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[quote=Anonymous]OP, I'm sorry that you didn't fully understand the position before you took it.  I spent 6 years at a firm, the last with a child.  I actually enjoyed it, but not at all once I had a child.  I am now happily in government.

1.  Keep applying to USA Jobs.  Even though I was happy most of the time, there were many 2am nights over the years in which I sent out resumes.  It took about 100 before I actually focused, expanded my search greatly, was serious about it and got my current job, which I never would have considered years earlier.  6 months is nothing.

2.  Keep your eyes open for any possibility.  This will not be your long-term job, so try to learn as much as you can about other options while you are there.

3.  Keep non-billables to a minimum, but then again, you can't avoid them completely.  Just don't go volunteering for extra.  No pro bono unless asked directly - you will have time in your future to volunteer, this isn't it.

4.  If you aren't getting enough work, figure out why.

5.  If you are turning down any work, stop.  That is not permitted.  You must do all work asked of you.  Your schedule is irrelevant.  If you need to go home for an hour to put your kids to bed, do it, but then get back on your computer and pull an all nighter if necessary (and I can't believe that it isn't necessary ever).

6.  Be responsive at all times.

7.  Understand that you are expected to work 7 days a week.  Mirror the hours of those around you.  For me, that meant that I worked 9:30-8 three n ights a week.  2 nights a week until at least 11, often more like 3am.  And, anywhere from 10-24 hours on the weekend.  Never a day off.  I did a lot of non-billables during the day though.  I know someone who worked from 6am to 5pm consistently, and it worked for her.  She did go in every day at 6, and she also did some work at home occasionally after.  That wouldn't have worked in my group, but she lasted a while and landed well, so it was good for her.

8.  Reevaluate your child care.  Stagger schedules.  Get an au pair and a nanny.  You make a lot of money, but child care is expensive, especially in the quantity that you need it.  Don't kid yourself into thinking that you will be saving much now.

9.  Understand part time isn't made for you.  You can ask.  They might say yes.  But you are asking to be fired.  And, you will be.  Part time is for people like me - I was a consistent 2300+ hour biller for years with a very strong backing from powerful partners.  I went part time, although still billing about 1800 and working a much more flexible schedule than you seem willing to do.  But they knew they could count on me to never let anything drop, it would look bad if they didn't, and there was a chance that I would jump back in with even more force.  You don't have any of that.

10.  Staying at least two years will give you much more flexibility in the future.   This too will pass.  Hang on for the ride.  And, whatever you do, don't get golden handcuffs!!!  (ex.  do not let your spouse downgrade positions right now)

[quote=Anonymous]I'm a rising 3rd year at big law but just finished my first year at the firm because I did a clerkship.  I have two very young childe ren (both under 5!).  I'm drowning. What do I do

1.  Ask for reduced hours? If so, 50, 60, 70, 80?  What is ideal?
2.  Go in-house?
3.  Go to a non-profit?
4.  Go to a smaller firm?
5. Tell my husband to quit his job (I noticed that the male associates with children have SAHM or part-time working wives)

It's gotten harder throughout the year and at this point, I am expecting to be fired even though I do good work.  I just have too many other responsibilities and even with a full-time nanny, I need to be home at a decent hour at least 50% of the time to relieve her.  DH does relieve her half the time too but we are both exhausted.

I'm on track for 1800 hours and the firm min is 2000 so I will not make my hours.  I think the most hours that I can do and lead a normal life is 1600 (80%) because this year was very difficult.  My firm also has mandatory training during the year and none of those hours count toward the billable requirement.  And then there is an expectation to participate in recruiting and pitching -- neither count toward billable.  Plus, there is pro bono and those hours only partially count. If all my work counted, I would bill 2500+ hours. I did not take vacation and I worked every day.

I need help navigating where I should be trying to go in the next year.  I'm not in a rush but I do not want to be in this position next year.
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