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Aspiring lawyer, any advice please

6 replies

Marabou · 12/01/2011 20:49

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum to seek advice on, but I noticed that there were a few solicitors on the board and I was hoping to get some thoughts on my dilemma..

I'm currently 22 weeks pregnant with my first baby and currently doing two jobs working fulltime in a non-legal role and part-time for a publishing company doing legal research. I completed a law degree last summer and came pretty close to securing a training contract with a City firm last autumn, but unfortunately I wasn't picked after the final assessment centre Sad.

Now, having been unsuccesful at securing a training contract, I'm wondering if I should be applying for one now that I'm pregnant and clearly showing or if I should wait until the baby is born. Of course I'm well aware of how tuff the competition is out there, so perhaps I shouldn't even worry about this, as the chances of getting a interview in the first place are very slim. But I was hoping someone could give me some insight as to what the general attitudes within City firms are towards mature applicants, who already have children, or who like myself, are about to have them.

In an interview they couldn't (or at least shouldn't) of course formally ask me about it, but I'm afraid showing up at an interview heavily pregnant would just automatically disqualify me in their eyes.. At the same time I wouldn't want to wait almost another year again to apply, as I'm not exactly getting any younger Wink and I know I will not be able to add any value to my CV whilst on maternity leave.

Also, while I ultimately want to work in the private sector and in a more commercial setting, I am also concerned about how I could realistically begin my career in such an environment and work such long hours with a young child. Any comments on this as well would be much appreciated.

Oh, and sorry about the rantConfused...

OP posts:
britgirl1982 · 13/01/2011 18:43

I'm currently on ML from a City firm, having got pregnant within two months of qualifying...

In my experience, mature applicants are welcomed. Provided you're willing to start at the bottom and get given the donkey work by associates (since trainees invariably get the rubbish stuff nobody else wants to do) and be patronised on a fairly regular basis (by, for example, the lawyers on the other side, who will throw in as many technical words as possible the moment they realise you're a trainee) then I don't think you're at any disadvantage simply because you're older.

Being pregnant/a mum, however, is a different matter. City trainees have to be in the office whenever your supervisor/partner tells you to be in the office. Some departments have fairly child-friendly hours, but a lot (corporate, banking just to name two) most definitely do not. Partners or senior associates with children are able, to some extent, to tailor their schedules to suit their family life, but as a trainee you are at the bottom of the pile: you are told when you can go home and what time you need to be in the next day. Failure to do this will get you a bad reputation, annoy other trainees/associates who have to pick up your work, and minimise any chance you have of qualifying. The problem is that you will almost definitely have to work in one of these life-sucking departments: my firm insists that every trainee does a seat (a 6m placement) in corporate, for example. Hours are also often irregular (you'll get weeks of working until midnight, and then a week of finishing at 5.30pm), making childcare a nightmare. You'll also have the obligatory 'networking' drinks and events in the evenings. Aligning all this with being pregnant/having a baby is really really hard both physically, practically and emotionally.

In my experience, City firms are against people becoming mums in general (other than when they've already made partner...). It got to the point at my firm that I was embarrassed walking around with a bump: I got so many stares, and so many hurtful comments that I avoided moving around the office as much as possible. Obviously that's just my experience and you may well be very lucky, but I felt so unwelcome there I would never return.

I realise that this is all totally negative and I don't want to put you off if this is truly what you want. If it is, then go for it - you may be pleasantly surprised.

One solution which springs to mind is applying somewhere other than the City. Many regional firms offer TCs and will probably be a lot more amenable to a mum. They'll also have better (by which I mean more regular) hours. Public sector places like the CPS also offer TCs (I think) and they might be worth investigating. The money's nowhere near as good, but it's a trade-off which you might consider worthwhile.

If you're dead-set on the City, though, it might be worth talking to HR of the firms you're interested in (over the phone so they can't see the bump). On a no names basis you could explain your position and ask if there would be any solutions (eg ensuring that you didn't have to work in the transactional departments with the worst hours). Worth a shot.

Sorry I can't be more positive: hopefully someone will come on and tell you it'll all be great. What you want to achieve is probably possible, but it'll be tough.

Sorry also about the length of (and the possible ranting in) this post, but hope it helps in some way..

britgirl1982 · 13/01/2011 18:50

Oh and there's a 'careers clinic' discussion on legalweek.com about a girl who was deciding whether or not to get pregnant before her TC - might be worth searching for since it has opinions from a number of different people.

weaselbudge · 17/01/2011 23:32

I worked at a MC firm and unfort I agree entirely with Brit girl. However one of my supervisers did manage to do her MC training contract and qualify into corporate dept by having a live-in nanny (her dh was wealthy enough to pay for this).You could also do it if you have a hubby with regular working hours so that he has ultimate responsibility for the child care after 5.30pm.

superbean · 20/01/2011 14:15

I'm a 9 year pqe lawyer. I am on maternity leave and currently struggling to even get my employer to consider flexible working. I am nearly 36 so am fairly well advanced in my career. Unfortunately Britgirl is pretty much right, but don't be fooled into thinking regional firms are that much better. The only place I think is better is the public sector, but not a great option unless you want to do that type of work.

Is it too late for you to pursue a career in medicine? GPs seem to be much better able to mix a career with children than any lawyers that I know!

Mandy21 · 21/01/2011 08:26

Just wanted to say that I'm a solicitor (with 3 children) in a top 50 firm but in the regions, my sister (has no children yet) is an Associate at an MC firm. She is in corporate recovery and as the others have said, unless you have a live-in nanny, and are happy not to see your child / children for several days at a time and a very understanding husband, I don't think qualification into a corporate / transaction based team is a possibility. Whilst you might get a training contract (and my experience of law firms is that everyone values mature students and the additional skills they can bring to the table) actually sustaining that life style even for the 2 year training contract would be extremely hard. My sister was obliged to do an overseas seat for 6 months too.

I on the other hand work 3 days a week and have set hours - I need to leave at a particular time but have to be set up at home so I can work in the evenings / my days off if I need to (I'm in Commercial Litigation which can be unpredictable). However, I only asked for this "flexible" working after being with the firms for 4 years - once they knew me (and my work ethos etc). I think my firm is one of the most progressive on flexibility, most of the other big firms don't like you doing any less than 4 days, and even then, most places will only consider it once you have your foot in the door, I don't know of anyone who has been recruited on a 3 day week.

Like others have suggested, its worth phoning a few firms and I would certainly apply - but consider firms outside of the City too.

Good luck (with the training contracts and being pregnant)!

BlackSwan · 21/01/2011 08:41

Just to add that working in an in-house legal team in the City is no answer either. Worked in my dept over 3 years and got very inflexible response to flex working request post mat-leave. I'm over 10 years PQE, very experienced and acknowledged as an asset - but still no joy. Have chucked it in. If you're not prepared to work 'male' hours, you are considered a burden.

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