I am starting maternity leave soon. What is the best way to start clearing my desk without making it appear that I am shirking my duties? I am planning on working up to two days before the baby is due. However, I know that I won’t be able to take many more new projects because of the impending deadline...

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I’m in the same boat: due in 4 weeks. I’d actually recommend clearing your desk 2 weeks before... it will seem more like you’re shirking your work if you go into labor early and a transition plan is not already done.

Last week, I 1) checked in with each team on outstanding projects, timeline for finishing, and the off-loading plan to the next associate, 2) sent a “memo” with my planned dates of leave (with an asterisk that it’s dependent on the birth date and medical clearance) with a chart of all my matters, the status, and the contact person in my absence, 3) let them know I am a available during the transition until birth. This week, I am emailing the clients that I have direct contact with to let them know.

Good luck!

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Yes, this! I was put on unexpected restriction (not full bed rest but very limited activity) for three weeks. HR was great and insisted I comply, but it still took me a couple days to wrap up existing projects. A partner at my firm delivered early without transferring her workload and it caused chaos for her group. Prepare a plan a month ahead.

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My coworker did a great job of this. She put together an excel spreadsheet of all the matters, all upcoming deadlines, etc. She moved some case deadlines where it made sense to after her leave and then she suggested which associates should assist with each project - she stopped taking long term projects last month and was due Thursday but is still working since the baby is late and is just helping with short term projects and assisting with overflow

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All of the above tips are great. I work in a team-oriented practice, so I reached out to the partners on my cases about six weeks before my due date and asked whether they wanted me to get coverage (or just have the rest of the team handle) and, if so, if they had a preference on who covered. I gave the covering associate all the requisite background on the case and started looping them into emails with the client weeks before my due date. I thought this worked well because it reminded everyone that I was due soon, which was good because they hadn’t seen me for months with the shutdown. Because the covering associate was fully up to speed, that associate could step in on any project if I suddenly left. I think everyone viewed this approach as proactive and responsible.

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I agree with Associate 1. Pre-planning is key, because you just never know! Make sure all of your billing is totally up to date also (if it isn't already!) My son came unexpectedly and quickly while I was at work on my second to last day (I did make it to the hospital, but barely 😂) and I ended up having to put some remaining billing in that weekend with a brand new baby, which sucked. I think it looks more like you're being responsible and helping others out by being organized ahead of time.

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Wow y’all are really diligent. I left two weeks before my due date, and the week before that I reminded the partners on my deals that I was going on leave and asked if they needed anything from me. Checked in with the associates below me as well and asked the same thing. All said they were fine and didn’t need anything so that was that 🤷‍♀️. I’m in corporate though so it’s a little different since our deals rarely last more than a month or two tops.

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In addition to what’s already been stated above and I agree... I would transition at 2 weeks before and then just pitched in and helped on what was needed or continued on the cases with a CC: to transferring colleague so that they would see the movement and context instead of a cold transfer later.

I did a fluid matters list for my boss (I’m in-house) and updated the status and next steps at the end of each day & emailed it to him also. Better that he has then and deletes if not needed, rather than not have anything in case of my emergency.

Also, set your away message now with the mat leave message so that it’s ready to activate when you’re ready to go and you’re not messing around with it then. This all served well since I did end up delivering early and work transition was no-stress for me. Good luck!

I had 2 babies while working. I was irrationally afraid I would go into labor at work, so I set myself a date certain by which I would formally transition all work. I then wrote memos for each case, formally transferred them a week prior to my due date, and then worked from home until I gave birth, and offered to assist with projects until I gave birth. In one case, I got bored and drafted a winning msj brief a few hours before my water broke. I also took 6 months off with each child, so transitioning the cases was key, because I was out for an extended period. Good luck!

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