There are also new opportunities to work in emerging areas of law that did not exist when I was in practice or in law school. Fields like: Know what you don`t like to do. Not that you should avoid all the things you don`t like – but know what they are and take them into account when evaluating a new opportunity. We spend a lot of time and energy identifying and pursuing our passion. Part of this, however, is judging what makes you uncomfortable or motivates you in the workplace or is easy for you. For many of us lawyers, the time and effort required to study to begin a career in the legal profession may have seemed overwhelming and demanding at the time. However, think about what is necessary if you decide to return to the legal field after a long absence. This is a challenge that many face when they decide to practice law again. It`s about looking to the future and really communicating to make sure your colleagues and leaders know your goals and plans. Making sure people knew how I felt, what I wanted to do, how happy I was to be communicated while I`m away – I`m sure a lot of people don`t want to be contacted at all, but I was happy to be contacted from time to time, especially for important questions – and what would happen when I returned, All of this contributed to the smooth transition. Motherhood can be seen as a private or sensitive matter, so being open about it and communicating everything clearly has really helped eliminate that aspect and make things work effectively. Consider using the services of a career coach or resume consultant, or meeting with a legal recruiter who can help you optimize and shape your resume and application.
Position your “gap” and highlight your strengths, newly acquired skills (from your non-legal experience) and relevant work experience. They usually know the legal market better than anyone else. You know the opportunities available to you and employers who are likely to benefit or be accessible from your non-traditional career path. Let them work for you and present you in the best light. Any employer on the planet will want to know why you left the law in the first place. and why you want to come back. They will already look at you with a skeptical eye, so your reasons for coming back should be thoughtful, logical, and persuasive. If not, your chances of passing your legal interview are close to zero. Freshfields further narrows the gender and ethnic pay gap To do this, it focuses primarily on skills, as it is your unusual knowledge that sets you apart in today`s world. Taking a rare skill and combining it with a creative application is much more important than simply adapting to an existing form. When readers who are not lawyers write to me asking about career changes and fears, I often come back to this series of questions about risk assessment.
Once you have the worst-case scenarios under control, your fears darken much less from your heart and mind. At some point in their legal careers, most lawyers make a major job change. It can be a change in practice, a change from a law firm to an in-house firm, or even a change between the private and public sectors. In today`s digital world, access to experts and their knowledge has never been easier. Who can you work with to double your skills? Who can give an overview of their own journey to better inform themselves? This includes professionals in the emerging areas of law that I highlighted above. The more information you can gather on an individual level, the more informed decision you will make. Disillusionment with careers is not uncommon in the legal profession, especially among lawyers and paralegals. Therefore, it is advisable to read the literature and search websites for information about qualifications, tasks, educational requirements, salaries, and career prospects related to the legal situation you are interested in. You can also visit the career center of a local law school to learn more about the law school and the field of law. Talking to lawyers, law students, and other legal professionals about the nature of the profession will also broaden your knowledge base. I have known peers who had legal jobs but left for a number of reasons — dissatisfaction with work, extended health care or family responsibilities; and others who had taken a different career direction than they had difficulty finding employment in the legal profession after graduating from law school.
