City professional, part time? Please share any experiences good or bad

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I'm a lawyer in a city firm (I do litigation), will be having DC1 in December and hoping to reduce my hours when I return after maternity leave. I would like to do this either in a "traditional" part time format, i.e. 3 or 4 days a week, or in a less traditional way eg 5 days a week but finish at 4.30, or some combination of the two. I will be the main childcarer/person who relieves the nanny/does nursery pick ups.

There are very very few lawyers in my firm who have done this in a client facing role so I don't have many precedents to follow (or to cite to my employers ) - hence looking for experiences here.

I can see all the issues (need to be available for clients when they want; tight and unpredictable deadlines; etc) but I am still hoping I could make it work, without too much blackberrying on my times off... is this unrealistic?

Please can anyone share their experience?

Thanks all

Hello

I'm slightly similar, have 7mo and 2y9m old and work at investment bank. Upfront found a co that did 9-5, said in all interview and said I would only do these hours.

After son born in dec, negotiated return to work 3days using mat Hol for 3 months so was back in at 6months. This was v good for my reputation. All (men I work with only) had a high opinion of me for this and forgave missing some clien stuff as impressed have 2 under 2.5

Only thing I reduced Thursday to 9-12.30 so now 32hours p week. Sent a flex request 2m post partum had conf call with hr and letter arrives 2 day later.

Why don't u do set 9-530 then 2 days finish at lunch time? So around 30hr per week. If you're in every day is v good for workflow ad people kind of forget you're part time?

Pm for any more details don't want to reveal where I work etc X

I'm in house legal and have negotiated a 4 day week working from home on one day. Work was very supportive. I remember private practice days though and am not sure how flex they would have been. I know a few lawyers decided to change to Bon transactional work post may leave (like psl work) for the flexibility. Good luck- hope something works out. It's bit easy...

That should read "non transactional work post mat leave..."

Hi, thanks both v much for your replies.

Caring do you find that you have to do a lot of work outside your 9-5 and 9-12.30 hours? That would be my concern with fixed hours, I would end up having to do a lot of work outside the fixed hours due to clients/partners etc only being available outside those times or the need to turn something round by the next day.

LittleOne I agree with you I think in house would be more flexible than private practice. If it doesn't work out with private practice I will definitely look at in house positions (sadly pretty rare for litigators though). A question for you - as an in house lawyer, how would you react if one of your external lawyers was not available (save in emergencies) on certain days/after certain hours?

Thanks again

Hi - as long as someone was contactable... So either another associate or the partner, then that would be fine. I'd expect them to be across things so the service to me is fairly seamless. This would mean more time spent on handover at your end but I think that'd always be part of not working full time. Actually... What am I saying?? You will no doubt do more than a full load of work.... Just in fewer days per week...! But to answer your question, as a client I wouldn't have any probs at all if you were out for part of each week provided there was someone I could contact in an emergency who was across the current issues and could keep things moving.

Thanks Little that's helpful. I see what you mean about keeping things moving. I'm thinking of an example where say I send you a document for review before it goes to the other side: you can only get your comments to me Wednesday, but I don't work Wednesday. Does that mean the document can't be finalised till Thursday (not ideal for the client as they "lose" a day) or does that mean the partner has to deal with your comments (he they won't like that) or does that mean I have to deal with the comments on my day off (not ideal for me if it happens more than occasionally). Argh. I guess the honest answer is that it would sometimes wait till Thurs (if it can), sometimes be dealt with by the partner and sometimes by me.

I reckon it should wait until thurs unless an absolute emergency. You are entitled to a day off without the risk of getting interrupted otherwise you might as well get paid for a full week. Would it be poss yo have another associate cover on your off day just in case and so the partner doesn't have to do much? I remember my partners being incredibly hands off so know its not very practical.

Itd be great for clients/ firm of you just ended up working on your days off but it's not very fair for you. I know it's hard though.. Sometimes it's easier to just deal with it yourself...

Realistically little another associate probably wouldn't know enough to step in (or it would mean a lot of time spent briefing them every week so they did know enough "just in case"). Partners vary in how hands on they are...

I guess I'll just have to try it and see. Would 5 days but shorter hours be better from a client pov do you think?