Any Part Time Solicitors? Can you really work 2 or 3 days a week?

[FairyFay]

I am a private client solicitor (wills, trusts and probate but no conveyancing experience), 5 years qualified and trained at a top-flight private client firm. I have a 2.5 DD and an 8 month DS and didn't go back to work in between the two children.

I am now thinking about trying to find a role part time, ideally 2 days a week but certainly no more than 3 days. Alternatively I'd like to do something from home.

Has anyone else faced this? How easy/hard did you find it to find a suitable job, and does 2 or 3 days a week at a law firm really mean that or are you always getting calls on your day off?

Any and all advice very much appreciated.

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Thanks lisalisa, that was very helpful.

Can't give you any details I'm afraid, but I had coffee with a friend this morning who does a very similar job to yours (wills, tax planning etc). She does 3 days a week, but returns e-mails via her blackberry on her days off if necessary.

I do 3 days. Agree about the Blackberry - and you have to be flexible about your days which will be expensive with 2 preschoolers. 2 days is not enough, IMO, 3 is doable as long as you accept that it is up to you to make it work (and to convince others that it does!)

I work for a very large firm as an associate and returned part time after DS1. Initially I worked three days in the office and a day at home but a day at home really is impossible with a little one (or two). I simply don't believe anyone who says they do it unless they have childcare there.

Now returning after DS2 and am going back three full days and two half days a week. Its far easier to have two half days off than one whole day because you don't feel like you're dumping on anyone if they have to cover something for you. Plus you don't get as many interruptions as home because the chances are that if you desperately needed to speak to anyone (or they to you) you have managed to do it in the morning.

I'm really lucky and have managed to negotiate that I also get paid for an extra half a day but do the work to meet that target in the evenings when the DCs are in bed. Gives me the best of both worlds in that I get paid for four and a half days but still have two afternoons a week off with the DCs. It is hard work to hit targets though. No chatting during the working day and have banned myself from MN!

Bear in mind that some nurseries charge more for two mornings than for one whole day though so if you work half days your nursery costs might be slightly higher. Plus it can sometimes be difficult to get away on half days. You just have to be really firm with colleagues and clients about the fact that you have to leave.

I don't think you'll manage 2 days unless you job share. You just won't be around enough to do the job properly.

It has actually been said by some partners at my firm(!!) that anyone who works less than 4 days won't progress beyond assistant level. Whilst I don't agree that this should be the case as a matter of course I can see that in practice it is probably right. I have a colleague who does three days and it seems like she's never around.

The other thing (sorry to keep adding further thoughts) is that its far easier to go into a new firm full time and then drop your hours (if you can face this).

Thanks everyone. I think you've confirmed by thoughts that it's probably not do-able for me at the moment. I certainly don't want to go back full-time or anything approaching full-time while they are still so young. To be honest, child costs for two under threes will probably mean it's not even that financially sensible anyway.

It's probably best for me to wait until they are a bit older and then go back whole-heartedly rather than making a half-hearted effort now. Unless of course anyone hears of any not-to-be-missed part-time vacancy for a private client solicitor, in south west London

Thanks again

Can anyone tell me what happens re your practising certificate while you are not working? I'm also a solicitor who has recently decided not to return to work for the next few years as want to SAHM. Do I need to do anything in the meantime to keep my certificate valid?

I called the Law Society and was told that I could let it lapse while I was off and there were no formal requirements in order to apply for a new one later. If you want to stay on the Roll (and be allowed to call yourself a 'non-practising solicitor' ) then you pay £20 a year.

Hi

I was interested to read your discussion.

I have been trying to get a part time position as a solicitor for eight months now with no success at all.

I am so frustrated that no firms seem to do part time / flexi time etc that I am thinking of setting up my own firm with someone else who is also looking to go part time. That way we can do 2.5 days each and hopefully help other solicitors who want to do the same.

My husband (not a solicitor) works for a company that does all sorts of great working packages. Why is legal so far behind?

I do 5 days because I couldn't get part-time to work for me - watching this thread with interest.

FWIW I'm a really well paid computer programmer and I've gone back part time and am realising I'm not there enough to do things properly/fight my corner I suspect my career would have suffered less if I'd taken a proper break. My package is fantastic and I'm presently taking the money and running each month, but my reputation for excellence is sorely diminished and will take some rebuilding.

I had 7 years as SAHM then went back 2.5 days nearly 2 years ago. I'm a litigator and part time works for me; as a private client lawyer it should be easier. Private client lawyers are like gold dust at the moment so you should be able to get something. IME short days are the worst of both worlds. I tried it so could do school pick up bit did find it difficult to get out of the office on time. Now I do 2 full days and 1 day when I finish at lunchtime. I have learnt to tell people merely that I am not in the office on certain days rather than that I don't work them. That stops other staff and clients from classing me as a "part timer". For all they know I could be sitting as a DJ on my days off. I am flexible and do different days if I have court appointments but it's not very often. I rarely take calls on my days off. Hope this helps; I could rabbit on more!

I went back after my twins and it was very hard.
I'm a trial lawyer and when I had a case in court it was impossible to work PT that week.
I struggeld until the kids went to school then it was hopeless...holidays, sports days, sickness etc
In the end I gave up but now do something completely different.

Why don't you offer those services to clients on your own. There must be a market for that and better than working for an employer. I bet loads of mumsnetters for a start haven't even made a will.

I am a Legal Executive and used to do criminal defence work (completely impractical now with needing to be on call at night and weekends). I became a SAHM 7 years ago and have two children, aged 7 and 2 and a half. When my youngest starts school I would perhaps like to go back to work part time so am interested to read everyone's comments. I am concerned that I have been at home for so long that I may be considered unemployable! Also, I'd have to retrain in a different area of law or maybe work for the CPS. Sorry to witter away but all of this has been on my mind lately so it's interesting to hear other peoples' experiences with part time work. I feel that private practice is probably not well suited to part time work where there is often a culture of long work hours and not clock watching when you have to leave on time.