Any solicitors out there for some advice

[Justkeepswimming91]

I work in a city law firm and qualified September 2019. It took me a little while to find a TC so I am now 29. My DH and I are thinking about starting TTC and I am off the pill. Has anyone else gone on mat leave and come back at only 1.5 to 2 years PQE?

(In an ideal world I would have waited but I am little concerned about fertility)

Yes! I qualified in Feb 2017, went on mat leave in Jan 2018. Returned full time in October 2018. I've just gone on mat leave number 2.

I'm not at a city firm, I'm at a regional, but I have never had it used against me in any way that I was going on maternity leave as an NQ. My boss has never been anything BUT supportive (as a family man himself). I've never felt I get less challenging work, my case load has always been equal to that of anyone who hadn't had any leave.

Also plenty of other people in my department have done similar.

What is the culture of your firm like? I think answers to your musings may lie there.

@ComeOnEileen11

That's great to hear!

The firm I am at vary from department to department as to how supportive they are. I work in a techy area rather than corporate or litigation. Most women at my firm go on mat leave about 3 years PQE.

I would hoping to go back four days which others do but then in an ideal world do one of those days from home. I am hoping that when this crisis is over that just won't be an issue anymore as we are all wfh now.

@ComeOnEileen11

Also thank you for replying and congratulations on your baby!!

I didn't have a baby straight after qualifying but I did have a baby within a year of joining a city firm. I was terrified of telling them. They seemed to take it okay. I'm back from maternity leave now. I know other women in my team who have had babies and within a year been promoted - although they are c5/6 years PQE.

I did just have a team meeting where we were discussing furloughing etc. My firm won't be offering any NQ jobs this year and training contracts will be put back a year. It was also said that any further furloughing would probably be on the basis of PQE - starting at the junior end. Probably not want to hear but worth bearing in mind - we are in litigation and are being hit by lack of new instructions at the moment.

@kirinm thank you!

Our firm has furloughed virtually all support staff now but has continued with NQ jobs and promotions. I'm hopeful that now people are heading back to work things may pick up slightly even if not back to 100%