Recent law grad/young mom here: how can I get law firm training without the 9 a.m.-7 p.m schedule?

[Anonymous]

Take a look at NITA courses or at skills courses offered at area law schools (sometimes these are offered in the summer over a week or two). They can provide you hands-on experience that you can leverage in job searches. NITA is wonderful, though pricey if I remember correctly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for your replies. This really sounds disheartening. What is the situation with part-time? I wouldn't mind working for reduced pay.

You are not going to be able to get a new job as a junior associate on a reduced time schedule. You need to put on your time and "earn" that option by proving you are valuable to the firm. And even then reduced time is likely still 9-6; 4 days a week at a big firm. And you are logging hours at night and on the weekends still.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for your replies. This really sounds disheartening. What is the situation with part-time? I wouldn't mind working for reduced pay.

Part-time means "only" 40 or so hours a week in the office and then ten at home.

Part-time really doesn't exist the way you think it does - in any field I'd expect - but particularly in law. Unless you're doing manual labor that can honestly just be stopped when you leave work - there is no part time!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How did you get through law school without actually learning anything about being a lawyer?

My guess is that it has something to do with the fact that she had a baby in the middle of it.

OP - you need to figure out what you want here - lots of time with baby or a job as a big-law lawyer in this city. Most jobs won't allow you to do both. Yeah, I've seen women on this board who claim to manage it all, but they must not sleep. I'm not even sure Paralegals can get away with what you're asking.

You're probably better off looking for a job that will value your legal training but may not be an actual lawyer position until you get to a point where you realize it's not worth time away from your kid or you're willing to sacrifice that to practice law. Or, I don't know, move to Juneau - maybe lawyers there can do what you're hoping for.

[Anonymous]

Op I was in a very similar situation to you. Don't be discouraged. I posted two years ago and just happened to mention that I had no debt and you would not believe how nasty the responses were. I think people were jealous and taking it out on me! I got posts like "this is why you wait to have children" etc. But I applied to the presidential management fellows program in the government and now work as a law and policy advisor. My job is fabulous, I love the people I work with, I get out at 4 pm (I start at 7:30), and most importantly I feel that it is both intellectually challenging and that I am getting the preparation to move into an attorney job in the government if that is something that I want, and I know that is something other people in my job have done. So most importantly, don't feel bad, having kids during law school is not bad- I had 1 during and 1 after and my grades were mediocre and I found a great job after 15 months and i am so happy. Focusing on your family is never a mistake- they are what's important.

[Anonymous]

My impression is that the legal market in DC still has a lot of lawyers looking for work. Many of them would be happy to work longer hours for a good job. I think the question is how do you compete with them. What makes you a better candidate than a recent grad willing to work unlimited hours?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op I was in a very similar situation to you. Don't be discouraged. I posted two years ago and just happened to mention that I had no debt and you would not believe how nasty the responses were. I think people were jealous and taking it out on me! I got posts like "this is why you wait to have children" etc. But I applied to the presidential management fellows program in the government and now work as a law and policy advisor. My job is fabulous, I love the people I work with, I get out at 4 pm (I start at 7:30), and most importantly I feel that it is both intellectually challenging and that I am getting the preparation to move into an attorney job in the government if that is something that I want, and I know that is something other people in my job have done. So most importantly, don't feel bad, having kids during law school is not bad- I had 1 during and 1 after and my grades were mediocre and I found a great job after 15 months and i am so happy. Focusing on your family is never a mistake- they are what's important.

OP here. Thanks much for sharing your story and your encouragement!

[Anonymous]

If you are open to non lawyer jobs, your legal training might be a good fit for a Contract Administration job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My impression is that the legal market in DC still has a lot of lawyers looking for work. Many of them would be happy to work longer hours for a good job. I think the question is how do you compete with them. What makes you a better candidate than a recent grad willing to work unlimited hours?

OP here. No, the question is rather "why should a law firm job necessarily mean with such long hours?" People just seem to accept this, yet in other countries being a lawyer at a law firm means regular hours (9-5 or 9-6,most of the time).

[Anonymous]

^^ uh oh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My impression is that the legal market in DC still has a lot of lawyers looking for work. Many of them would be happy to work longer hours for a good job. I think the question is how do you compete with them. What makes you a better candidate than a recent grad willing to work unlimited hours?

OP here. No, the question is rather "why should a law firm job necessarily mean with such long hours?" People just seem to accept this, yet in other countries being a lawyer at a law firm means regular hours (9-5 or 9-6,most of the time).

Move to another country!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My impression is that the legal market in DC still has a lot of lawyers looking for work. Many of them would be happy to work longer hours for a good job. I think the question is how do you compete with them. What makes you a better candidate than a recent grad willing to work unlimited hours?

OP here. No, the question is rather "why should a law firm job necessarily mean with such long hours?" People just seem to accept this, yet in other countries being a lawyer at a law firm means regular hours (9-5 or 9-6,most of the time).

Move to another country!

OP here. PP, you are entitled to your nasty opinion. But seriously, why should an entire career track be closed off to people (m/f) who value time with their family but otherwise enjoy this profession?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My impression is that the legal market in DC still has a lot of lawyers looking for work. Many of them would be happy to work longer hours for a good job. I think the question is how do you compete with them. What makes you a better candidate than a recent grad willing to work unlimited hours?

OP here. No, the question is rather "why should a law firm job necessarily mean with such long hours?" People just seem to accept this, yet in other countries being a lawyer at a law firm means regular hours (9-5 or 9-6,most of the time).

Move to another country!

OP here. PP, you are entitled to your nasty opinion. But seriously, why should an entire career track be closed off to people (m/f) who value time with their family but otherwise enjoy this profession?

I don't know why, but it just is. That is just the way the legal profession is. Work as a lawyer or don't. Your choice. But this shouldn't be a new revelation.

[Anonymous]

All of the lawyers I have worked with in other countries work long hours, too. And I have worked with many. Why do you think they work fewer hours? Do you have experience with them doing this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My impression is that the legal market in DC still has a lot of lawyers looking for work. Many of them would be happy to work longer hours for a good job. I think the question is how do you compete with them. What makes you a better candidate than a recent grad willing to work unlimited hours?

OP here. No, the question is rather "why should a law firm job necessarily mean with such long hours?" People just seem to accept this, yet in other countries being a lawyer at a law firm means regular hours (9-5 or 9-6,most of the time).

I'm wondering if you realized this before you chose the field or after having the baby?
I'm in healthcare partly due to knowing it is very easy to work part time or job share. Even my pediatrician friends job share.
I understand it's frustrating but complaining about the culture at this point is not going to help you, especially when you are looking for contacts and direction