Can I salvage my career after SAHM 22 years?

[Anonymous]

AFter 9 years away, I took a "returnship" type course for lawyers and it did result in a one-year position, which then led to full-time work. Google around -- there are several programs like this for exactly your situation. There were women in my cohort who had been away around 20 years also. But also consider if your bar admission has lapsed. In my jurisdictions, you have to pay every year to maintain an inactive status. IF you don't do that, it lapses. If so, you'll need to start by studying and re-taking the bar.

[Anonymous]

OP,

1. Have you kept your license to practice law current?

2. What are your priorities in a job/career?Some extra $, flexible schedule, financial independence, socialization, career in a fulfilling role, helping people?

I generally agree with volunteering at an org you like for a cause you support, not necessarily as a lawyer, maybe as a contracts manager first. Get training. Go to some networking events. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people start with be kind… grow up

Because internet communities tend to be rude and judgmental and often unhelpful. Your reply is exhibit A.

So we should blow smoke up her behind? Honey, you’ll be a partner by the holidays if you apply today! Big Law or Bust!

NP. There is a wide gulf between blowing smoke and giving helpful advice without acting like a douche.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about being a paralegal or legal secretary to get back in the game.

You could be a court clerk.

That isn't a path to using your law degree as a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people start with be kind… grow up

Because internet communities tend to be rude and judgmental and often unhelpful. Your reply is exhibit A.

So we should blow smoke up her behind? Honey, you’ll be a partner by the holidays if you apply today! Big Law or Bust!

How on earth did you get that from "I still want to use my degree, even if it's to do pro bono work. I would love to help children or do human rights work."

[Anonymous]

If you are just looking for a legal job, you can probably make ~$30/hour doing document review. That will be a bit of a dead end, boring-ish, and not necessarily something you want to put on your resume, but it's a salary and can be done remotely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people start with be kind… grow up

Because internet communities tend to be rude and judgmental and often unhelpful. Your reply is exhibit A.

So we should blow smoke up her behind? Honey, you’ll be a partner by the holidays if you apply today! Big Law or Bust!

How on earth did you get that from "I still want to use my degree, even if it's to do pro bono work. I would love to help children or do human rights work."

She hasn't worked in these spaces, at least from her post! Her degree is outdated.

[Anonymous]

I am not in your market, but I work for a small lifestyle firm, and we would've hired you if you were willing to do 'grunt' work. We built our compensation model around working moms. For example, one attorney has a 1000-hour billable requirement and keeps a percentage of revenue billed over 1000 hours at EOY. The downside of working at a small firm is that I've billed over 2000 hours in a busy year because I didn't have help. I am sure something like this exists in your market, but finding it will probably be challenging. I would start by networking as much as you can - attend CLEs, get connected with your local women's bar association, and contact your law school career office. When you meet people, express that you are willing to start over in your career. I am unfamiliar with government or nonprofit positions, but I imagine you could find something with a prosecutor or public defender. I had a grandma attend law school with me (her ex paid tuition per their MSA), and she went on to work for 15 happy years in education law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people start with be kind… grow up

It was a blunt comment but the truth. Op is trying to salvage a career she never had. She never used her law degree. It's a big difference between someone who worked for X years vs someone with no experience.

Experience or no experience, she IS a lawyer.

Did she keep up her license?

She didn't need to but she can take bar anytime she wants.

lol, she can't just take the bar anytime she wants when she doesn't remember anything she learned.

Law school doesn’t teach you anything for the bar. You take a prep course and learn it all two months before the exam.

True, but I think the reason you’re able to learn it all from the prep course is because you had the full courses in law school. I don’t think you could learn everything from a prep course without having been exposed to it and spending the time to learn it.

I liked bar prep far more than law school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I know there are lots of lawyers here. Be kind, I've been though a lot. After graduation from law school /passing the bar, I got married right away and had a child who had lots of challenges. I stayed home to care for him. Then (of course) I got sick and was chronically ill for many years. I'm healing now. I don't regret staying at home to help my son. He's doing well now and I couldn't be more proud. But now that he's more independent, I feel like life has passed me by and I've lost any opportunity for a career. I still want to use my degree, even if it's to do pro bono work. I would love to help children or do human rights work. Sadly, I don't remember much from school and I don't know how useful I can be to anyone. How can I get back in? How can I find a mentor? Who would take me even as a volunteer with my non job history?

Hey there, OP, life has not passed you by - sounds like you have been very busy, even if the work you were doing did not pay.

I think you should figure out what you want to do - especially what area of the law. I suspect that in raising a son who faced many challenges, you have developed many skills - perhaps even have experience with advocating to get his needs met. If so, I imagine you can leverage that in some way. You’ll definitely need to do some critical thinking and some creative thinking, but you can do it. honestly, I think you can do almost anything after succeeding with your son and overcoming your own personal obstacles.

Can you go to big law? Probably not but I’m guessing that never interested you. You sound like a kind person with a big heart - there is a place for you and will use all the skills you’ve developed over the years to find your path.

Life has not passed you by, it sounds like you’ve been very engaged with it.

I wish you all the best.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do people start with be kind… grow up

Because internet communities tend to be rude and judgmental and often unhelpful. Your reply is exhibit A.

So we should blow smoke up her behind? Honey, you’ll be a partner by the holidays if you apply today! Big Law or Bust!

Your limited view of opportunities within the law is bafflingly narrow.

[Anonymous]

I’m a former lawyer who has maintained inactive bar licenses in two states for 20+ years after working as a lawyer for 5 years before being a SAHM for about 15 years. I am amazed at all the people who suggest OP can get a job as a lawyer after never having practiced and earning her degree 20 years ago! I went back to work outside of the law. Would never have thought anyone would hire me as a lawyer and went a different way. But can’t bring myself to stop paying bar dues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a former lawyer who has maintained inactive bar licenses in two states for 20+ years after working as a lawyer for 5 years before being a SAHM for about 15 years. I am amazed at all the people who suggest OP can get a job as a lawyer after never having practiced and earning her degree 20 years ago! I went back to work outside of the law. Would never have thought anyone would hire me as a lawyer and went a different way. But can’t bring myself to stop paying bar dues.

Where are “all the people” saying she can find work as a lawyer?

[Anonymous]

Do you know any lawyers who work at small nonprofits? Work your network. I think you should call a few lawyers who work at small nonprofits and ask them if they can use a volunteer. Be clear that you are willing to do whatever they need — make copies, take notes, small research projects. See what you can find that way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know there are lots of lawyers here. Be kind, I've been though a lot. After graduation from law school /passing the bar, I got married right away and had a child who had lots of challenges. I stayed home to care for him. Then (of course) I got sick and was chronically ill for many years. I'm healing now. I don't regret staying at home to help my son. He's doing well now and I couldn't be more proud. But now that he's more independent, I feel like life has passed me by and I've lost any opportunity for a career. I still want to use my degree, even if it's to do pro bono work. I would love to help children or do human rights work. Sadly, I don't remember much from school and I don't know how useful I can be to anyone. How can I get back in? How can I find a mentor? Who would take me even as a volunteer with my non job history?

Hey there, OP, life has not passed you by - sounds like you have been very busy, even if the work you were doing did not pay.

I think you should figure out what you want to do - especially what area of the law. I suspect that in raising a son who faced many challenges, you have developed many skills - perhaps even have experience with advocating to get his needs met. If so, I imagine you can leverage that in some way. You’ll definitely need to do some critical thinking and some creative thinking, but you can do it. honestly, I think you can do almost anything after succeeding with your son and overcoming your own personal obstacles.

Can you go to big law? Probably not but I’m guessing that never interested you. You sound like a kind person with a big heart - there is a place for you and will use all the skills you’ve developed over the years to find your path.

Life has not passed you by, it sounds like you’ve been very engaged with it.

I wish you all the best.

Lawyer here and agree with the bolded. For example, did you advocate for services at school? Or with the medical system? Any nonprofits or groups that helped you or that you're familiar with in this space?

I think focusing on some of that experience and contacting targeted nonprofits or services to offer to be a volunteer is a great first step. You can mention the JD and it will be seen as a plus even though they are not going to hire you for a lawyer job (they will want someone coming in with that expertise/experience.