Should I quit my job?

[Anonymous]

I did, no regrets. The choice is yours. I have never regretted being home with my child and making her the priority. We have a special needs kid and its a lot of work with the services and medical appointments. It was important to me to be there for all of that. You'll adjust. Join some of the meet up groups and other activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Would you consider volunteer work? Doesn't pay, but keeps your brain and your resume fresh, and you have much more control over your hours. Many organizations could use quality legal help. I volunteer through this group: http://dcvlp.org/

Sure. I wonder if that would be enough, though. Most of my friends who have left the practice of law don't intend to go back. I actually don't mind the work and if I had to go back to work, it is a good job that pays well.

Don't give up your job. You really have a pretty sweet deal. Nonprofit work is hard to find and pays next to nothing and has weird personalities. I would ride out your current gig for as long as you can. Maybe set more limits on what work you take.

[Anonymous]

What about transitioning to a law job in government? With some agencies or some departments in government, you can work a 35 or 40 hour work, telecommute from home some of the time, do flex time so you have every other Friday off, etc. You'd still keep skin in the game, government experience can make you more marketable in the long run (if you ever decided to transition back to private practice), you'd maybe have more control over your schedule (depends on the job and department, obviously), and you'd have more time at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd look for another job, perhaps part-time.

Doing what? I already work a reduced schedule. We have a very expensive nanny (and need her because one of my children has special needs). As it is, I don't make that much beyond what we need to pay her (although I do fully fund my 401(k)).

Then I don't understand what you're asking. You said you're worried about being a stay at home mom, but now you have this expensive nanny you have to pay for. Are you asking if you should keep your job or quit your job?

If I continue to work, I need to at least cover the Nancy's salary, so a job that is fun and doesn't pay that much isn't going to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd look for another job, perhaps part-time.

Doing what? I already work a reduced schedule. We have a very expensive nanny (and need her because one of my children has special needs). As it is, I don't make that much beyond what we need to pay her (although I do fully fund my 401(k)).

What? The BigLaw reduced schedule people I know make well over 200k, assuming they're more than a couple of years out, which I assume you are since you have three kids. If your job is essentially full-time, of course a part-time job would have less hours (and pay less, but you say the money is irrelevant). I work for non-profit and work about 30-35 hours a week, for example.

I make just about $200k/year on my reduced schedule. After taxes, 401(k), fsa and insurance, I take home about 40% of that. Nanny costs last year were about $65,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd look for another job, perhaps part-time.

Doing what? I already work a reduced schedule. We have a very expensive nanny (and need her because one of my children has special needs). As it is, I don't make that much beyond what we need to pay her (although I do fully fund my 401(k)).

What? The BigLaw reduced schedule people I know make well over 200k, assuming they're more than a couple of years out, which I assume you are since you have three kids. If your job is essentially full-time, of course a part-time job would have less hours (and pay less, but you say the money is irrelevant). I work for non-profit and work about 30-35 hours a week, for example.

I make just about $200k/year on my reduced schedule. After taxes, 401(k), fsa and insurance, I take home about 40% of that. Nanny costs last year were about $65,000

And I never said I had 3 kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd look for another job, perhaps part-time.

Doing what? I already work a reduced schedule. We have a very expensive nanny (and need her because one of my children has special needs). As it is, I don't make that much beyond what we need to pay her (although I do fully fund my 401(k)).

What? The BigLaw reduced schedule people I know make well over 200k, assuming they're more than a couple of years out, which I assume you are since you have three kids. If your job is essentially full-time, of course a part-time job would have less hours (and pay less, but you say the money is irrelevant). I work for non-profit and work about 30-35 hours a week, for example.

I make just about $200k/year on my reduced schedule. After taxes, 401(k), fsa and insurance, I take home about 40% of that. Nanny costs last year were about $65,000

OK, well something's off about your math. Most people pay those things, and take home more than 80k of a 200k/year salary. And you seem to be rejecting pretty much everyone's advice. And damn, that's a pricey nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd look for another job, perhaps part-time.

Doing what? I already work a reduced schedule. We have a very expensive nanny (and need her because one of my children has special needs). As it is, I don't make that much beyond what we need to pay her (although I do fully fund my 401(k)).

What? The BigLaw reduced schedule people I know make well over 200k, assuming they're more than a couple of years out, which I assume you are since you have three kids. If your job is essentially full-time, of course a part-time job would have less hours (and pay less, but you say the money is irrelevant). I work for non-profit and work about 30-35 hours a week, for example.

I make just about $200k/year on my reduced schedule. After taxes, 401(k), fsa and insurance, I take home about 40% of that. Nanny costs last year were about $65,000

OK, well something's off about your math. Most people pay those things, and take home more than 80k of a 200k/year salary. And you seem to be rejecting pretty much everyone's advice. And damn, that's a pricey nanny.

I am not lying. My income is taxed at the highest rate b/c of my husband. So, 40% just for federal. Add in state, FICA, and everything else, and there you go. Nanny is expensive. But if I continue to work, she stays.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about transitioning to a law job in government? With some agencies or some departments in government, you can work a 35 or 40 hour work, telecommute from home some of the time, do flex time so you have every other Friday off, etc. You'd still keep skin in the game, government experience can make you more marketable in the long run (if you ever decided to transition back to private practice), you'd maybe have more control over your schedule (depends on the job and department, obviously), and you'd have more time at home.

This is a good idea. I have had no luck finding this kind of job, though. I will keep on applying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd look for another job, perhaps part-time.

Doing what? I already work a reduced schedule. We have a very expensive nanny (and need her because one of my children has special needs). As it is, I don't make that much beyond what we need to pay her (although I do fully fund my 401(k)).

What? The BigLaw reduced schedule people I know make well over 200k, assuming they're more than a couple of years out, which I assume you are since you have three kids. If your job is essentially full-time, of course a part-time job would have less hours (and pay less, but you say the money is irrelevant). I work for non-profit and work about 30-35 hours a week, for example.

I make just about $200k/year on my reduced schedule. After taxes, 401(k), fsa and insurance, I take home about 40% of that. Nanny costs last year were about $65,000

OK, well something's off about your math. Most people pay those things, and take home more than 80k of a 200k/year salary. And you seem to be rejecting pretty much everyone's advice. And damn, that's a pricey nanny.

And I am not rejecting everyone's advice, I just want to know if others in my situation would keep this job or quit. Not get some unicorn of a job.

[Anonymous]

OP, we get it, you are a rich family. Quit law if you want, or don't. You are lucky to have the choice. Do what's best for you and your family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I did, no regrets. The choice is yours. I have never regretted being home with my child and making her the priority. We have a special needs kid and its a lot of work with the services and medical appointments. It was important to me to be there for all of that. You'll adjust. Join some of the meet up groups and other activities.

Was it a hard transition? Does it make you nervous that you would have a big gap on your résumé should you need to go back?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, we get it, you are a rich family. Quit law if you want, or don't. You are lucky to have the choice. Do what's best for you and your family.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

If I were in your shoes, I would quit my bl job. I would stay home, or perhaps hire a nanny for respite care - like 15 hours a week or something. I'd be a way more engaged mom, create a lot of pottery, cook from scratch regularly, hike at least weekly, and stay engaged with the legal profession by serving on the board of their school, or at a community organization or two that I cared about. But it's not about what I want, what do you want???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd look for another job, perhaps part-time.

Doing what? I already work a reduced schedule. We have a very expensive nanny (and need her because one of my children has special needs). As it is, I don't make that much beyond what we need to pay her (although I do fully fund my 401(k)).

Yes, but even you admit that its not really part-time. You said you don't need the money. Do you WANT to SAH? I really think that is the only question here.