Mums with a law background - flexible work?

[Lake9mo]

Hi everyone,

I'm a bit stuck - I have 2 children DD age 5 and DS age 2. I was a successful solicitor before DD was born, ambitious, financially secure, well-dressed etc. 5 years later, I've basically been pushed out my job, I am now a SAHM who wears the same clothes virtually every day, and I desperately need to get back to work from September for money and sanity reasons. Since DD was born, my priorities completely changed - I focused on her way more than work and now I am where I am. I love my children to bits, I always now want to be able to do drop-offs and pick-ups and put them to bed. I can't work around the clock anymore at a big law firm no matter how much they pay.

Has anyone been in a similar position? Anyone with a law background that found something that was "flexible"? I feel like I'm in catch 22- I need to earn money but also want to be there for my children. I've done tutoring since university, so I can do this on the side but I need something to keep me occupied from 9am-2pm every day.

It is very difficult. I do have a flexible job in law, but continued working throughout so served time long enough to get flexibility rather than having to get a new job with flex.

What was your area when you were practising before children? I think your best bet is likely to be a local authority or the government legal service, but some practice areas are more in demand than others.

I was like this too, I got flexible hours for a while but they ultimately pushed me out as it didn't fit their business model. I was a competition lawyer, so pretty niche! I know the CMA offers roles but I really don't know how flexible they are - I know they're supposed to be.

Ombudsman roles.

Same as PP I work in law and have great flexibility but I got that by working my way up to it and proving myself really, it’s not something they would advertise to hire someone freshly into.

Government roles would be worth a look, I know of someone who went from law into policy for gov and got the flexi that came with the job so definitely worth keeping a look on CS jobs- it wasn’t anywhere close to the solicitor salary she had previously though but the flexi was the big win for her there.

Some more flexible options that use your legal experience might be local government / civil service and regulatory bodies / ombudsman services. Also working in-house for a law firm e.g. compliance or business services roles can often be a lot more flexible than fee earning and open to different practice areas.