I last wrote about my career situation here. I accepted an offer to return, but it would not be (seriously) burning a bridge if I changed my mind before my start date. (It would be seriously burning a bridge if I started for another term and then bailed.) That said, I'm not exactly advertising the fact that I occasionally look at job postings....
So... I am thinking of applying for a law firm job. A firm has posted an opening for a new entry level associate, and unlike most job postings I've seen, I am qualified. I am hesitant to apply for a number of reasons, not the least of which is their requirement that I provide my references (which I guess would include my boss) up front. I would do it, though, if I were sure it was worthwhile to apply.
What I know: Solid local reputation. Most would consider it a small firm, but with about 18-20 attorneys, I would call mid-sized in my market. My only other firm experience is with a similar sized firm, so while I
understand each firm has its own culture, I at least have some idea of
what its like there. Its office is minutes from my house. I am interested in the practice areas listed in the opening, and what the firm does generally.
Almost all of the lawyers graduated law school in the 1970s, or earlier, making them in their 50s or older. The youngest lawyer, it appears, is exactly my age (based on the year he graduated college), but went to law school right out of college and therefore has been a working attorney for 12 years. I don't think I have any connections there -- no one in my network, as far as I know at this point, knows anyone there who can give me more insight than I got from perusing the website.
What I don't know: A lot. Salary. Billable requirement. Culture. How they'll view the fact that I have three kids, two very very young. Can I generally expect to be home for dinner and put my kids to bed, and work in the evening if necessary?
More importantly, if the answers to those questions are "best case scenario (law firm edition)" am I ready to climb onto the law firm treadmill? Each position I've taken since law school has had an expiration date. And while that has given me no small measure of trepidation, its also been an escape hatch: if I hate this, I'm done in x months. I didn't hate it, but part of that was the "best case scenario" in hours / work-life balance, though the salary was always lacking. And then I went and had two kids, so... ack, I don't know if I am able to take on "full time" employment if full time means 60-80 hours a week and a blackberry tether and never being able to make weekend plans again.
Also, if I decide to apply, do I mention the fact I'm on maternity leave in the cover letter? In the interview?
I don't think it hurts to apply. As far as mentioning about maternity leave, I do t know. Maybe some one else will have some advice. I've been applying to all kinds of jobs, even ones I probably couldn't accept. You ne'er know.
ReplyDeleteApply, apply, apply.
ReplyDeleteAs an attorney at a smallish (30 attorneys) firm, I think expectations are very different than they are at a big firm (which I've also done). Small firm clients tend to be more cost conscious, so there's less pressure to bill, bill, bill, and more pressure to get things done efficiently. That doesn't mean there won't be days/weeks where a small firm attorney might bill 60-80 hours, but I strongly suspect that would not be the norm, outside of a super-high-pressure-high-prestige boutique (which it doesn't necessarily sound like this is).
Don't mention that you're on leave in the cover letter; just apply. You are on leave, so you're technically still employed, yes? If it comes up in the interview context (and it probably will), you can casually mention you're on maternity leave. In fact, I think you SHOULD mention it -- you'll want to establish that you do have a family that includes young children and that you can't take a job that won't accommodate that. I mean, they can't ask, but you don't want to take a job where they think you don't have kids -- or don't care that you have kids.
That being said, consider whether private practice is what really want to do. Attorneys in private practice have to, to a certain extent, expect to be available outside of normal business hours. What you want to figure out is whether you can do that. And if you can, then you need to find out if this firm is the kind of place that understands that you have a life outside of work and will respect when that life takes precedence, even if you can't expect to be able to log off at 5 and not think about work until 8 the next day.
I could go on and on, and I'm happy to via email. Moving to a small firm from a term position and, before that, from a big firm, was the best decision I've ever made. It's still hard sometimes, but I can't imagine being as fulfilled in another setting right now.
This question sounds oddly familiar. ;)
ReplyDeleteAgree with everything Kristine said. Apply! Why not? And I wouldn't say anything about maternity leave unless it comes up. (Not because it implies you have a family, I just think it looks better to be currently working.) But I wouldn't list your boss as a reference -- if you have other references, list those, and if they ask you can say you'll give your boss as a reference when you're later in the process and they're serious about hiring you. They should understand that.
I say apply and don't mention maternity leave. A lot of times when they ask for references they'll also ask you when they can contact them (ex: contact only after telling me first so you can give them a head's up, contact only if I'm in the final running, etc).
ReplyDeleteI'll keep my fingers crossed. And keep us (royal and normal, haha) informed! :)
Ok, putting together an updated resume...
ReplyDeleteHi Butterflyfish,
ReplyDeleteI really hope this economy turns and that you soon find yourself busy and happy.