Looking for some City law firm wisdom

[Pillow]

Am a City lawyer with baby DD, going back to work shortly. Was formerly at Magic Circle firm, felt v invisible and unmentored and left for a US firm a few years back. But some key people there have left and I feel a little bit unloved there too now (although more visible). That may be politics, as I was close to the departees. The firm hasn't really kept in touch with me while I've been on ML. Firm seems to have tanked a bit whilst I've been on leave, tbh (due to the key people leaving rather than my own ML, lol). Think am a good lawyer (certainly clients have really rated me and I have always had great appraisals). I want a meaningful career, but not sure that my end goal is partnership. Am breadwinner in household. I would like to work at a firm where I could really be appreciated. Should I be looking to move, or is that madness when just starting back? I'm concerned that I would have to really shine from the start somewhere new, whereas where I am now, there would be more flexibility to deal with a childcare crisis (since I am known entity). But I don't see a long term future where I am. Not sure what to do - I have heard rumours of family friendly firms, etc, but not sure this can be true in actuality.

No advice? I thought there would be a few MN-ers at their desks still...

I'm a partner in an accountancy firm, so not law firm

I believe that after any period of longish term absence, one should give it a fair go before making any decisions - 6 months or so.

You never know, all these personnel changes may well mean there are huge opportunities for you in the longer term

I am not a lawyer so I am not in your target group for wisdom sharing. However I do have a son of 15 months old and work full time. I vividly remember feeling unloved and vulnerable when I first returned to work and as my maternity leave drew to an end.

I'm not sure what brought it on as the working environment had not changed. I wonder now if it was related to being out of the cut and thrust of working life and the generally faster pace of being at work rather than at home. I found people harder to deal with than I had done previously.

Now I've been at work for 6 months I definitely feel more included and more valued. It did take a while to get back into things.

Thanks - I have to say my instinct agrees with you both, to give it a go first. It is very odd though to hear about fundamental changes at work second hand or to read about them in the trade press, and not having been called by the firm itself.

I was a city lawyer at a very large litigation firm doing litigation. I also felt unloved and unappreciated. They didn't keep in touch with me when I went on ML, in fact were quite negative about the whole baby thing.
I didn't go back there and found a job in house. I still work full time but in-house this is totally manageable. I feel like a better lawyer, my boss appreciates me, the work is good (but no longer exciting). And most importantly I see my DD every day which just wouldn't have been possible in the city. I know I would have spent my whole time proving to my old firm that nothing had changed since I had my DD but that's not true. I have changed and, to an extent, my priorities have changed.
I understand exactly what you mean about having to prove myself but I have found a boss who values working mums, knows how hard they work (I was lucky to have 2 other working mums in my department and they set a VERY good precedent). He appreciates that sometimes my DD is ill or can't go to nursery and has been flexible when I needed it. In return I work incredibly hard and bring a "city approach" to his department.
I gave up a lot to move in house (salary and glamour) but I really enjoy what I do and have found an excellent work-life balance. I have also found some very good female role models which I never did in private practice.

Give it a go first but consider thinking about in-house or maybe a slightly smaller firm where a bit more creativity/independence/entrepreneurialism/flexibility might be easier than at one of the behemoths? You'd need to work hard to start with to make an impression and earn the flexibility/trust you need to deal with childcare crises etc
Dipping your toe in the water and seeing what's out there doesn't mean you have to leave but exploring some other options may help inform your decision about what you want/need from your job and might help clarify your criteria and narrow the field a bit to help you in the future if you don't move now.

I'm neither a lawyer nor at a City firm but I have plenty of knowledge of both

Sorry to come to this late.

It can be quite unnerving after your first maternity leave, to try to remember the law. I think go back to your firm.

Also, as an interviewer, you always find yourself asking a mental question about how this individual will adapt to life as a working mum. If you are already a working mum when you come to interview, this question is less relevant - and you can rebuff them with your experience if you are interviewed by someone daft enough to ask!

I've been at a US firm and am now at a top 50 firm. The hours are a lot better here . I do real estate, and the hours are pretty predictable. I think the specialism is just as important as the size of firm, to be honest.

ex magic circle
do you want more children? if so, stay where you are, and pop them out fairly swiftly, THEN move to where you think you want to end up, telling them you have finished your family

If you move now, and then go on maternity leave, it will be ages before you (a) settle and (b) get taken seriously

I am a city lawyer coming to the end of ML2 - I was off for 12 months first time and returned to work part time (3 days). Was there for 10 months before the 2nd ML started and I will have been at home for 14 months by the time I go back in April. To be honest I think it totally depends on the individuals/team you work with. I have heard both great and horror storied from all sorts of firms. My lot have been really good and supportive but only a couple of people have kept in touch during ML. I think that everyone is so busy and absorbed in their work that they are just not interested in colleague's personal lives. Its nothing personal to you (or me, I hope ). Also its too expensive for employers to be anything other than supportive - as I was pg within 3 months of returning I never really got stuck back into it IYKWIM so am dreading going back this time! Maybe its time to think about no3... Seriously though I had decided not to go back this time but there has been a lot of personnel changes in my team too. Feedback is that it's much more positive and those that are left are much happier. Thought I ought to give it a go for 6 months or so.

I agree with others that you have to go back and give it a go, and obviously you do need to think about the impact on potential future ML entitlements if you decide to move. If you're not on a full on partnership track at present, it might be worth sounding the firm as to whether they'd be prepared to send you on secondment somewhere, after the first few months - hopefully somewhere with less horrendous hours and it would give you an opportunity to see whether you liked the in-house lifestyle. I suspect that much depends on what area of law you're in as to whether moving to a slightly smaller firm would help - as heavily transactional work is likely to raise similar issues whereever you are. Obviously a stint as a PSL is also a possible solution - I know many of the US firms are in the process of "gearing up" in the knowledge management area.

good luck with it!

Anniemac - I agree not a true picture of working mum life! Hence why I'm very nervous about going back this time!!