Returning to your Legal Career after Maternity Leave
A legal career can be a challenging thing when it comes to taking time out to have a family. According to data from the Victorian legal services board , there are almost equal numbers of women and male lawyers in Victoria as at January 2017. In the early stages of their career from ages 20-40, women even outnumber men! This changes once they approach child bearing age.
At Legal People, we are often asked by female lawyers how to go about returning to their career once they have finished maternity leave. We agree it can be a challenge, particularly if your priorities have changed post kids and you want more flexibility in your role than you had before.
Some employees will want to return to their pre-family role that they have worked hard to earn. They may be happy arranging the extra support at home to make this happen.
In some instances, a Firm will come to the party with a flexible role. Some understand the investment they have made in the career of the employee and the value flexibility adds to employee retention and engagement. These firms are also aware that research has shown part time employees are highly productive and efficient. Having said that, as a rule of thumb, the legal industry has been slower than some to embrace flexibility and job share possibilities.
So what do you do if your employer will only have you back to your old role at its former terms and conditions? (i.e. full time, available to clients 24/7 or with plenty of travel required?) The employment law gives carers the right to request flexible working conditions where they have children under school age. In theory an employer can only refuse on reasonable grounds. We recommend putting a lot of thought and effort into your flexible working proposal ensuring it is of equal benefit to both you and your employer.
But what if a solution to both parties cannot be reached?
This may mean for you that it's time to start looking for a new role that can accommodate most, if not all, of your requirements.
You may notice that advertised roles that offer part time or flexible hours are not that common and are highly contested. It is worth enquiring with the advertiser, even if a full-time role, whether the employer or client might be open to part-time &/or flexibile working hours.
Tips for maximising your success:
- Research firms that have good track records as employers of women and good reputations in relation to diversity.
- Target roles that include the word flexibility in their job description.
- Ensure you discuss with your recruitment consultant the best approach for negotiating flexibility for this particular role and firm.
- It will be easier to find something the more days you are available. Consider a 4 day a week role to begin with or ascertain the possibility of working remotely from home at least 1 day/week.
- Consider offering to be contactable out of hours for emergencies in exchange for flexibility.
- If you have worked in a flexible way before or with autonomy and remote access, make sure a prospective employer is aware of this.
- Talk to other people in the Legal industry that have gone before you. How did they make flexibility and raising a family work? Is there anything you can learn from them?
Ways to see if a company is family friendly:
- Does their website mention flexible working hours or remote working?
- Ask about a typical day whilst you are in an interview
- See whether you can see examples of other employees working flexibly
If an employer can’t offer you flexibility and it is your number one career priority, then you have to conclude that your values are out of alignment. You should look elsewhere.
Should you manage to negotiate a flexible role, it is your responsibility to make it work for both your employer and yourself.
If you are looking for a new role in the Legal Industry in Melbourne, Australia, then get in touch with us here at Legal People. We are specialists in the Legal Industry and recruit Lawyers, Support staff and HR professionals. If you enjoyed reading this article, you can follow our Company Page on LinkedIn for regular updates. These are specific to the Melbourne Legal Industry and career advice for legal professionals.
