returning to work as property lawyer after two years out - think I've forgotten everything!

[tiredfeet]

I'm returning to work as a solicitor in a property team after two years out from practising (I quit my last job as my boss was awful, and then went on to have ds (now 7 months). Really worrried I will have forgotten everything, which isn't helped by DS deciding sleep is for the weak at the minute. Any tips/ suggestions on how I can refresh my memory so I don't sound too clueless on my return in a weeks time? I haven't given property law a thought in the last two years, and rather stupidly I got rid of all my property law textbooks when I was going through my 'I never want to practise law again' phase. I really need to be back up to speed as the team are busy and desperate for me to start.

can you ask them to send you copies of PLC practice notes in your area "so you can ensure you are up to speed with recent developments" (a-hem). They must know you have been out, so sure they would rather you did the reading on your time than theirs!
In any event it will all come flooding back once you get back into deals I am sure.
Good luck!

I work in a completely different area but faced the same issues, how was I going to get back up to speed and what about everything that had happened while I was away. Well it worked out fine - yes the first few weeks were a bit difficult but people are well aware you've been on leave and do cut you some slack. In fact go right ahead and state it at the start of meetings with someone new while emphasizing you're now back in.

I do cringe thinking back on one particular meeting where I had no clue what was going on and didn't raise points I should have but this was only 3 weeks in. My boss actually apologised to me later saying he shouldn't have sent me there on my own and we sorted it out over the next month or so.

I'd say it took me about 3 months to get back into the swing of things. Plus of course there's adjusting to all the outside-work changes - nursery dropoff, pickup etc.

The key is your statement that "the team are busy and desperate for me to start" -- so it sounds it like they will support you. Bear in mind that even if you're a bit slow to start, for them it's miles easier to bring you back onboard then to introduce someone completely new.

Thanks for the reassurance. Feel quite nervous!
I have tried suggesting they send me some stuff but I think they are so busy they are just not getting round to it.

Is there some kind of conference you could attend? Or professional development seminars - maybe as part of a KIT day?

I'm in the same position (although almost 3 years out), and have done an Ilex practice update. They're a bit basic, but bill themselves as being suitable for solicitors returning to practice or switching practice areas. Also have been going to alot of conferences and maxing out on CPD mainly so I hopefully know what I don't know IYSWIM. My firm has also let me phase in (well, they're busy so I've been doing some work from home) which is great as I can do stuff in my own time, and use it as a learning exercise. I accept that initially things are going to take longer than they should so I don't record all the time I've spent on PLC 'researching'!

Good luck. It will work itself out. I hope!!

I found it bad enough after 6 months! Can you look on CLT or somewhere else cheapish for a relevant full day or half day course? This is what we do with our returners, as close as possible to their return, and it reminds them what they do and don't know. They know more than they think, if that helps.

Do you commute? One can get CPD podcasts nowadays, which might help you (CPD Podcast is what you need to google - I am biassed, I give them content).

When I went back after DS1 I got a bright trainee to do lots of "research" for me.

Hi,

I took 13 months mat leave and have just returned as a com prop lawyer. I've been back 6 weeks and it's like I've never been away. I spent first two weeks reading monthly com prop updates for the year I was off and surfing PLC and it did just all come flooding back. Believe in yourself and you will be fine!

OMG - it's like a prop lawyers reunited! I had a year out after my DD1 was born and to be honest it was hard to get back into it. Brain was like mush for weeks but situation was not helped by the fact that I had to take on a whole load of new stuff for reasons I'm not going to go into here. But I just blagged my way through it - and I really don't think anyone noticed. If you are really worried I'd go out and buy a basic textbook in your main area/areas - LPC if nothing else and just browse through it. It'll bring back all the main stuff. I think it's very common but I don't think you should tell the men - just reinforces all their prejudices!

I was intrigued to see this post as I left my job last year and was planning to take 6 months off but now expecting DD2 - so probably looking at least 18 months - and have been worrying that I would be completely unemployable afterwards - but perhaps not!

I thought I would be too wearenotinkansas I thought they wouldn't even consider my application!

Have ordered a textbook but it hasn't come, been reading what little I can find on the internet and I'm planning to get stuck into plc as soon as I start work. Not sure how much money there'll be for training (its a cash strapped local authority) but I will definitely be asking.

You will be fine - i have just returned to family law after 4 years off and after a slightly shaky start (me sitting there thinking OMG i cant remember anything) I am now fine - 8 weeks on and its like Ive never been away.

I have read lots of file (not sure if thats practical in property) and listened to lots of conversations and acted as though i know what im doing !

Its all come back and Im loving it - good luck

You must know more than you think or you would never have been offered the job. You must in fact be pretty bloody good to have got a job in property after a 2 year hiatus in this market.

Thank you for the pep talk Georgimama - was much needed! And thank you for all the I managed it and survived stories

Survived my first day as it was all induction and meeting people, and my textbook arrived tonight so I can start swotting (when ds finally sleeps...)

Glad to hear your first day went well. I returned to work after 18 months off when I had DS. I've been back for 2 years now, but I'm not doing client work anymore; I just do PSL work.

As such, I see loads of education in the froms of updates, talks, seminars, checklists, roun-ups etc. The cheapest courses are run by MBL Seminars, I think. Also, various sets of Chambers are running seminars which are either free or nominally priced (say, £50) But PLC, Estates Gazette and similar will ahve loads of resources for you to refresh your memory and , if your firm already subscribes, won't cost anything for you to access.

Do you have internal practice notes, checklists, that kind of thing in the way of know-how? I think you'll be much better off looking at those than a general textbook.

I always think that its not so much the amount of law that you know that is necessary to being a good solicitor. Its being alert to things when you see them, realising that there may be an issue which you then look into.