Any lawyers gone back to law after a career break?

[minipie]

I'm a litigator in a city firm, quite a lot of years PQE. I'm considering having a couple of years off soon because of various things which will be colliding in our family life.

I do still enjoy being a lawyer though and wouldn't want to be a SAHM long term.

So, I'd like to go back to the law (ideally in house or perhaps public sector rather than private practice) after a 2-3 year break. But I'm worried that employers won't be interested. I'm also a bit worried that DH will have got used to me being at home and it will be hard for him to go back to doing more domestic stuff... though I can probably reeducate him

Has anyone gone back after a break? How easy was it? Were employers put off by the CV gap? Anyone tried and not managed it?

Thanks

[minipie]

Gosh my thread is still going! Thanks for all the further information and advice, very interesting reading.

I left my firm earlier this year. I have one DC in preschool and one in reception (she is the one with some SN and is finding it hard) and neither sleep well. Tbh in the circumstances I am relieved not to be working and unfortunately feel like I have no spare time or energy for study or volunteering. I am very much up for retraining and/or a backwards or sideways step down the line in order to get back into work, I think that is more realistic than trying to keep my hand in during these years. Usually I like to have the long term mapped out but in this case I just have to go with what works in the short term.

Good luck to everyone

[nomad5]

Also want to echo what a PP said - your re-entry to work (or indeed how you manage work full stop with a family) depends on the family dynamic. What your partner does, how your kids sleep and behave/any issues, what other support you have. You don't exist in a vacuum.

Although I have a very supportive DH, we have moved country away from family support. And most importantly my younger DC has been very VERY hard work since birth and still doesn't sleep through the night as a preschooler.

All of these things impact how your work (and that of your DH) can best fit the family. We're not robots.

[nomad5]

I've had a varied path working in law, across multiple jurisdictions due to DH career moves! It is definitely possible to return. I've had interviews for in-house and practice roles and being a SAHM for a couple of years not an issue. Decided not to accept roles because they didn't work with family life (we have no extra help with kids as we live overseas).

For my part, I started in practice as a litigator, moved to NGO sector and am about to start a full time research job/PhD role. Have also done freelance bits for legal organisations. My career has been unusual for a lawyer but enjoyable (except for career planning anxiety due to country moves!). I'm also really glad to have had some time off as a SAHM.

Keep in touch with your networks. Even just to chat/sound out ideas as you plan your return. If you do take time off, think about what you love most about working in law and try and figure out what you can do that focuses on that. Good luck!

[WillowWeeping]

I'm a lawyer worked private practice, GLS, now in house.

I had a pretty extensive break and it wasnt easy going back in - definitely went in lower than I left, but was promoted quickly.

I now manage a large team. Whenever we recruit I am inundated by applications from really qualified lawyers (often non equity partner level) who want to move in house. Senior private practice lawyers are very much considered an untested quantity

In house teams can take their pick so I think your best bet would be go inhouse (possibly a side on backward step...) complete a year and then have your career break. Or accept you'll have a break then go back to private practice before making a move across.

[ringle]

I'm back to 4.5 days now (0.5 days doing a community project) and boy am I glad I wasn't working this intensively when the kids were little.....

I still wish there was a lawyers' corner on here...

[Bikkigirl]

I took the plunge and left law when I had my second DC. Tried to go back to work 4 days a week after DC1 and it was impossible, he was ill all the time and couldn't go to nursery, DH worked in London and at the time had no flexibility to leave early/work at home so all the nursery had overs had to be done by me the feeling of dread when your phone rings 5 mins before your due to leave and wondering if you can get the person off the phone in time was not great. The grandparents were all still working so had no family support and I was the first lawyer to attempt a return to work. I ended up working evenings and Saturdays. I moved on to a jobshare with a colleague which was easier but the firm expected us both to run ALL the cases which meant we both had to know 300 odd cases rather than managing half each and it is difficult to keep on top of a caseload like that in 2.5 days. Whilst I didn't want to leave after DC1 I was happy to leave after DC2 and I didn't look back. With the cost of nursery/out of school care most of my money would have gone on child care. I have been out of law for 11 years and now DC2 is starting secondary school I am thinking about returning. I still don't want to work full time but quite like the idea of doing something to do with the law if I can get some flexibility. I have looked at some return to work courses and am happy not to earn much to start with. Whilst my children were young I worked 3 days a week during school hours to earn some extra cash and probably earned a similar amount than I would have after childcare. I don't regret my career break, I didn't miss it as much as I thought after all that hard work to get there and consider it a luxury to have been able to concentrate on my family while they needed me. If it means I don't work the way I did before I can live with that in sure eventually I will find a way to put those legal skills to good use at some point in the future. I know not everyone has the option to do this and it was hard at first to get used to being a SAHM. I now have a network of great friends who I will miss greatly once I start 'proper' work. If you can make the money work and get your head around the fact you probably will affect your career you might find it more rewarding than you thought! I did!

[aliceinwanderland]

Sorry about the typos!

[aliceinwanderland]

I did it. But was properly out for only just over a year. Consultant for part of the time. I had been very senior (partner city firm). Went back to in house part time. No part time as civil service lawyer. Really no problem going back to public sector. For my job it was all on the day assessment and competency questions. I didn't even get asked about my career break. My current job is a lot more interesting ans enjoyablw than private practice although a lot less money.

[NeverTwerkNaked]

I work in public sector now, and love it (excellent work but family friendly lifestyle). I managed this after a four year career break. Just recruited someone to my team who has had a 7 year career break. The trade off is starting back at a lower salary. But we did both do various things to keep a few toes in the legal world while we were off (volunteering, part time study etc)

[ReawakeningAmbition]

I would advise against a complete break tbh unless there are strong ties/loyalties at your current firm.

What's your field?

Have a think about virtual firms, I'm working with a good one.

[LawyerGirl99]

Hi everyone. I appreciate it's several months since the last post, but I was wondering how everyone is getting on and what you decided to do?

It's looking as though I am about to have an enforced career break of a few years and I am really worried about how I will get back into a job at the end of it all. If I decide to walk away altogether, it just seems like such a waste after all the years of law school and slogging it as a junior lawyer .

[Twinkletoes007]

This is such a useful thread. I'm a senior solicitor and been back for 6 months doing 4 days a week since my son was 9 months old. Grandparents looks after him 2 days and he is in nursery for 2. It's a good set up and we are lucky with the help we get.

It's me that's the problem! The reality is that I've been doing 5 days in 4. I always try to be back for 6.30 latest but then will work in the evening, at weekends and on my day off I can't switch off and have an eye on the blackberry all day. I feel like I'm constantly fire fighting and there is no spare time. (DH is also a lawyer working long hours although he helps out loads and moans less than me).

I found being away from DS easier when he was smaller but now he's a proper little person who every day just amazes me by what he is learning and discovering I'm finding it hard and resenting the time I'm apart from him and doing a job where i have probably already been written off by doing 4 days despite all the partnership spiel. So, I've been considering since Christmas what to do.

I've surprised myself by how I feel. I'd thought I'd nail this working mother malarky, be running during my lunch breaks (haha) and serving up wonderful homemade dinners every evening. What planet was I on...

I have always been very ambitious but I know I will have regrets down the line if I don't change my current set up. It's very unlikely work would agree to 3 days, which would be the ideal. If I give up I worry about not being able to go back. Or going crackers without the structure that work gives you. Lots of useful ideas here to think about. Most of all I need to be clear in my head about what I want but it is so reassuring to hear from others.

Has anyone else taken the plunge since posting?

[Timetravels]

Mini - looking back I have no idea I managed a degree. I'm baffled but prospective employers have commented on my upskilling ability!

I'm now in the difficult position of building up the courage to ask for a 4 day week from the firm who have offered me a job. I've just realised that working 5 days will be too difficult for me and the kids. Good luck in whatever you decide.

[harrietm87]

Thanks minipie - only just seen your response.

DH works in a creative industry from home but often travels, which means he'll mostly be available to be very hands on but then periods when he'll be away (usually just for few days at a time).

I'd hope to be able to split nursery picks ups so I did say 2 days a week (and log back in later from home) and he does the other 3 so I could work late. Not even pregnant yet but that's my plan at least. I'm the main breadwinner so would need to keep working full time.

Best of luck with your next move!

[minipie]

hi, sorry to have abandoned the thread, just returning now as the leaving option seems to be becoming more real. Eeek.

me2017 how does setting up your own firm work? I thought it would be very difficult - insurance, CPD etc. And marketing - I don't think I have any clients who love me so much they'd follow me from my city law firm to sole practitioner so would have to start from scratch.

harriet a lot depends on your particular circumstances IME. If your DP/DH will do the evening nanny/nursery handover and bedtime (so you can still do the long hours when you need to) then that will make life a lot easier and impact your career much less. If your DP won't/can't then you will find you have to get out of the office by 5 or 6 and that will impact your career, especially as you are still fairly junior. Going part time will impact your career. Nursery will be more of a problem for your career than nanny as one of you will have to take time off when the baby is sick - but nanny is more expensive of course. If your child is a bad sleeper or has any additional needs that will have more of an impact. I do know women whose careers have not been too affected post DC - however in general their DH has a less demanding or very flexible job and has done more of the handovers, and their DC sleep well. Sorry that's a bit depressing! I didn't find it hard to come back but I had a very non clingy baby (hard in other ways but not clingy!) a great nanny and I hated mat leave anyway!

Timetravels interesting! How did you find the time to do a degree with DC??

[Timetravels]

I'm going back after 5 years out. In my time out I did a health based degree which I'm surprised employers are really liking! I started looking a few weeks ago and already have some jobs lined. Yes there is a pay cut and wok involve for me a huge element of training and support to get back into the subject matter but my biggest concern is my own confidence. I feel like I'm the world's best multi-tasker, I'm confident, able, articulate, hard working, clever.... but somewhere in my time out I've lost the confidence I need to re enter law.

Don't be afraid of taking a break though, is what I came on to say.

[Peppardew]

Thanks for the thread, interesting and somewhat sobering read. I'm currently on my second maternity leave and aching not to return so I can spend longer with the kids, but as I can't remain out of work forever I'm concerned whether I'll even be employable in the future. A real waste of so much experience it seems.

Harrietm87 I didn't really find it had a negative impact, but I think it very much depends upon where you work and the attitudes of your colleagues. It's definitely put my career back in terms of promotion, but that's because I just wasn't interested in pursuing that whilst on ML. If I had wanted to, they would have let me use my KIT days for it and been supportive I think, I just didn't want it enough. So effectively it's put me back a year in terms of the process if that makes sense.

[Lovelyideas]

I've just run my first piece of litigation in a decade (was in house for a long time).

It was fine because my kids are older but I certainly put lots of unrecorded weekends in.

But now I've done it and it's good to feel back up to speed!

TBH my big mistake was going back full time after first baby. It took a year to find alternative paths. In hindsight I would have planned a break.

[harrietm87]

minipie and free - sorry to hijack this thread but I wondered how you found returning to work after mat leaves? I'm 3pqe in litigation in a city firm and planning to ttc soon. I will probably take a year off. Was it hard to come back? Did your careers suffer?

[Me2017]

I've never had a break so no experience but I do think it can be difficult to get back after very long breaks although as with everything it will depend whether we are in a recession or lawyer shortage at the time you try to go back.

If you could keep something going it woudl help. I do law lectures. I update law books. I edit publications. (That is in my spaer time). that kind of thing might keep your hand in). I have also marked law exam papers in the past (although that is pretty hard work and not great pay so I don't think I'd go round recommending it to people).

Have you considered setting up your own law firm? I have. I do litigation =- some quite big (a few days in CA this week for example) . I am based at home except when at meetings, in court, with clients. It is really nice way to work and best of all you make more money and keep it all and don't have to share it with partners or anyone else. For me it certainly works at lot better than giving a percentage to some other body whose books you might be on.

[Buttonmoonb4tea]

www.judiciary.gov.uk/about-the-judiciary/judges-career-paths/information-about-shadowing-a-judge/who-can-apply/ this might help

[minipie]

Never thought of it Button but will look into it!

[Buttonmoonb4tea]

Op have you thought about sitting on social security tribunals as a judge during your career break. I think it would keep your hand in so to speak. I think HM Courts and Tribunals Service recruit fairly regularly for judges to sit on the panel. And with the benefit changes that have been brought in there will always be appeals to be heard. Possible option?