Hi Ladies,
If you are a litigation attorney, how far along in your pregnancy did you stop going to court? I am 28 weeks and each week that passes make it more difficult to walk through the court house with my files, litigate without getting out of breath, mustering up the energy to fight hard, etc. I am hoping my boss will allow me to work the last month before my leave without having to go to court, otherwise, I might have to ask my doctor to write me out earlier than 36 weeks.

You do what’s right for you. Feel good about it. 🙂

Lord—why does it have to be this way! Just sending hugs and prayers

I'd say it depends on your leave policy. When I was in govt and didn't get paid maternity leave (had to use PTO), I worked up until the last week so that I could use all of my time with my kids.

Did everything remote. My big issue was in person depositions. A lot of opposing counsel forced me to go in person to depositions that was tough and sucked. My situation is not unique either.

I’ll be 35 weeks on Thursday and still litigating. It hasn’t been a problem for me yet.

I was also fully remote for court appearances and depos. I would have gone out much sooner if I wasn’t because boy was it hard to move.

I stopped after my due date. My baby was late.

If you can, I would try to have early conversations of what the transition of your cases look like sooner than later, and make it a continued and ongoing conversation. Also, I don’t know if you have looked into whether it is applicable for your particular situation, but take a look at the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and any similar state laws.

I advised my managing partner that I would not be attending in-person hearings around 34 weeks after we had a joint conference call with a client about a motions hearing. I had no note from my doctor or anything. I just politely set a boundary and explained it was not in the interest of the clients, and I would like my hearings covered by other attorneys in the firm. I couldn’t even take the stress of thinking about going to court at that time. I received no push back, but I’ve also worked at firms I know would not be as receptive to my hard line.

I was at a hearing the day before I gave birth to my twins at 37weeks and 3 days. It wasn't the best day as I was having a fair amount of contractions. With my first I think I was in court when I was about 39 weeks but I had to have my paralegal call the judge's clerk to tell them that I had to wear sandals because my feet would not fit in any of my shoes. I don't remember any difficulty with my last one. I definitely worked up to the day I gave birth to all of them. I went into labor with my twins at the office.

I went to about 36-38 weeks for my two kids. I just asked the judge if I could sit down during longer hearings where I would normally stand. But I had pretty smooth pregnancies; I would have left earlier if I needed it!