DH didn't make partner - dealing with imminent major reduction of HHI

[Anonymous]

This is what happens when there is too much of one profession in one geographic area. [For all the tiger moms chanting: "lawyer, doctor, engineer, lawyer, doctor, engineer!"]. Seriously.

I second relocation, OP. For your own peace of mind.

[Anonymous]

OP- did you work as a nurse in the DC area? I am finding it hard to believe that you worked full-time and only made 40K. What kind of degree do you have? What type of setting did you work in?

If you want to keep your kids in a private school then you will need to go back to work. It should be easy enough to pick up weekend shifts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn't think about hospital shifts. I was making 40k/year before kids which was around 750/week take home which is exactly what daycare for two would cost.

LPN? try to look for prn positions , they pay more hourly since I assume you have insurance under your husband . Even a couple weekends per week at $30-35/ hour , just an estimate , could be another 1k/ month

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all, just for reality sake, there IS NO nursing shortage. Most areas of the country are over-saturated with nurses--those who don't feel they can afford to retire, all the way down to new grads trying to get a foot in the door. $80.000 is a pretty generous estimate for the salary you would probably earn as a nurse who's been out for 10 years, but most likely far more than $40,000. Have you kept your license current?
I agree with others that YOU are going to have to pull your weight as far as bringing in income. You can do night shifts, weekend packages, home health, lots of options out there. Are you an RN or an LPN?

Thank you for responding. Someone earlier made the outrageous claim that there is a massive nursing shortage. Not true at all. Because the economy is in the tank (yes even here in DC) many nurses are not retiring. This leaves a glut. It's exhausting when people cite employment refreshes from a decade ago.

PP here. I post regularly on a nursing forum. Almost daily there is a new grad post "I can't find a job, I thought there was a nursing shortage" and several responses like yours and mine. Is no one researching before they plunk down thousands of dollars on an education for a career in a completely over-saturated market?. Unless you want to move to SD

But new grads are probably looking for full-time work with benefits. I'm guessing OP doesn't need benefits and will be willing to take on these F and S 11pm-7am shifts that new grads don't want.

[Anonymous]

Kind of off topic , but when people say they are in nursing it could mean anything from a CNa ( nursing assistant ), LPN, or RN, or FNP which is a nurse practitioner . All have different levels of education ( I listed low to high ) and therefore different pay.
For example , a CNa makes $10-12/ hour in my facility , the FNP's are around 90-110k

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all, just for reality sake, there IS NO nursing shortage. Most areas of the country are over-saturated with nurses--those who don't feel they can afford to retire, all the way down to new grads trying to get a foot in the door. $80.000 is a pretty generous estimate for the salary you would probably earn as a nurse who's been out for 10 years, but most likely far more than $40,000. Have you kept your license current?
I agree with others that YOU are going to have to pull your weight as far as bringing in income. You can do night shifts, weekend packages, home health, lots of options out there. Are you an RN or an LPN?

Thank you for responding. Someone earlier made the outrageous claim that there is a massive nursing shortage. Not true at all. Because the economy is in the tank (yes even here in DC) many nurses are not retiring. This leaves a glut. It's exhausting when people cite employment refreshes from a decade ago.

PP here. I post regularly on a nursing forum. Almost daily there is a new grad post "I can't find a job, I thought there was a nursing shortage" and several responses like yours and mine. Is no one researching before they plunk down thousands of dollars on an education for a career in a completely over-saturated market?. Unless you want to move to SD

But new grads are probably looking for full-time work with benefits. I'm guessing OP doesn't need benefits and will be willing to take on these F and S 11pm-7am shifts that new grads don't want.

The new grads I know aren't picky--they'll take anything to get some experience and generate income to start paying back student loans! My DD isn't a nurse, but she is a college grad, working in banking, she plans on staying on our insurance for another 3 years since she can. She's using what she WOULD be paying for health insurance to put towards her loans. It doesn't cost us any more or less to have her on our plan, so we do it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is what happens when there is too much of one profession in one geographic area. [For all the tiger moms chanting: "lawyer, doctor, engineer, lawyer, doctor, engineer!"]. Seriously.

I second relocation, OP. For your own peace of mind.

I'd argue the exact opposite and suggest too many changes at the same time would be incredibly stressful for everyone in the family.

[Anonymous]

I graduated from law school ten years ago so pretty much all my friends are senior associates trying to figure out what the hell to do now that they aren't making partner.

First, op, this is extremely common. Hardly anyone is making partner these days. So he really should not be taking this as an ego blow. It is just the nature of the economy today.

Was he told he will be kicked out in six months, or will he be given more time? Unclear given the conflicting info in your posts.

He should be attacking this on all fronts:

1) meet his minimum billables so they have reason to keep him around
2) network and apply aggressively. It is very hard to get hired by the Feds these days. He should apply, but he should also be looking for in house and other law firms.

If he still hasn't found a stable job by the time next years tuition is due, out your kids in oublic school for fall 2015. Four private tuitions is not sustainable unless you make boatloads of money.

As to your job, there are tons of wealthy aging people in this area who could use a home health nurse. With your credentials and frankly your socioeconomic status, you could do that for a few hours or so every evening while your dh is with the kids if it comes to that. I think you will be able to find a job of some sort if he becomes unemployed.

But getting rid of that tuition demand is going to be key.

[Anonymous]

My DH didn't make partner the first year. It depends on the firm, some firms give a couple of years chance--I know you said your DH was depressed about it, but it often has to do with how many new partners they want to make given the firm's past and projected performance, and sometimes it comes down to an arm-wrestle between powerful partners. It is not solely based on what they think of an individual's performance--your DH needs to internalize that. My DH has now been on the other side (meaning, has been a partner at two big law firms) and it was a real eye-opener as to how those decisions get made.

Your DH will be able to figure out by reading the tea leaves (his superiors' carefully crafted statements and hints so as not to invite lawsuits or give promises) whether he should look for another job or wait another year. Really, he should look for another job while trying for partner again, unless the tea leaves say he will never make partner at that firm.

Re Catholic school. Hmm. You should go and talk to the school re financial aid. They give financial aid and no one knows who gets it and who doesn't. At our old (California) school, only the parish priest knew; not even the principal. If you are a good school family, they will want to keep you, OP. And remember, the Catholic church subsidizes everybody, which is why the tuition is so low--because they see it as an investment in the future, raising the next generation of Catholics.

That being said, we're in Arlington and cannot believe the incredible state of public schooling here. You can continue the kids via CCD, which is, imo, not as effective but will work in a pinch.

[Anonymous]

I also just found out I am not making partner. Reading this thread has thrown me into a panic. OP you're a good spouse for thinking about ways to help your DH get through this. I would definitely take the kids out of parochial. I know it will be hard but try not to act like it's a huge loss for the kids as I'm sure that will make him feel worse.

Good luck to you guys. As others have said you're certainly not the only ones in this situation. It's crazy how being a biglaw partner so very clearly is a misery yet we all feel devastated when we don't get it. Take care.

[Anonymous]

So glad I didn't go to law school.

[Anonymous]

To be honest did you really think your income would be 350K for the rest of your life? Most people burn out after a few years. It might make more sense to to go for the 160k for the long term.

[Anonymous]

Ok, if you've been out of the clinical area for 10 years, you have problems. The good shift work is hospital based, unless you go home health. Nights and weekends are full. Everyone else is using them to work without paying for child care already. You can go prn pool, but then you don't know if you'll work. Try out of the area a bit: Harrisonburg, a similar Maryland small town, Winchester maybe....I'm not thrilled with that hospital at all...apply for a med-surg job, nothing spectacular or sexy. If you present yourself well, they might take a chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So glad I didn't go to law school.

Besides becomes the scum of the earth the firms toss you out like a dead dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:First of all, just for reality sake, there IS NO nursing shortage. Most areas of the country are over-saturated with nurses--those who don't feel they can afford to retire, all the way down to new grads trying to get a foot in the door. $80.000 is a pretty generous estimate for the salary you would probably earn as a nurse who's been out for 10 years, but most likely far more than $40,000. Have you kept your license current?
I agree with others that YOU are going to have to pull your weight as far as bringing in income. You can do night shifts, weekend packages, home health, lots of options out there. Are you an RN or an LPN?

Thank you for responding. Someone earlier made the outrageous claim that there is a massive nursing shortage. Not true at all. Because the economy is in the tank (yes even here in DC) many nurses are not retiring. This leaves a glut. It's exhausting when people cite employment refreshes from a decade ago.

PP here. I post regularly on a nursing forum. Almost daily there is a new grad post "I can't find a job, I thought there was a nursing shortage" and several responses like yours and mine. Is no one researching before they plunk down thousands of dollars on an education for a career in a completely over-saturated market?. Unless you want to move to SD

But new grads are probably looking for full-time work with benefits. I'm guessing OP doesn't need benefits and will be willing to take on these F and S 11pm-7am shifts that new grads don't want.

What are you talking about? Are you even a nurse? Many people want and desire these shifts.

I have no idea why you continue to have a fantasy that theresults a nursing shortage. Only in demand are NPs.