut will you take?

Yes, this. Your DH needs to make your life easier particularly I you are being tied to London for him and picking up the costs to enable what he does.

Not all in house roles are 8-7 at least not consistently but maybe this is the casein your sub specialism particularly if in house direct equivalent means investment banking. What do you earn now and what do you “need” to earn? That will drive options.

Can you go in-house?

Consider in house compliance. I earn more than double what you do and WFH nearly every day. I don’t live in London or the SE either as there’s no need to.

I still manage to do all the nursery and school runs. I’ve never had a better work life balance.

Sorry but if DH is a low earner and it is all on you, you are not tied to London for his job. No other advice than that.

If your DH is a low earner then it’s a pity to be tied to London because of his job (unless you have other ties eg family). I can see being tied to London if he was earning loads but if you’re the main earner then it’s different.

Life in the regions can be much more affordable. Eg loads of government lawyers and good regional firms with lower key corporate departments in Leeds for example. Corporate lawyers certainly work part time in my firm!

Hi lovely you will work this out somehow someway.
If you take a 2nd mat leave what some people do is save the extra money so they don’t have to go back. And some firms whatever their policy, don’t always enforce the paying back.
Can DH step up more? Can you get more help at home?
I am a PSL in the city. You absolutely do not need to be 10y+. Speak to some recruiters (they are all over LinkedIn).
It is a bad period when they are small and no sleep. Brutal. I promise it will get better. Mine are older and I am now gearing up again.