More Children or Law Career????? Help

[Saira123]

Hi All

Im 28 and put my career plans on hold to have a baby who is now 7 month old. I want to work which is quite hard at the moment. As i cant seem to find a job in the field im qualified in!!! Plus with childcare costs its not actually worth me working at all until maybe shes about 3/4 years old - when shes at state nursery almost going to school.

So im in dilema should i just complete the family and have another baby???? that way when they are both at nursery/school in about 4/5 years time - Ill have more time to myself and can concentrate on career. or should i try to concentrate on getting a job now as there may be too much of a gap in my work history - which may not appeal to employers in years to come.

Basically Im torn between the idea of working delaying more children or attempting to work now and delay working/career. any advice.

ps.Done a law degree, looking for a possible law traineeship - which is like gold dust. finding one part time would be impossible.

any Solicitors out there with advice???????

You won't get a part time training contract, and the nature of being a trainee is that you are the person who gets dumped on at the last minute/required to stay late, etc (particularly at the larger firms).

If it was me, I'd have all the babies you want and then look at qualifying. However, have you done the LPC yet? There are time limits within which you can use either a law degree or an LPC pass I think, so you'd need to be clear on those too.

Or look for a more flexible career (secret option three that I wish I'd considered more before I went into law).

hi RibenaBerry

ive done the diploma in legal practice here in scotland so i have another 2 years to find a traineeship.

Is being a solicitor worth it in the long run?? with the work life balance etc

Not a solicitor myself, but some of the ones I know seem to have a great work/life balance, e.g. well-paid but still able to pick the kids up from school and take decent holidays. Don't know how long it took them to get to that point in their careers mind you!

Work life balance etc as a solicitor depends hugely on where you work and what sort of practice you have. Certainly none of the many solicitors I work with are able to pick the kids up from school on a regular basis.

Bear in mind the Scottish system is quite different to England & Wales so advice from say my perspective may not directly apply.