Can I salvage my career after SAHM 22 years?
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
| It's a little long in the day for a career, but you can get a job. |
Anonymous
NP who is in a similar position as OP - but with some key differences. Where do you recommend getting these doc review jobs? And are there opportunities for temp lawyers to do work other than doc review? Again, where best to look? |
Anonymous
No. I was an attorney in the EU, went to law school in a civil law country (law based on roman law and napoleonic code, zero idea about concept of common law). I did a LLM in IP law in the US, so other then Contracts and a legal writing course, all classes i took were about trademarks and copyright and licensing. Took a two month bar prep course starting at the end of May and took and passed the Bar in July at the first attempt. Stuff like criminal law, real estate, i saw them for the first time in the bar prep course. |
Anonymous
| I am not in a position to hire anyone right now but if I were, I would hire someone like you for a junior lawyer position. And I would do it gladly. You have the same prerequisites any junior lawyer would have (law school isn’t helpful anyway), and I would expect personal maturity and organizational skills. |
Anonymous
Okay, may be be after an year of prep. Lots of new grads fail bar so no big deal if she fails on first attempt. Point is that she is eligible. |
Anonymous
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Finding a non-volunteer position will be tough no matter what. A T5 law degree, and to a lesser degree a top undergrad, might convince employers to give you a chance in an entry level position--especially if they rarely attract applicants at that caliber.
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Anonymous
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OP, you made the right choices for you and your family at the time, but the reality is getting paid work as a lawyer is going to be extremely difficult.
I'd recommend volunteering at an organization, or for a cause, that interests you. And if you need paying employment, try a job where smarts an hustle are rewarded rather than raw knowledge -- say something in sales. I wish you luck. |
Anonymous
| To all the naysayers - it’s not impossible to do this, it’s just not easy and requires dedication and perseverance. OP will eventually find something. She just needs a sympathetic hiring manager (not a man, sorry they’re not helpful), and a job that underpays somewhat so that there aren’t too many applicants with actual experience. It’s doable. |
Anonymous
If you go to Indeed and specifically search on "doc review" or "document review" you will likely come up with a few hits. They may ask for experience but you can also probably talk your way into it if you sound capable. Also you might try putting your name in with firms that staff doc review, like Hire Counsel or Special Counsel. They would love to have more dependable people who want to work and get experience. |
Anonymous
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Also, I’m a lawyer who took 7 years off for kids and then dipped my toe back in with 2 months of doc review. Then I got a job directly with a firm doing doc review, then they later hired me on direct with benefits as a staff attorney, all of that took about 12-18 months. I think I applied for the doc review job through Hire Counsel.
There are definitely better jobs and this isn’t the solution if you ultimately want a 20 year satisfying legal career arc, probably. Doc review is a bit of a dead end unless you can turn it into being some electronic discovery expert work or similar. But it’s a job wi tbh a salary that can be done remotely. |
Anonymous
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I wouldn’t hire you.
The problem is that no one who spent 22 years unemployed will dedicate themselves to a job or even be able to prioritize it. People won’t take you seriously. Maybe 15 years ago, but not now. The ship sailed. Plenty of people with illnesses and special needs kids are gainfully employed. If that was your excuse for staying home for 22 years then something else will happen or come up as to a reason you can’t work. Maybe you’ll work for a short period of time but you’ll ultimately return to not working or wanting to work. |
Anonymous
Law school doesn't teach you ANYTHING for the bar? Did you go to Yale? If so, I agree. If not, no, law school teaches you quite a bit that it is on the bar. I do agree that OP could take a prep course and take the bar if needed. OP, did you keep up your law license I hope? |
Anonymous
That's what Bar Bri is for |
Anonymous
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If you really wanna work, I would start as a paralegal and get your foot in the door again.
I would hire you, I would want to see you prove yourself a bit, back in the working world again after over 20 years. Also, have you seen The Good Wife? Not quite the same of course the TV show but she goes back to work for a friend from school has to start over as a first year associate when everybody under her is 20 years younger than her. She struggles with it, but helps that she district attorney wife and gorgeous, and it’s a TV show. Great show though |