Anyone making a part-time Big Law career work with family life?

[Anonymous]

I worked with a 1400 requirement in biglaw for several years. I found it doable as long as I was flexible about when the work was done. For example, Friday afternoon/evening firedrills and weekends. I took advantage during other times when there were not pressing deadlines. This was not the case at my firm, but I am aware of other firms where this arrangement does not work out because the attorney ends up needing to work many hours over to meet expectations. Depends on the firm and the work, I think. If you do this, I would encourage an agreement on compensation if your hours are over a certain amount.

[Anonymous]

To me, you have to get the answer on the WFH options. If you are expected to come in 4-5 days a week I think that just sounds miserable. If it's 2-3 days it seems workable, especially if you are doing it for a year or 2 before going to government.

[Anonymous]

I'm a retired Biglaw partner, and my impression is that a 75 percent schedule for a regulatory lawyer would be no more than a 9 to 5 job. If your husband is home by 4 or 5 everyday, you are no different than any other couple where both are working.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is your spouse willing to add to their plate to support you? If husband is in government, he should have sick/annual leave available to cover kid appointments and days off - will he take on those days/duties on to support your transition? Will he help manage the household help?

Your plan is doable, but only if your husband is actually willing to do substantially more household management - especially in the first 1-2 years as you re-build your skills and your reputation at the new firm.

DH has good leave and can definitely handle appointments and stuff much of the year. But he does have busy periods and period of travel. There will be hard periods of time and I'm hoping we'll have enough other support (occasional grandparents, babysitters, carpools, etc) to make it work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, though I probably only work 50% and not 75%

OP here. Can you explain more? You do 50% of your firm’s billable requirements? Is that a formal arrangement, and are you still on the associate pay scale? I assume you work less than 40 hours per week at 50%? About how many hours do you put in total (not just billable)?

I work in a niche area. I worked at one firm as a real flex time associate and later switched firms on a real part time schedule arrangement. I am probably going to bill a little over 1000 hours this year. I get paid hourly and have no billable requirement. I am my own person with my own arrangement now and not on the associate pay scale. I also got paid hourly at the prior firm - though was on the associate pay scale then. Overall I think hourly pay is a fine approach for me because at least I get paid more if I work more. I basically only do billable work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To me, you have to get the answer on the WFH options. If you are expected to come in 4-5 days a week I think that just sounds miserable. If it's 2-3 days it seems workable, especially if you are doing it for a year or 2 before going to government.

I'll be able to work from home a 2-3 days at the beginning. But I don't know if that will last because the original reason for that flexibility was Covid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a retired Biglaw partner, and my impression is that a 75 percent schedule for a regulatory lawyer would be no more than a 9 to 5 job. If your husband is home by 4 or 5 everyday, you are no different than any other couple where both are working.

This is what I hope is true!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, though I probably only work 50% and not 75%

OP here. Can you explain more? You do 50% of your firm’s billable requirements? Is that a formal arrangement, and are you still on the associate pay scale? I assume you work less than 40 hours per week at 50%? About how many hours do you put in total (not just billable)?

I work in a niche area. I worked at one firm as a real flex time associate and later switched firms on a real part time schedule arrangement. I am probably going to bill a little over 1000 hours this year. I get paid hourly and have no billable requirement. I am my own person with my own arrangement now and not on the associate pay scale. I also got paid hourly at the prior firm - though was on the associate pay scale then. Overall I think hourly pay is a fine approach for me because at least I get paid more if I work more. I basically only do billable work.

Ah interesting. Thanks for explaining. Do you mind sharing about what you earn by the hour? Do you have to push to get work, or do you always have a good stream of work?

[Anonymous]

I think it really depends on the firm and whether you'd be coming in as counsel or an associate. Counsel, you could make it work. Associate, I think you may be billing way more than 1400 (a senior associate I know well is in a regulatory group and will hit 2800 this year but her 'target' is under 2000 - there is just SO much work and not enough people to do it). I'd think the firm is unbelievably slammed if they're willing to offer this to you, and may just be looking to get bodies in the door. I would very much doubt that you can consistently plan your schedule around 9-5 as an associate; this friend has a young child and is able to typically take half an hour between 6-7:30 to say goodnight to her kiddo but then works about 3-4 hours afterwards.

I'd also be sure to get WFH requirements in writing as part of your offer as I get the sense that firms are saying whatever it takes to get people to sign on.

Good luck though! I'm hoping I'm being overly cynical. Otherwise, maybe look at going in-house? I moved from biglaw to in-house and the flexibility is significantly better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, though I probably only work 50% and not 75%

OP here. Can you explain more? You do 50% of your firm’s billable requirements? Is that a formal arrangement, and are you still on the associate pay scale? I assume you work less than 40 hours per week at 50%? About how many hours do you put in total (not just billable)?

I work in a niche area. I worked at one firm as a real flex time associate and later switched firms on a real part time schedule arrangement. I am probably going to bill a little over 1000 hours this year. I get paid hourly and have no billable requirement. I am my own person with my own arrangement now and not on the associate pay scale. I also got paid hourly at the prior firm - though was on the associate pay scale then. Overall I think hourly pay is a fine approach for me because at least I get paid more if I work more. I basically only do billable work.

Ah interesting. Thanks for explaining. Do you mind sharing about what you earn by the hour? Do you have to push to get work, or do you always have a good stream of work?

My work is such that I almost always have more work than I want so it's not a problem for me to be paid hourly - I could see it being an issue if someone was going to be slow and wanted more money.
To get an idea for an hourly salary where you're looking - I would probably ask for the full time salary and the billable hours requirement and divide it.

[Anonymous]

I think it really depends on the practice and the people. I work in a group that is super flexible - zero face time required and pretty steady work. I'm full time technically but never make my hours - given the niche I practice, the firm seems to be okay with this though of course this may change at any time. I would definitely not agree to part time if I expect to be doing more than part time work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it really depends on the firm and whether you'd be coming in as counsel or an associate. Counsel, you could make it work. Associate, I think you may be billing way more than 1400 (a senior associate I know well is in a regulatory group and will hit 2800 this year but her 'target' is under 2000 - there is just SO much work and not enough people to do it). I'd think the firm is unbelievably slammed if they're willing to offer this to you, and may just be looking to get bodies in the door. I would very much doubt that you can consistently plan your schedule around 9-5 as an associate; this friend has a young child and is able to typically take half an hour between 6-7:30 to say goodnight to her kiddo but then works about 3-4 hours afterwards.

I'd also be sure to get WFH requirements in writing as part of your offer as I get the sense that firms are saying whatever it takes to get people to sign on.

Good luck though! I'm hoping I'm being overly cynical. Otherwise, maybe look at going in-house? I moved from biglaw to in-house and the flexibility is significantly better.

Biglaw partner here. I totally disagree with this. OP makes perfectly clear that she's not going back to Biglaw to get on the partnership track, but to make some money now and eventually move into the government. If that's truly the case, then she can afford to stick to her guns and put in the hours that she and the firm agreed to and that's that. It may cost her come bonus time, but that's it.

Will she be working 9 to 5 religiously? No. But a regulatory lawyer working 75 percent for $165k shouldn't be expected and shouldn't allow herself to be working more than an average of 8 hours a day.

[Anonymous]

I also have 3 kids. We have a house cleaner come every other week.
I do the laundry, my husband does the dishes
We take turns cooking
We have a lawn service
I do mornings alone here too.

Our house is cluttered as a general matter but it probably wouldn't unless I somehow was really able to change who I am as a person.
The housekeeper in addition to a house cleaner idea sounds cool but I probably couldn't make that work.

If you're willing to log on after the kids go to bed - I would think 10-6 should work. Some of my kids' activities start as early as 4:45 - I am not sure if that would be an issue for you or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Question: what is the salary for 75%? I’m not big law and I know they work lots of hours, but are 50 hour weeks a 75% commitment and does the salary link up?

Can you do that a couple of years then move to government? I think you’d be happier with a straight 40 given other responsibilities.

OP here. Depends on the firm and your level. In my case it would be $165,000. Yes- I would actually like to eventually move to government but those jobs in my practice area are hard to come by and I’ve got an in here with a firm after some time out. Also with bonus, I’ll probably make a lot more at a firm whereas in give me to I’m not sure how much I’d still bring home after paying aftercare, summer care, housekeeping, commuting cost, etc. It would be great to have several years of high pay to replace out old cars, do some much needed repairs and updates to our house, and boost college savings. I actually really like the firm and people too, just feeling worries about making the schedule work

165k for a full time job is a good salary. That is how I would look at it. This not a part time job, if you are working 10-6 and then getting back on at night and working weekends when needed. However, I suspect that there are less demanding or unpredictable jobs that you could get that would pay close enough to that, and you wouldn't need to hire so much outside help.

[Anonymous]

I did this for a few years. Now at gov't it's much better for me because of my independence and my kids are older.
Agree with saying no to things and sticking to boundaries.
Also to add to all the outsourcing, use instacart for groceries and/or some other delivery services for various foods - saves many hours, and lots of energy during the week.