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What advice do you have for lawyers who don’t want to give up their careers but who are considering making a transition in order to make more time for family and other commitments?This is a very common question among lawyers primarily because all professionals are looking for a way to stay professionally engaged and still meet their personal and family commitments. Every lawyer’s situation is different some might be looking to find time for a hobby or intellectual passion, while others might be trying to find a way to create more predictable family time. No matter what the motivation behind a transition there are some basic steps that can help ease the process. These steps can be broken down into three categories of exploration or self assessment: namely, you need to know what you want, you need to create a clear plan of action, and most importantly you need to advocate on your behalf. Let’s start with the first step: you need to know what you want to get what you want. Most attorneys can rattle off fairly quickly what it is that they don’t want but knowing what you don’t want just isn’t enough. Take time to figure out what options are out there at the firm or company. Do you want a full time schedule on flex time arrangement or part time schedule? Is there a precedent for this option and what is its history? Can you afford it financially? Can you afford it professionally? And if so, how long do you envision wanting this type of arrangement? What kind of ramp up and ramp off time will you need to make the transition efficient? The more knowledgeable, clear and specific you are about what you want the easier it will be for the firm to believe in your ability to make it work. Secondly, creating a clear plan of action in the form of a clear proposal lets your employer know that you take this transition seriously and that you have outlined what they can expect from you and what your remain committed to achieving. Create several drafts of the proposals to reflect your “dream situation” and your “best case scenario” and your “bottom line”. Have a friend, mentor or colleague review the proposal and offer insight and suggestions. A word of advice: all transitions are messy so help the process along by setting realistic expectations for yourself, and for your employer. Employers need to know what they can expect from you so that they can endorse your proposal with less ambivalence. Finally, put your legal skills to work for you to get what you want. You are going to need to advocate, advocate and then advocate some more. In the process keep in mind that your employer has to see that your proposal can benefit their interests as well. It is your job to convince your employer that you can maintain flexibility and demonstrate ongoing commitment to your clients and professional growth. |
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