part-time survey

[chiara71]

I'd like to hear from all of you part-timers to see in which field you work, I am currently looking for a part-time job but find there's absolutely no demand in banking (which is what I used to do), so I'm thinking about re-training into something different but I would like to know where it would be easier to find a job.

thanks

[bells2]

Tessie, I have three friends with young children who are lawyers with city firms. Each of them has gone part time after their first child (3 or 4 days) and they all now say that this opportunity is being denied to women in their departments who are younger than themselves. This seems so unfair to me and I can't see how the firms justify it. Obviously the part timers have had to forego any real hope of partnership and now do more "support" type work but at least they had some choice in this.

[hoxtonchick]

I work for a charity (patient association), 3 days a week. They've been quite flexible, but done so fairly grudingly.

[callington]

question for Tessie and other lawyers.
Tessie your situatuion is the opposite of mine!
I have a professional qualification but am very cheesed off with my field and am seriously considering, now with kids and in my late 30s of retraining as a lawyer.
I take it you would NOT recommend it?
I only know one lawyer, who is a partner in a small firm, is full time with a wife who looks after their kids full time. He likes his job.
Is morale generally low in the profession?
I know of several people who are retraining as lawyers in their 30s

[Claireandrich]

Callington - DH is a lawyer and loves his job! Mind you, there are not very many part-timers in his firm and I get the impression that the older partners aren't that keen. Maybe this will change though as they retire and the younger ones, and more females, come through to the top positions.

[Claireandrich]

I work part time now since going back to work after maternity leave. I work as a teacher in a secondary school. I found it pretty easy to change my days to just 3 a week, and don't have to job share either (which is better for me). Mind, my school is not a great one and has problems getting and keeping staff. I think that having me part time is a better option for them than not at all. i think many schools are like this now with all the teacher shortages.

Mind, my last school wasn't as keen on part time. They are a very successful school and don't have so many problems with staffing.

[seahorse]

Callington

I'm a patent/trademark lawyer and recently established my own practice (my field is very specialised so it is common to have small niche firms) - I had previously worked part time but did not enjoy it and felt even if I returned full time my partnership chances were much lower since having children. I also felt I would not want to spend long periods away from home visiting US clients etc.
I think there are two types of lawyers those working for large city firms and the rest. Some work very long hours and this is expected but other firms offer good opportunities for women.

Although you need to work full time (generally speaking) whilst training and thereafter to gain experience and credibility before being able to negotiate part-time. One important factor in how successful you are is how much you bill out. In my experience the good high billable clients would not be handed to part timers and to be fair the clients do not want part time lawyers unless you are special to them (ie had a strong relationship before). As a part timer you are therefore already at a major disadvantage.
These factors together with being off for maternity leave (with your extensive and hard earned client portfolio 'looked after' by a male, ambitious associate)and being female anyway, must be some of thereasons there are very few female partners in law firms.

When I was pregnant with dd(2) I was informed that if my clients preferred to stay with the 'minder' whilst I was away on maternity leave then they would not hand them back to me on my return. That means a lot of hard work on my return to build up my portfolio of work again to regain the chargeable hours.

In conclusion - female lawyers with children=hard b... work at home and work!

[Moomin]

Further to Claireandrich's commenst about teaching. If you're qualified the pay in schools is decent, I think. I've gone from f/t to p/t, 3 days a week but have retained some responsibility and therefore get paid extra for it. The shortage of teachers these days means that most (sensible) headteachers are much more flexible and will try to retain staff this way. I'm happy as Larry and don't plan on going back f/t for a very long time (like when hell freezes over)!

[Bugsy]

Tessie, I'm sure you are probably better versed in employment law than me. It may be worth checking out the Maternity Alliance website though as they have some helpful tips about employment rights.
On what grounds is experience relevant to working part-time in your field of work?

[Claireandrich]

I agree. As a part-time wage a teacher's salary is decent. I get just under £1000 a month for 3 days a week. That's after 7 years experience (I think!).

It's only when it is a full time wage, and its the main wage that the problems hit really, when compared to other professions where people have been to uni.

[Tessie]

I have taken legal advice on this and wrote to my employer, voicing my objections. That said, they will not reconsider and am therefore having to go back full time. City law is not child-friendly for those who are recently qualified and I would therefore hesitate to recommend it. Having said that - out of the City firms, things may be better. It seems to me that I am being penalised for having a child whilst I am still relatively young (30). The other women in my department who have children are either a lot older or have full time nannies who work around the clock. Its all about billable hours and being at the office late which doesn't exactly sit well with family life.
Anyone have any advice on a change of career? I want to see my kids grow up!

[Tessie]

I have taken legal advice on this and wrote to my employer, voicing my objections. That said, they will not reconsider and am therefore having to go back full time. City law is not child-friendly for those who are recently qualified and I would therefore hesitate to recommend it. Having said that - out of the City firms, things may be better. It seems to me that I am being penalised for having a child whilst I am still relatively young (30). The other women in my department who have children are either a lot older or have full time nannies who work around the clock. Its all about billable hours and being at the office late which doesn't exactly sit well with family life.
Anyone have any advice on a change of career? I want to see my kids grow up!

[kaz33]

Tessie

I am a lawyer in a city firm - older and probably more qualified than you are but my department has a history of refusing to allow part time workers. They have paid off people rather than consider it. The firms stance is that it is up to each department and has no official policy. There are part time legal jobs out there in many fields - they are harder to find but they do exist. I am presently pregnant due with my second child and have stayed here, lets be honest to get my maternity rights. On my return I will be looking for a new job and maybe trying to get paid off at the same time !! Could you do the same? Not all firms are the same. What area do you practice in, that might give a clue as to other possiblities.

Callington

The law is well paid, relatively secure even in recessions and if you get a lot of client contact can be quite rewarding. I would not recommend the city either as it isn't even women friendly let alone mother friendly. Personally, I can't wait to get out of the city and the law. I would say the majority of my friends in the law are dissatisfied as it is very hard to get feeling of real satisfaction. However I have friends who do really enjoy it, one is a family lawyer for a small legal aid firm and the other is a pensions lawyer.

If you are considering a career in the law I would think very carefully about your personality. If you like detail, are a bit of a perfectionist and are not particular about face to face contact then the city might suit. Out of the city I think personal skills and a ability to get on with what ever is thrown at you are more important.

Also you have to think about the state of the market when you are looking for a training contract. I got a training contract at the time of the last recession so am now quite a rare commodity - newly qualified solicitors now are not being kept on. Get your timing right and you can go from a legal aid firm to a top city firm in one easy jump - which is what several of my friends did.

Hope thats not too depressing.

Kaz33

[Tessie]

My field is litigation (general commercial) and I am 2yrs PQE. Am dreading going back but am trying for my second so fingers crossed. Might then be in a position to move. Have been looking at local firms and would be very interested in getting into family law - how easy is it to switch from a city firm into doing something like that?