Solicitors - what part-time/flexible working arrangements have you negotiated?

[Pollyannainexcelsis]

I am considering returning to work as a solicitor but only want to work part time. I wondered what other solicitors had negotiated.

I will probably be in private practice and am looking primarily at London/City firms, although not in corporate law. I would want 3 days a week (well less, really, but I have to be realistic!), but possibly with the opportunity to work from home sometimes.

Thanks

uh, none.

No one in my dept had ever succeeded in working part time (either parents or childless people), so I thought I would cut to the chase and hand my notice in while still on mat leave. The lack of availability to clients always ends up being an issue.

Have you thought about in-house? There was an interesting thread a few weeks ago about it.

this is the thread - some posts from Issymum and others about half-way down the thread about working in-house.

Thanks for that - it all makes depressing reading. I did used to work part time actually (3 days), but still found it tough and gave up after my 3rd child was born. I would prefer to be in-house, but i am in quite a small sector and it would be difficult to get work there. Also, I am aware that the longer I am out of work, the more difficult it will be to return to law.

It's a very difficult choice- I know I do want to work, but the question is whether to stick to the law, or try something else (what??).

Try getting in touch with a woman called Anna Kavanagh at an organisation called Time4Balance (try googling it). She's an ex-lawyer who knows a lot about part-time working lawyers and which firms are offering what sort of arrangments. Can I ask what sort of law you do?

lecturing? All the lecturers when I did my law degree seemed to have been solicitors or barristers before. I guess it means a very substantial drop in income though!

What about the GLS? They are very good about flexible working both part time and at home. Loads of people at this department strange hours, in fact they are positively encouraging it to save on desk space!! Obviously money not as good as private corporate but decent pension (for the time being anyway).

Have you thought about PSL work?

I did pt PSL work at a City firm. They had a few pt fee-earners as well. ComLit section. sorry, 1-handed as feeding baby!

Thanks for this - I will try Anna Kavanagh. I think I might try to look for a job in-house. (at the risk of outing myself, I am a charity lawyer, so vacancies are not very common)

I've remembered why I left the law now.

Not speaking from personal experience but with charity, perhaps an NGO - they can be quite flexible.

If you don't fancy PSL work (research, fee-earner enquiries, writing updates), there is knowledge management. I moved to this role in the same City firm - only the larger firms with a well-developed PSL team will have such a function. It is sort of central PSL role with focus on special projects eg developing knowledge systems. My background as a lawyer (any type of law is fine) was what they wanted. The IT and knowledge management principles can be picked up along the way. There is NO research or transactional pressure - you plan your own timetable. You will lose touch with your speciality though.

But hey, I never looked back. I work 5 days a week (at my request) but reduced hours. Home by 3:30 almost every day. My application for the same arrangement in my fee-earning role was rejected but to be frank, it would have been a struggle anyway. Frontline work and flexible working is not, IMO, a pretty combination.

I did wonder about working for an NGO, but didn't know how to go about finding out about vacancies.

It sounds good being home by 3.30! PSL work doesn't really appeal to me, as it isn't the academic side of the law which I enjoy - I like the involvement with clients (especially charity clients).

I have thought about the GLS and am going to write - I would also consider the Charity Commission, but again, vacancies are quite rare, and I know they recruited there earlier this year.

Mmm - it's a small sector isn't it, that's the problem. I guess you've thought about the larger grant-making institutions like the Wellcome Trust and Oxfam? The only other thing I can think of is working in a sort of admin/company secretarial role in a charity or housing association.
Or what about being a locum?

you like clients Pollyanna?

you weirdy

Not a London firm, but DH's colleague returned to work PT 3 days a week following the birth of her first child. She is due to return to same following her 2nd maternity leave soon. She found no problem doing this and just made her appointments on the days she was available, and her voice mail always said when she wou;ld next be int he office. She certainly had no problems from clients at all with doing it.

Hwever she pretty much gave up all hope of ever moving beyond salaried partner by doing so.