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Family friendly LI Law Firms?
Where does someone begin to look for an attorney position which is flexible for someone with a family, who is willing to take a pay cut for less hours? DH and I are considering options and I am trying to decide what is my best bet. My experiece is in family law (not matrimonial, straight family law). I want something where I can put my baby first. I was considering joining a panel for family court.
Any ideas? Good websites to look at?
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Posted 10/5/09 4:38 PM  |
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Julianna07
LIF Infant
Member since 8/08 269 total posts
Name:
Jess
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Re: Family friendly LI Law Firms?
i am very fortunate that I work for a RVC firm and work four days a week. I also have about an hour for lunch where I can go to my inlaws and spend time with them!! GL
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| Posted 10/10/09 8:35 AM |
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Re: Family friendly LI Law Firms?
Posted by Julianna07
i am very fortunate that I work for a RVC firm and work four days a week. I also have about an hour for lunch where I can go to my inlaws and spend time with them!! GL
are you an attorney? how did you find your job?
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| Posted 10/10/09 8:43 AM |
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lizzie0612
LIF Infant
Member since 2/09 154 total posts
Name:
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Re: Family friendly LI Law Firms?
I'm an attorney. In my experience, you will have better luck with the smaller law firms. They tend to be more flexible in scheduling as well as with billable hour requirements. That having been said, I am currently not working for a firm (I do some per diem work) because the small firm I had been with for over a decade could not accept that I am now married with two young children and would need greater flexibility than I had when I first started working for them as a single/childless woman. Unfortunately, at this point, I haven't found a way to practice law and truly have a work/life balance. I don't mean for this to be negative, just my experience. I'm sure others have had better luck.
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| Posted 10/10/09 4:53 PM |
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Kara
Now Zagat Rated!
Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
Name:
They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: Family friendly LI Law Firms?
It really depends on what you mean by "family friendly" and "less hours."
Do you want a straight, set 40-hour work week? Part time?
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| Posted 10/12/09 11:45 AM |
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Re: Family friendly LI Law Firms?
Posted by Kara
It really depends on what you mean by "family friendly" and "less hours."
Do you want a straight, set 40-hour work week? Part time?
Either is fine.
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| Posted 10/12/09 12:04 PM |
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Magooo221
LIF Infant
Member since 5/05 215 total posts
Name:
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Re: Family friendly LI Law Firms?
Paralegal here looking for family friendly employment too...any suggestions?
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| Posted 10/12/09 4:28 PM |
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Sharon
So Big... So Fast!
Member since 5/05 2959 total posts
Name:
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Re: Family friendly LI Law Firms?
Posted by lizzie0612
I'm an attorney. In my experience, you will have better luck with the smaller law firms. They tend to be more flexible in scheduling as well as with billable hour requirements. That having been said, I am currently not working for a firm (I do some per diem work) because the small firm I had been with for over a decade could not accept that I am now married with two young children and would need greater flexibility than I had when I first started working for them as a single/childless woman. Unfortunately, at this point, I haven't found a way to practice law and truly have a work/life balance. I don't mean for this to be negative, just my experience. I'm sure others have had better luck.
I could have written this myself. i haven't been able to find a lawfirm that was that flexible for moms, so I am working out of the field at least until my children are in school F/T. Good Luck in your search.
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| Posted 10/13/09 2:14 PM |
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lizzie0612
LIF Infant
Member since 2/09 154 total posts
Name:
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Re: Family friendly LI Law Firms?
Posted by Sharon
Posted by lizzie0612
I'm an attorney. In my experience, you will have better luck with the smaller law firms. They tend to be more flexible in scheduling as well as with billable hour requirements. That having been said, I am currently not working for a firm (I do some per diem work) because the small firm I had been with for over a decade could not accept that I am now married with two young children and would need greater flexibility than I had when I first started working for them as a single/childless woman. Unfortunately, at this point, I haven't found a way to practice law and truly have a work/life balance. I don't mean for this to be negative, just my experience. I'm sure others have had better luck.
I could have written this myself. i haven't been able to find a lawfirm that was that flexible for moms, so I am working out of the field at least until my children are in school F/T. Good Luck in your search.
Sharon, I am sending you a FM
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| Posted 10/13/09 2:19 PM |
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EsquireFish
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 1259 total posts
Name:
G
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Re: Family friendly LI Law Firms?
In my experience, it depends less on the size of the law firm and more on the type of people you are working for. DH was once at a small LI firm that was very un-flexible with respect to his visitation with Stepson. I have been at a very small Manhattan firm that was very welcoming to alternative work arrangements (one mom was always out by 6 to get her daughter, one woman worked only 4 days a week) but also my current large Manhattan firm is flexible so long as you work for the right partners (one colleague works 80% so she can spend time with her child, and another works part-time FROM HOME so she can work around her child's schedule). But if they were to work for other partners, they might not have been able to get this schedule to fly. So keep in mind that even if you look for employment with small firms on LI, you might be interviewing with a partner that doesn't give a hoot about alternative work arrangements, or you might be interviewing with a partner that is willing to let you work from home 1-2 days a week or work an 80% schedule so you leave a little early every day.
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| Posted 10/14/09 6:10 PM |
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stickydust
Now a mommy of 2!!!
Member since 4/06 3164 total posts
Name:
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Re: Family friendly LI Law Firms?
I actually work In-house for a very large company but I work from home. I am incredibly lucky. It did not start out this way way and the arrangement evolved into this after working there a few years.
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| Posted 10/19/09 4:25 PM |
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KrisT
Two Boys for Me!!
Member since 1/07 5213 total posts
Name:
Kristin
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Re: Family friendly LI Law Firms?
Posted by EsquireFish
In my experience, it depends less on the size of the law firm and more on the type of people you are working for. DH was once at a small LI firm that was very un-flexible with respect to his visitation with Stepson. I have been at a very small Manhattan firm that was very welcoming to alternative work arrangements (one mom was always out by 6 to get her daughter, one woman worked only 4 days a week) but also my current large Manhattan firm is flexible so long as you work for the right partners (one colleague works 80% so she can spend time with her child, and another works part-time FROM HOME so she can work around her child's schedule). But if they were to work for other partners, they might not have been able to get this schedule to fly. So keep in mind that even if you look for employment with small firms on LI, you might be interviewing with a partner that doesn't give a hoot about alternative work arrangements, or you might be interviewing with a partner that is willing to let you work from home 1-2 days a week or work an 80% schedule so you leave a little early every day.
ITA with this!
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| Posted 10/20/09 6:24 PM |
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Re: Family friendly LI Law Firms?
Posted by KrisT
Posted by EsquireFish
In my experience, it depends less on the size of the law firm and more on the type of people you are working for. DH was once at a small LI firm that was very un-flexible with respect to his visitation with Stepson. I have been at a very small Manhattan firm that was very welcoming to alternative work arrangements (one mom was always out by 6 to get her daughter, one woman worked only 4 days a week) but also my current large Manhattan firm is flexible so long as you work for the right partners (one colleague works 80% so she can spend time with her child, and another works part-time FROM HOME so she can work around her child's schedule). But if they were to work for other partners, they might not have been able to get this schedule to fly. So keep in mind that even if you look for employment with small firms on LI, you might be interviewing with a partner that doesn't give a hoot about alternative work arrangements, or you might be interviewing with a partner that is willing to let you work from home 1-2 days a week or work an 80% schedule so you leave a little early every day.
ITA with this!
I am first going to try either going on my own doing 18B or public service. But I don't know if anyone in public service is hiring.
Is it just a matter of interviewing around and asking partners?
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| Posted 10/20/09 7:20 PM |
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EsquireFish
LIF Adult
Member since 3/09 1259 total posts
Name:
G
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Re: Family friendly LI Law Firms?
Posted by munchkinfacemama
Posted by KrisT
Posted by EsquireFish
In my experience, it depends less on the size of the law firm and more on the type of people you are working for. DH was once at a small LI firm that was very un-flexible with respect to his visitation with Stepson. I have been at a very small Manhattan firm that was very welcoming to alternative work arrangements (one mom was always out by 6 to get her daughter, one woman worked only 4 days a week) but also my current large Manhattan firm is flexible so long as you work for the right partners (one colleague works 80% so she can spend time with her child, and another works part-time FROM HOME so she can work around her child's schedule). But if they were to work for other partners, they might not have been able to get this schedule to fly. So keep in mind that even if you look for employment with small firms on LI, you might be interviewing with a partner that doesn't give a hoot about alternative work arrangements, or you might be interviewing with a partner that is willing to let you work from home 1-2 days a week or work an 80% schedule so you leave a little early every day.
ITA with this!
I am first going to try either going on my own doing 18B or public service. But I don't know if anyone in public service is hiring.
Is it just a matter of interviewing around and asking partners?
Sort of. Remember, an interview when you are not a first year associate works in more than one way -- yes, the partners are interviewing you, but you are also in a sense interviewing them to make sure you think you are a good fit for the firm. You may also, if offered a job, ask to speak to other women at the firm, so you can find out the true dish on what the work-life balance is really like. For example, the last time I looked for a job, I was interviewed mostly by partners and very senior associates. Once I was offered a position at three difference places, I decided to ask to talk to associates more at my class level (which all 3 firms accomodated) to get the true scoop on hours, quality of life, quality of work, etc. I received surprising answers from one firm and I was able to turn down that offer right away (they painted themselves as quality of life in exchange for a slightly lower salary, but then when I spoke to associates they were working just as long hours as anyone at a larger firm).
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| Posted 10/21/09 11:27 AM |
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HeatherRose
Life is Good :)
Member since 11/07 6605 total posts
Name:
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Re: Family friendly LI Law Firms?
does this mean your coming back to LI??? did I miss something??
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| Posted 10/21/09 12:18 PM |
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Agape08
LIF Adolescent
Member since 10/08 807 total posts
Name:
Kathy
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Re: Family friendly LI Law Firms?
i have never heard of "real" family friendly firms.....they all say they are but at the end of the day it's all about the benjamins....
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| Posted 10/29/09 9:43 PM |
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Aries14
Can't plan life...
Member since 8/08 2860 total posts
Name:
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Re: Family friendly LI Law Firms?
the gov't is very family friendly... at least where I am! Good Luck!
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| Posted 10/30/09 4:27 PM |
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Re: Family friendly LI Law Firms?
Posted by HeatherRose
does this mean your coming back to LI??? did I miss something??
Yes, but under wraps!
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| Posted 11/4/09 12:36 PM |
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