Lawyer Redefined: Meet Jodi, ‘Part-Time’ Lawyer and ‘Mommy’ Blogger
Many lawyers dream about practicing part-time, but statistics show that few lawyers actually do, especially in big firms. When lawyers do take the part-time route, statistics show that most of them are women.
For many lawyers, part-time schedules offer the ideal flexibility for achieving work/life balance. While the part-time route is sometimes imperfect (think, lawyers who opt for part-time schedules but still work full-time hours WITH reduced benefits), it is often ideal, especially for lawyers with children or those interested in pursuing other dreams, such as launching a start-up without giving up the security of a paycheck.
If you've ever dreamed about part-time law, this Darling Hill interview may very well inspire you to set those dreams into motion.
Meet Jodi, a.k.a. Jodifur, a part-time, in house agency counsel at a child welfare agency, mom of a preschooler, and popular 'Mommy' Blogger. Jodi proves that lawyers can wear multiple hats, and wear them well--even with a part-time work schedule!
Darling Hill: Why did you decide to practice part-time?
Jodi: When I was pregnant I knew I never wanted to go back to work full time. With a government lawyer's salary it just didn't make sense. I approached my supervisor and she was very receptive.
Darling Hill: How did you get a part-time gig in the law?
Jodi: I resigned my position and they offered me a contract position. I did that for about a year and a half. At that point, the one part time attorney in my unit resigned and I was offered her position, so at that point I stopped contracting and went back 20 hours a week as a merit employee.
Luckily I have been able to juggle child care arrangements but "I don't work on Fridays" does not always fly with judges.
Darling Hill: What do you love--or hate--about part-time?
Jodi: I love that my job is flexible. As long as I don't have a trial I can move my days around. So, if my son is sick and I'm supposed to work that day, I can just work a different day. The hard thing is that I always feel like I have one foot in each world, the stay-at-home mom world and the working mom world. I am never really anywhere. On my off days I am checking my email and voicemail, and on my work days I am racing out to pick up my son.
Darling Hill: What's your prediction for the legal profession in terms of part-time/flexible practice options?
Jodi: I think the economic downturn will give us more part-time attorneys. Companies may discover they do not need to pay lawyers full time when they do not need them full time, and will be more willing to explore part-time or hourly options.
Darling Hill: How do other "full-time" lawyers react to your "part-time" arrangement?
Jodi: I don't get a lot of compliments from other lawyers, but because I litigate some judges are not so understanding when they set trials on days I am not in the office. Luckily I have been able to juggle child care arrangements but "I don't work on Fridays" does not always fly with judges.
Darling Hill: How do you fill your time when you're not practicing law?
Jodi: Taking care of my 3 year old.
Darling Hill: Where do you see yourself in five years in the law, or say, when your parenthood demands have changed from those associated with having a young child?
Jodi: I'm not sure. I don't see myself working full-time. I'm just not sure my household could handle two full-time working parents. I don't know how anyone gets anything done or how parents manage when a child gets sick. But maybe that will change when my son gets older. I'm very lucky in that I don't HAVE to work full time and I don't WANT to work full time, so it works out.
To read more about Jodi's life as a part-time lawyer and mom, check out her blog Jodifur.
Are you a Lawyer Redefined? If so, Darling Hill wants to spotlight you here. Gain exposure. Build your brand. Attract business. Inspire others. Prove it can be done. Email Ink [*at*] darlinghill [*dot*] com.
For more inspiration on following your dreams, check out Staying at Home, Staying in the Law: A Guide to Remaining Active in the Legal Profession While Pursuing Your Dreams and Darling Hill’s Legal Detours posts.
*Photo Courtesy of Jodi
© 2009 Darling Hill. All Rights Reserved.
3 Responses »
Leave a Response
Entries(RSS)
Thanks for the interview!
Thank you so much for sharing this!
I am a 3L, planning on graduating in May and taking the bar in July. I decided to have a child while in law school - I had my son over winter break after third semester and was back in school ten days later for to start my fourth semester! It has been hard, but worth it. This is a scary time to be starting a career, and I would love a part time gig like Jodi was worked her way into. The interview and this site are so inspirational, thank you so much!
Lucie
So glad to see someone writing about how possible it is to practice law part-time as opposed to how impossible! I was a part-time transactional corporate & securities lawyer at a large law firm (with a reputation for being a sweat shop) in the early 90s. It worked like a charm because I wasn't rigid about the logistics, although I was rigid about the overall time limit. Recognizing that any sort of fixed schedule doesn't work well with a transactional practice, I agreed to work 70% of the 2000 hours the firm considered full-time. When I was busy on deals, I worked nights & weekends like everyone else; when things calmed down, I took days or weeks off. When things didn't calm down on their own, I sat out projects, which gave me a chance to recommend my partners and help their practices grow as well. Of course, this took A+ organizational skills and a strong commitment to my priorities relative to family and to work, but it was very successful - for me and for the law firm.
The most important success factor, I think, was maintaining a full range of visibility and involvement. I didn't merely squeeze as many billable hours into my 1400 hours/year. I also co-chaired the Recruiting Committee, served on the Opinion Committee and the Corporate Department Executive Committee, chaired the Securities Group, and founded the Women's Forum, a network that grew to include 750 of Chicago's business and professional women. I'm a big believer in the theory that value contributed, rather than time spent, is the key to a successful legal career.
Thanks for the inspiring post!