Is there such a thing as a 9-to-5 in law these days?

[Anonymous]

Asking a question that I'm sure has been asked before in this forum. Several years ago I took a job with a boutique firm that held itself out as being family-friendly and has turned out to be anything but. I'm a person who works to live rather than vice versa and prioritizes family time. Is there any job in law these days (other than the federal government, which gets hundreds of applicants for ever open position) that is actually 9-to-5? I'd like to hear from people who know *firsthand.* It's always said that in-house and nonprofit jobs can offer good work/life balance, but that's also said about smaller firms, and clearly it isn't always true.

[Anonymous]

In house jobs vary greatly in hours. I generally work at least 8:30-6:30. I have colleagues who claim their previous in house jobs were closer to 9-5, but also have friends at other companies who work more than I do.

[Anonymous]

I’m sure high end government jobs , the ones that go to biglaw associates have 40 hour weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In house jobs vary greatly in hours. I generally work at least 8:30-6:30. I have colleagues who claim their previous in house jobs were closer to 9-5, but also have friends at other companies who work more than I do.

Did you feel comfortable asking about hours at your interview? If so, did the response that you were given turn out to be honest?

[Anonymous]

I had to switch to 32 hours. I still sometimes work a long day, or do a little extra from home, but even working more than 32, I still stay under 40. I can’t handle 10-16 hour days like I used to do in my late 20s/early 30s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In house jobs vary greatly in hours. I generally work at least 8:30-6:30. I have colleagues who claim their previous in house jobs were closer to 9-5, but also have friends at other companies who work more than I do.

Did you feel comfortable asking about hours at your interview? If so, did the response that you were given turn out to be honest?

I didn’t ask. In interviewing subsequent hires, I’ve come across very few candidates who do ask.

[Anonymous]

State gov. Beautiful hours, lots of flexibility, great benefits, whether work is interesting depends on agency, meh pay.

[Anonymous]

My DH. fed with 20 years of experience.

[Anonymous]

In house here, work about 55-55 hours a week and hate it.

I did work part time for awhile, but it was never really part time and I was always angry about working so much for part time pay.

[Anonymous]

Feds

State or local govt

Nonprofits

Policy/think tanks

[Anonymous]

I am not sure it is the hours, but the law firm environment. 55 hours in most in-house environments is 400,000 better than the law firm environment, in my experience.

[Anonymous]

In-house lawyer who works 8-5 and loving it! Vastly better than the 8 years Ivsoent making partner at at boutique firm that also advertised as family friendly but wasn’t.

[Anonymous]

I started my own firm. I work from my first court appearance in the morning to maybe 3pm most days.

[Anonymous]

I'm a fed now, but before that had an in-house job where I typically worked 8:30 to 4:30, and telecommuted 2 or 3 days a week. It helps to be efficient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am not sure it is the hours, but the law firm environment. 55 hours in most in-house environments is 400,000 better than the law firm environment, in my experience.

Agree. DH is in house and it's stressful, but nothing like billing hours and the cutthroat nature of most firms. He works about 830-6 plus a few weekend hours (so probabaly about 50 hours a week) for 180k including bonus. 10 years out of law school without great credentials.