Any Part Time Solicitors? Can you really work 2 or 3 days a week?

[FairyFay]

I'm thinking of looking for a part time post, and would be very grateful for any advice.

I've started a thread here but I wanted to link it here as well as this is probably where most solicitors on here would see it.

thanks in advance

I read the messages on the link with interest as I am a solicitor specialising in childcare law. I am on maternity leave, having just had no 3. I went back to work 3 days a week for about 2 years after no 1 and then went back pregnant (blush) for 5 months after no 2, again 3 days a week. It's not easy, but I found it do-able. I had it in my contract that I could work from home and got the IT set up so that I could link into everything from home and had a blackberry. In practice I didn't work much from home during the day, as found needed to be in the office to see clients and work with support staff etc. It was harder because I had a long commute, from SW to East London. I had a very understanding immediate boss and as I was technically working from home, meant no one could question why I wasn't in the office at 9am, or was leaving at 4.30pm. My partner did quite a lot of collection from childminder's on my workdays and taking to school, which was quite stressful for him, but I think if he hadn't been able to give this support it would've been impossible (ie stuck at court at 5pm and children need collecting). Also we had one day free childcare from granny.
I still ended up doing work in the evenings, which I found knackering after putting children to be, taking calls from clients/professionals while in sandpit in the park on 'days off', checking/sending emails on days off (stressful with small children trying to climb on your computer) and getting stressed about court dates on my 'days off' and trying to change childcare around. Not much money left after paid for commute/childcare.
Good points were feeling like a 'proper grown up' again, being able to read paper on the tube and occasionally even going out for lunch.
I couldn't have done the job in 2 days and I did end up doing more than 3 days if I was busy. I had good admin and assistant support at the office and was part of really supportive team where someone could always cover my stuff if necessary. without that would've been really hard.
really not sure i want to go back after a year this time though.
good luck whatever you decide

Thanks, I'm really grateful to hear people's experiences, good and bad.

Have you thought about Professional Support? There is a PSL network in the City where PSLs get together regularly - many of them are part-time. Working in PS means your hours are mostly 9-5 except in emergency rather than the norm.

before dd arrived I was going back full-time - then along came the adorable bundle of babyness and I negotiated down to 4 days a week. I am still doing the same job - in fact have more cases than I did before I left . I have to leave at 4.55 every night so that I can catch the one bus that gets me to her nursery in time. I do feel immense pressure to "perform" and to finish off work at home.
It is especially hard when your wee one is sick - I have only been back since mid-January and dd has caught one bug after another - I find that really stressful and have found myself reading case reports to her by way of working and entertaining small person at the same time - she thought it was hilarious and clapped her hands with glee
I constantly feel that I need to catch up and don't have enough days in the week. So much so that I am currently looking to employ a paralegal for my team to take some of the pressure off.
But as lilyfire said - just getting the opportunity to read your book on the bus and feeling like an adult is great!