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Original poster

Message for Lawyers or ex Lawyers out there ....

41 replies

newmum36 · 17/11/2006 09:50

Hi there
I'm on mat leave at the moment after having ds1- I'm a lawyer who used to work in London but work out of London now. Am considering my options.
Difficult one as I'm not sure my dept are going to offer me/can offer me part time and I don't think I can go back to full time f/earning - hard to tell clients that their transaction will have to wait as you're not there on a particular day. Past experiences of part time are that everyone buries their head in the sand when the part timer isn't there, hopes for the best and then the client gets really hacked off when they don't get a service (fair enough really !) - so generally not very well managed. I've suggested they might need a PSL but they're thinking about it and they've made noises that part time just doesn't work. I Have thought about applying for PSL part time in London (have a good commute to London) maybe 3 days with a day at home but would also want to think about having no 2 by the time no 1 is 1 - (next summer). I don't really want to go back til May so I'm wondering whether just to go back to where I was and stick it out (nursery options good near me) - may never get pregnant again of course - or to find something part time in London.....What are your own experiences? I'm not a corporate lawyer and my hours are not horrible but still find it hard to contemplate going back f/t..My dh works really long hours in a busy and demanding job so I also worry that he thinks I'll become Superwoman (makes me feel knackered even thinking about it)

OP posts:

bosscat · 08/01/2007 13:18

I work 3 days a week having just decreased it from 4. I was able to do that because we had just taken on a trainee in my department. I decreased it because I am having a few problems with ds2 and feeding and wanted to put a bit more into it rather than leaving it to nursery. I am hoping it it will work! With regards to the drop off/pick up situation it is difficult. My dh is a barrister and never knows if his case is going to finish by school time or not, sometimes it does sometimes it doesn't. He also works all over the country so helps if he can but if he isnt physically there he can't. This does put the burden on me, but I moved from London to be nearer family who help out and I also use the after school club. You just have to be really careful with who you choose to work for. I deliberately chose a firm who had only been going for 18 months and weren't established, because they said I would never find anyone more child friendly than them. I could have gone for more money with a more established firm but the flexibility is worth more to me. It is do-able, just be careful you say what YOU need from them at the interview.

meb2006 · 09/01/2007 16:48

I don't know why they make it such a big deal but they do. Ideally I would like to work from home/office half and half. We have psls working PT totally from home - they just have a thing about corporate/finance psls not being in the office even if we can be networked from home, have blackberries etc.

I am hoping that with a flexible working application they can't say no.

at least the job is not as bad as the poor lawyer on the other thread getting called out at all hours. I am interested what you think the significant downsides are to psl work as I think these are quite dependent on the firm. As you have been doing this for some time has your pay for e.g. totally stagnated - I do think there is a ceiling on this.

Dinosaur · 09/01/2007 20:53

meb, I think that before you go into this you need to think quite carefully about career prospects, or lack thereof, and whether that matters to you.

At my firm there is a theoretical possibility of partnership for PSLs but in practice it would be pretty difficult to achieve (and probably rightly so) - you would have to have a lot to bring to the party, so to speak, and be prepared to make more of a commitment in terms of working hours and effort than I for one am prepared to. So do think about that - how will you feel if, five years down the line, all your contemporaries are either partners, or have left?

Secondly - pay - yes, there is a ceiling.

meb2006 · 09/01/2007 22:10

same here - no chance of partnership for psls (even for genius and very committed ones) as there is already partner in charge who will never leave. Big drawback for psls is no progression but I guess we know that when we get into it otherwise we would have stayed in fee earning.

Dinosaur · 09/01/2007 22:20

Yes...I knew all that in theory when I switched, but tbh the reality of it has really only begun to sink in over the last couple of years, as have hit pay ceiling and watched old mates start to earn megabucks. Not saying it's not for you, just saying to think about it perhaps a bit harder than I did.

Having said all that, I earn enough to keep Dinosaur family afloat in reasonable style, so mustn't grumble etc.

anniemac · 10/01/2007 12:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Judy1234 · 10/01/2007 12:23

I think it would maintain more equity in your relationship with your husband and at home if you both keep the same kind of career track. LKook at what you might earn carrying on with what you do and what you might as a PSL and then say how would you like to see yourself in 20 years time (when your children will be at university etc). Are you hoping to be mostly fre int he day, perhaps thinking about retiring early, pottering around the garden whilst your husband is still enjoying his work or would you like to be a partner doing exciting work. I certainly found working full time was by far the best option.

meb2006 · 10/01/2007 12:59

dinosaur I was always under impression psl salary ceiling at about 100k (and this is for the one or two psls in a firm not the majority who are on more like 80-5) [please correct me if you think I have this wrong - no one talks so I don't really know but this is what I think is the case] which is a lot compared to most jobs but not if you think this it is comparable to city 4-5pqe associate salary - when one is say 15 years salary it is a bit galling.

I can appreciate it is harder to be PT when one is a transactional lawyer but as a psl (depending on the nature of role) I would have thought it was much easier to be more flexible particularly in terms of home working - as I said in earlier post a few psls I know work exclusively from home.

lisalisa · 10/01/2007 14:01

Message withdrawn

meb2006 · 10/01/2007 15:29

hello lisalisa it has all got a bit mooshie on here but please read original post from poster needing help - someone a few posts further up suggested she speak to you. not sure why - think you must be lawyer and working part time or one with lots of kids. that or an employment lawyer! if you are any good at flexible working applications I could do with some help too!!!!!(ha.ha)

Dinosaur · 11/01/2007 22:14

Well I'm not on anything like that much, but I haven't had a payrise in the last three years (and if I don't get one this year, I'm walking!).

meb2006 · 11/01/2007 23:07

touche turtle - me too! Greta oslt it - it does n't make you feel very valued. What is your practice area - there are lots of jobs depending on your specialism - very interesting - are you with a top 20 (I am not asking you to disclose the firm)?

Dinosaur · 12/01/2007 09:34

Corporate - there are quite a lot of jobs, especially as everyone is getting to grips with new CA 2006, which I am very up to speed with. So I think that with combo of that and several years of experience as a PSL, I would be in a reasonably strong position.

I am at a Silver Circle (whatever that means firm...

100PerCentCod · 12/01/2007 09:34

i am at a ring of bright water firm

Dinosaur · 12/01/2007 09:36

Silver circle always makes me think of silver service...

meb2006 · 12/01/2007 15:28

never heard of siver circle(what is that?) - or ring of bright water (is that a joke???). You are in the same area as me then. If it is any help I know slaughters are looking. There are a number of firms specifically recruiting for CA developments - you should be well sought after.

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