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Rising Star
Sign me up for one!! 😂😂😂
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Chief
Also, don’t miss out on your kids’ childhoods because you’re worried about the math not lining up exactly. If you get 150 extra hours with your family but worked a little over your hours target or whatever, that’s a win. I would encourage you to look at the big picture. Every school event, every leisurely afternoon, is priceless.
I was in a similar position after my first baby and decided to go part time as of counsel at a big law firm. Ultimately I agree that in that position it’s not worth it because of the continued expectations to always be “on” but it probably depends on firm culture and your practice area.
For me part time at the firm I was at didn’t work and I ended up moving from my “minor market” big law office to a mid law full time counsel position (with the opportunity to be promoted to partner within 18 months) that had a similar compensation for the amount of hours billed.
This new position has been a million times better as far as pressure to perform goes. First, the partners don’t view me as a “lesser” employee because I’m technically not part time. Second my compensation structure is now tied to collections and not necessarily billable hours so they don’t care if I bill 1500 hours or 2000 hours, I just get paid for what I bill. Finally, the work expectations are a lot less. There are minimal emails after 5pm and it’s extremely rare to see a request to work on weekends, unlike in big law where I was expected to be online whenever needed. I am still billing at a high rate but it’s confined to a 8-5pm timeframe for the most part.
As for compensation, I’m planning on having more babies and in years that I take maternity leave my pay will be a bit less than what I was making in big law BUT in other years I will make more.
I tell you all of this because two years ago I wish I would have known that there were options out there for me and I definitely would have looked for a change sooner!
Lots of networking at bar association and industry events. And a little bit of luck! I tried to talk to attorneys inside the firm as well as attorneys outside of the firm who had interacted with them that could give me information about the attorneys, workload, reputation, expertise, etc.
I also think it helps that I was honest in interviews about wanting to move to the firm where I wouldn’t have to work every weekend and late night anymore. One of the things that stood out to me about the firm I joined was the tenure of attorneys here. A majority of the partners at this firm have been here for 20-30+ years, which I took as a good sign that it wasn’t a sweat shop.
Chief
PT is great! I’m getting pedicures with my kids right now after attending their school open house. I’m current on hours. The dream.
I did 80% after my first was born. That really wasn’t much of a reduction, and I worked the same as 100% but with a pay cut. After my second was born, I knew there was no way I could continue with 80% (nor did I want to). My firm allowed me to cut down to 50%. I typically work 17-20 hours a week, and I have the flexibility to work from home. Is it always perfect? No. I am a litigator, and there are times when I have to work more. That’s just the nature of the job. But for the most part, this arrangement has been a dream that’s allowed me to spend much more time with my children without having to give up my career entirely. Ask for the arrangement you want.
How do you manage your workload with this arrangement? Do you handle smaller projects, no in court, etc? Also are you paid hourly (asking because my old firm would not do a salaried position if billables went below 1450)? I would love this set up and am wondering what exactly to ask for.
I have a special work arrangement, which cut my billable hours and my pay. It’s good because I have more liberty to work at odd hours/ days without having to give much explanation, but at the end of the day I’m billing almost the same is just that my admin etc requirement went down. I also have more flexibility to work from home. So it has its pros but when you have to get something out, it just has to be done.
I’m a part time counsel (used to be a partner- decided it wasn’t for me). Supposed to be working roughly 28-30 hours a week. Some weeks it is less, but the last 2 weeks have been over 50 each and working both weekends an as the $&&!)$$& deal is FINALLY funding as I write this, I def wish they were paying me more 😂😂