How many of you JDs do not work anymore because it is not worth it financially?

[Anonymous]

I had my son in my second year of law school. Now that I graduated and he can go to daycare, I find that all law jobs with halfway family-friendly hours pay only $ 40-50k. My DH makes $ 450-500k. My net income would be $ 20-25k, while daycare costs $ 18k. The thought of working for nothing is so depressing. Do I have to wait until my child is a teenager to work at BigLaw (which is why I went to law school in the first place). My husband works such long hours that that would not be an option now. I don't want to have a nanny raise my kid.

The problem is that I do not have any work experience. I am almost convinced that I would not have a chance to find a decent job if I waited until my son grows up. I am thrilled to have this particular child, but I wish I had worked for a few years in the legal field before having children.

The lawyer moms out there, how would you handle this situation? For the record, I am only interested in private practice and maybe in-house, so no government, non-profit or academia.

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

You went to LS hoping for a BigLaw job? And now you don't have one? What does that tell you?

[Anonymous]

I am a lawyer mom but for a non-profit. Never had any interest in private practice. So I may not be who you want to hear from.

But here's the deal. You want to work in "BigLaw" but don't want to work those hours. So you have to make sacrifices. Or ask your DH to cut back his hours so you can live your dreams.

[Anonymous]

Any chance your husband would consider going in-house down the road so that you could both have a satisfying career?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You went to LS hoping for a BigLaw job? And now you don't have one? What does that tell you?

This. If you didn't get a Big Law offer out of law school, it will only become more and more difficult to get one later on. If you think you will suddenly be able to make the leap after years and years of being a SAHM, you are delusional.

[Anonymous]

I am not a lawyer but am married to one and know many many many of them well.

I think you first need to realize that the likelihood of you getting hired in house or by big law is slim to none. Even now, having not worked in a year or two and with reluctance to not do the hours. Flash forward several years, not getting any better. People get forced out of big law constantly, and those who make it there and make it through are major gunners. They're there now, clerking, putting in serious time and doing nothing else, and maaaaybe taking off time to be a mom after several years as an associate.

I think you need to readjust your goals/expectations.

[Anonymous]

Why do you want to work at BigLaw? For the prestige or money? Please don't say "training" since you won't get any there.

It doesn't sound like you need the money (since DH makes half a million dollars). And you can't work the long hours that BigLaw demands, so you're not in a position to make the big money anyway.

There are plenty of interesting jobs outside of BigLaw!!! Expand your horizons!

[Anonymous]

Is this for real?

[Anonymous]

You are not going to get a job in BigLaw if you didn't get it coming out of law school. You are not going to get a job in house with no legal work experience. Beggars can't be choosers, OP.

[Anonymous]

You are not going to get a job in BigLaw or in-house. You should be looking at small law firms. Please talk to your law school's career services office.

[Anonymous]

Also, why are you falling into the trap of taking the cost of daycare out of YOUR salary only?? Your family appears to be very well off at $500k. So the cost of day care should not even be a question.

[Anonymous]

Wait, were you joking, OP? Or do you really think you are going to get a job in BigLaw after years of being a SAHM?

[Anonymous]

[quote=AnonymousI find that all law jobs with halfway family-friendly hours pay only $ 40-50k.. .My net income would be $ 20-25k, while daycare costs $ 18k. The thought of working for nothing is so depressing.

Thanks in advance!

Here is where you lost me. If you earn $40-$50, your net income would e more like $30-$35 and daycare is far cheaper than $18k per year. And, even when you dont earn much money, you are increasing your future prospects - retirement savings, SS contributions, experience to get yourself a better job. You sound like you are trying to justify not working, not like you are looking realistically at your options.

[Anonymous]

pps, why are you assuming that OP has been out of work for years? She could have just graduated from law school. OP, why are you limiting yourself so much? Non-profit or government could be great options for a working mom.

[Anonymous]

Have you asked this question before? Someone recently had a similar circumstance, with similar responses. Those responses are not gonig to change. You cannot stay at home after graduating and expect the same fresh out of law school opportunities for work. If you take a few years off, your career will suffer. It sucks, but that's the way it is. You need a way to find good experience in a family friendly environment.