Any lawyers out there? Need advice about maternity during training contract....

[georgimama]

Should name change for this but can't be arsed, always forget to change properly or end up with typos in my name!

I am currently doing a TC with a small firm. Deliberately chose a smaller firm as I already have a child and wanted better work life balance.

DH were planning to wait until after I finish in June next year before trying for no 2. Bit we do have fertility issues (although these were relatively easily addressed) and both are getting very broody.

Is having a baby during a TC career suicide? I know I am legally entitled to maternity like anyone else, but has anyone actually done it?

TIA

Should say DH and I, obviously. Sorry, toddler on lap.

bumpetybump

Anyone, please?

I know what the problem is, it's the title. All the lawyers think someone wants free legal advice.....

Oh sod it, I'm just going to do it. If I lose my job it's your fault you lot, you hear me!!!???

Try posting in legal, more lawyers hanging out there, rather than just employment ones!

Try 'Any lawyers taken maternity leave during training contract' as a title, doesn't sound like legal advice needed then.

There was someone on here with a couple of threads fairly recently who had been through something similar, so maybe do a search as well.

I know a couple of women who had children during their training contracts. Both were kept on on qualification, but this was in times of plenty. However I should say that I don't think either were viewed as "serious contenders" after qualification and one left her firm a year or so later after her firm turned down her flexible working application. Neither had children before they started working and both were at pretty agressive city firms (neither known for its progressive attitudes...) and it is of course possible that the way they handled working and having a child was the issue.

In short, I do not think it is career suicide but it is very important that you make it clear to your firm how serious you are about your career. Also you should check out the Law Soc guidelines on this issue - I think that you might be limited in how much leave you can have without having to extend your training contract.

hi - I found I was pregnant about 3 weeks into my TC. It was not a problem. I had known them for a couple of years beforehand so they knew I was committed - also I'd come from another career, so it wasn't like they could think I wasn't capable of doing a job. Was never a question of not being offered a job on qualification (and although things are different now, I don't think the baby would have been the issue which would have decided whether a got a job or not - all about whether the people on your seats thought you were any good or not). I was lucky that dd1 wasn't ill much and was a good sleeper, and I also have a supportive partner so I was able to put the work in when I needed to do the hours.)

Having said all that, I don't think I would choose to have a baby just then. The firm I work at now has two trainees with babies (another big firm) and again I don't think they are viewed less favourably for that, but it's perhaps not ideal having that extra thing to worry about all the time. A bit like when you're a student - of course it's possible, but it's a lot more fun to have a happy-go-lucky studenthood! Also FWIW, I'm finding a full time job with two little ones tough going, even with a pretty open-minded employer and a supportive dp. So perhaps there's no perfect time!

Sorry, just noticed replies!

Thanks all for points of view. I am not in a corporate firm nor likely to be, at least not until DS and any future offspring are significantly older.

I know that doing a TC with a young baby would be tough, but as I did my LPC part time whilst working FT when pregnant/on maternity leave and then back at work I have a fair idea what I'd be letting myself in for.

I will check out SRA website on the issue of leave - I think you can technically have the full 9 or 12 months but I would probably limit it to 6 so as not to delay things too long.

Cheers again!