Any lawyers who've managed to negotiate part time jobs out there?

[manicmumday]

I'm working full time in-house at the moment and increasingly finding it a struggle juggling everything, plus as my DS gets older (he's 18 months at the moment), I feel more and more like I'm missing out on time with him. I already know that part time isn't an option in my existing job (small team, plus very inflexible female boss) but am now wondering whether it's a realistic option at all. Plse give me hope before I despair totally - have any lawyers (any field) out there managed to negotiate part time work that's still interesting and doesn't effectively end their careers?

DH's colleague in his department is a solictor, salaried partner specialising in private client workShe returned to work PT three days a week after maternity leave. However she does know that this means that, at least whilst PT at least, it is very unlikely she will ever be made an equity partner in the firm.

I do know one woman who is a partner in the City who has a daughter, works 4 days I think (is that part time really?). I think, from the people I know, it only works if you have a nanny and a job that doesn't require you to stay late at short notice very often. Is that possible in many fields of law? I don't know. I stopped fee-earning and became a part time PSL when I had DS1, and it suits me just fine. No clients, no late working, I can work at home. But if you want the career path to partnership, it's not really the way to go I guess.

I went back three days a week after DS, but only lasted six months before opting out!! I felt I was doing both jobs badly, and couldn't really give enough commitment. Having said that the firm were very helpful and offered me an assistant, but luckily at that time finances were OK so I left. There are several part timers in my old firm, though best to make partner first!!!! I worked for a large multi national, though I have heard the smaller firms can be more flexible. There are definitely jobs out there, but probably more in private client, property etc. Please let us know how you get on!!

I've done 4 days a week in mega-firm and also in-house - must say I felt that I was doing all three jobs (wife, mother, lawyer) badly and was relieved when I stopped. I was doing transactional corporate & regulatory work in private practice and was a commercial director ALSO responsible for legals in-house so they were both pretty full on, though. lots of travel too.

My SIL was a barrister and left to join the Civil Service (DEFRA)in some kind of legal capacity (advising on EU laws etc) after having children. Family friendly hours are available and fantastic childcare facilities (holiday care etc)

My law firm employer refused my application for flexible working as a fee-earner. I took up a part time role in knowledge management instead - which is very family friendly. There is some scope for career progression (perhaps within but more likely outside the firm) but that would probably require me to gear up to fulltime hours first. I don't know of a pt job that allows career progression whilst keeping part time hours. I think most jobs (even if they can be done pt) would require the commitment of fulltime hours to progress, but I have yet to meet or hear of such an enlightened employer.

clairemow - DH never has to work late and never at short notice. It is possible. He isn;t at a London firm though or doing any international law, so that probably makes a big difference.

I think that if you are still in fee-earning, then advisory work, rather than transactional work, lends itself better to part time working. Because you are less at the mercy of a clients' timetable.

I know that \link{http://www.bateswells.co.uk/home.htm\these guys} are open to part-time workers. in fact they even have a p-t job advertised at the moment

It was often client expectation that I found difficult, and also partner expectation. I was doing corporate recovery transactional stuff at a City firm, and some international (con calls with the US a nightmare with time difference....!), and everything was always time critical, as corporate insolvency work often is. I couldn't see a way for my job to work part time without it meaning my taking on all the horrible little jobs that no-one else wants... as those are the ones that can often be left until tomorrow.

I have to say since I've become a PSL for the same firm and the same team, they have been fantastic and very supportive of a) my move out of London and working from home and b) my next pregnancy (due in September). But I think I might just be lucky with the people I work with.

Where are you? If you were looking for private practice work, would that be London or provinces? What's your area - could you make a go of local government work or other areas which I'd imagine are more enlightened?

I'm in City firm, being a transactional financing lawyer on an 85% year arrangement (which translates into most of school summer holidays off, plus other bits when scrambled for). I've been doing this for 5 years, during which I have seen precisely 0 other parents make use of the track I've been trying to make available for them, and during which I must have seen 20 new mothers (not sure about fathers, but I bet a good few of those too) fall away from the job. I have to say that my arrangement only just works, because of a combination of the kind of work it is (grindy & technical, & typically very slow over the summer), and a long-built-up cushion of goodwill between me & colleagues - which was there from before I arranged the deal. I am not in honesty sure I would recommend my working life.

My experience of others is that part-time work in this environment is available if (i) you've already made partner and you're the type who can call the shots; (ii) you're happy with PSL work; or (iii) you're a personally-sought-after specialist in a technical area (eg pensions, financial regulation). Could you consider (ii) or (iii)?

Two of my ex-colleagues (employment lawyers, in London) both had three day part-time working arrangements but both were pregnant again within weeks of being back so it didn't end up being a long-term arrangement. It did seem to work out OK while they were doing it though - I think it's easier in advisory work and in big departments. I'm now looking for a part-time (4 days a week) role in the provinces (PSL or fee earning, not fussy) and it's really hard.

manicmumday, I think equally important as to whether an employer is prepared to offer flexible hours, is your own perception of whether the job can be done part time. I was gutted when my firm (also City) rejected my application for flexible working in transactional finance work. clairemow, I was prepared to take on the "horrible little jobs that no-one else wants" but the firm said those jobs were for trainees and junior lawyers to cut their teeth on!

In hindsight I was kidding myself that it could work. Although I have had to take a salary discount as a legal knowledge manager, it is well worth the peace of mind and supportive/family-friendly work atmosphere. I still have to work with my fee-earning colleagues and all I can say is I don't miss the all-hours/sexist culture, particularly amongst the partners.

Bink, I don't know how you do it!

I work full-time in-house too. The juggling bit is OK as we have a great full-time, live-in nanny and my husband's job is fairly flexible and predictable. I also happen to enjoy my job hugely. But I miss my daughters and want to spend more time with them. It's as simple as that. Unfortunately I'm the main breadwinner (I earn twice what DH does) and DH has Multiple Scelerosis, so there is no easy out. I've thought about working part-time but like everyone else, the most I could drop to is four days a week and my worry is that I would end up trying to cram five days' work into those four days for less pay.

What really does help for me is working from home two days a week. When I'm at home, I work the same number of hours (if not more) but somehow manage to see much much more of the girls and feel more 'present' for them. My internal clients neither know nor care where I am physically as long as they can talk to me! I also have some accumulated, unused adoption leave which, like Binkie, I use to take longer stretches of leave and that helps too.

Issymum/Issyfit

PS There is a lawyer in one of our businesses who works three days a week and works one of those days from home. It works for her and the team she's in, but I doubt if it's done much for her career.

"I am not in honesty sure I would recommend my working life."

Damn! Binkie - I thought you had got this sussed, to the point that I have it in mind to strike a similar deal with my company once my adoption leave runs out!

Issyfit, I love my summers with ds and dd (more so every year), so from that angle the work/life balance is indeed sussed - and I think given the choice between a 4-day week and my great long stretches with the children, my deal is preferable.

It's just the pillar-to-posting all the rest of the time, and the lack of folding recognition, that makes me hesitate to recommend it to others.

Binkie: I understand. Having spent a solid two weeks at home with the girls, I think I would rather do that then have ten Fridays with them, it felt as if we really got into a groove together. Although writing it down ten long weekends sounds quite good too!

OK, what's 'folding recognition'?!

Issy/bink, how old do children have to be before you actually want to spend long stretches of time alone at home with them? I shudder at the thought of being my toddler's sole entertainment for a day!

Issy - dosh, you know, the folding stuff - I think all them appreciative words need some substance. Am currently pursuing this

ah, blueshoes: it's them being able to read, that's the trick. Which for us happened simultaneously (just about) with starting school - hence school holidays = fun. We do treasure hunts and things, & whenever you need a break you bring out a copy of My Secret Unicorn Franchise Part 3,999.

Ahh! The money! Yes, I'm definitely in a somewhat similar position - this job works for me just too well to leave me in a position to demand more money.

Staying at home all day has become an attractive proposition for me now that the girls are nearly 4 and 5 and a half. They can't read (certainly not DD2), but they're much easier to entertain than a toddler.

Issyfit, I'm in pretty much the same situation as we can't manage without my salary so my only option (realistically) would be to go to 4 days a wk. Much as I miss my DS massively, feel constantly guilty and like we're missing out on precious time with each other, I'm not sure that's the answer as, like some of you have indicated, I think I'd end up doing 5 days work in 4. My boss has made it clear that home working is not really an option and is piling more and more work on me so I'm going to have to think about moving jobs to regain my sanity... Arrrrghhhhh, what a hassle. I don't have enough time to do my job properly, let alone look for another one.

I work 3 days/week in a big City firm doing transactional work. Started back about 3 months ago and am now pregnant again so will be having second lot of mat leave in October. It is working out ok so far, though of course I am not able to run deals as i once did as the clients need 24 hour access. I basically help out other fee earners at my pqe level and take a back seat on the deal (eg no client contact). In terms of career progression it has effectively ended mine. If I hadn't had DD I would be 2 years off from partnership but now I will not be considered which I am fine with as I have never loved my job anyway and even if I hadn't had a family would not have wanted partnership.