Should I quit my job?

[Anonymous]

I am a biglaw lawyer with small children. I work a reduced schudule, but it is equivalent to a normal full time job, and I have no control over my schedule. Husband makes about 5x what I do and travels a lot. We would be totally fine without my income. We have lots of insurance (life, disability, etc.) in the event something happens to my husband. If we got divorced (which I am not planning on, but who knows), I would obviously need to go back to work and think it would be very difficult to find a job that pays what I make now. I also worry about feeling isolated as a SAHM. Wwyd?

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

why'd you bother going to law school if you were going to quit and be a mommy?

[Anonymous]

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)).

[Anonymous]

I think you should keep your foot in the door. A friend of mine works at a non-profit, so has fairly stable hours, but she also is a contract attorney for a friend of hers who is a sole practitioner - when he's got a ton of work, he gives her some overflow. Sometimes it's five hours a week, sometimes 15.

Maybe you could get a contract gig like that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why'd you bother going to law school if you were going to quit and be a mommy?

Well, I have worked for more than 10 years and made a lot of $$$. Law school was also free because I got a scholarship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:why'd you bother going to law school if you were going to quit and be a mommy?

Maybe she enjoyed the first ten years of her career, and now her priorities and interests have changed? Imagine that! Nothing in life is forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think you should keep your foot in the door. A friend of mine works at a non-profit, so has fairly stable hours, but she also is a contract attorney for a friend of hers who is a sole practitioner - when he's got a ton of work, he gives her some overflow. Sometimes it's five hours a week, sometimes 15.

Maybe you could get a contract gig like that?

How does she handle childcare?

[Anonymous]

I would keep your job. By full time do you mean forty hours? That's not bad. The legal job market sucks, may very well suck for a long time. I would not give up a reduced hours big law job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would keep your job. By full time do you mean forty hours? That's not bad. The legal job market sucks, may very well suck for a long time. I would not give up a reduced hours big law job.

Yes. It averages out to about 40 hours a week. The problem is that some weeks are 20 hrs and some are 65. It is tough with children and a spouse who is gone a lot.

[Anonymous]

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/

[Anonymous]

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.

[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)).

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?

[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)).

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.

[Anonymous]

I'm in big law, but my husband stays at home. If I had the chance to quit, and knew that the finances worked out, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

And I think you can fill your time being a SAHM mom. Maybe you can actually do something useful and worthwhile with your time.

Because I don't know about you, but I spend about 95% of my day at work isolated, working quietly and diligently in my office. I think I'd really enjoy things like the junior league, non-profit board volunteer, kids activities, etc etc.