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

[aliceinwanderland]

Sorry about the typos!

[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!

[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...

[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.

[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!

[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.

[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