How To Return To Work In The Law

How to return to work in the law

Attrition in the legal industry has perhaps never been higher, with many senior legal professionals who have worked diligently for years succumbing to the pressure of the role and seeking alternative employment outside of the industry. Routinely citing stress, poor career progression opportunities and a lack of work-life balance, these experienced professionals are either taking a career break or opting for a total change of direction.

It is not a one-way street

Not all lawyers who step away and seek a change will leave forever, and it is important that firms remember the benefits that have been delivered by any departing individual. The time and money that they have spent on nurturing and progressing that individual need not be lost forever if they facilitate their departure in a manner that leaves the door open for them to return in the future.

Some lawyers leave their jobs for personal reasons. Perhaps they have caring responsibilities that need to take priority for a while, or their partner's change of role or circumstances necessitates working fewer hours than their firm can accommodate. Perhaps a change of home makes the current commute unpalatable.?

Whether driven by a desire to return to the work that they love, or a need to improve family finances, many experienced senior legal practitioners will wish to pick up where they left off. If their previous firm can and is willing to accommodate them, this is often the fastest route back into legal practice.

For those lawyers whose previous firms cannot provide them with employment, the barriers to returning to the profession can sometimes feel unsurmountable. This may be due to limited support from their previously established professional network, a lack of suitable refresher training, and a dearth of opportunities for transferring to a firm or internal function that is better suited to their personal needs and career ambitions. Many will feel excluded due to a lack of flexible working opportunities.

Support is available

Although it is perhaps not as widely publicised as it might be, there is a specific returners scheme run by the Law Society. This aims to provide those wishing to return to work in the law with the knowledge and tools that they need to do so.?

The scheme not only supports those wishing to return to the profession in securing a suitable position but also encourages employers to consider the merits of recruiting an experienced legal professional who has taken a sabbatical and is now refreshed and ready to return. It promotes recognition of the fact that individuals will have gained valuable life experience during their time away and may have assimilated some useful transferable skills that will stand them in good stead for returning to legal work.

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The Law Society offers would-be returners the opportunity to participate in career seminars and peer to peer workshops, developing a support network that will enable them to nurture the contacts that will help them to hit the ground running once in a new post.

Many law firms are open in this post-COVID era to flexible working patterns, enabling staff to work remotely or in a hybrid fashion, thereby reducing travelling times and costs and affording their professional staff the autonomy that they crave to deliver their workload in balance with personal commitments.?

There is certainly an appetite within the industry to retain talented legal professionals and to welcome back those that are ready to return. We would urge any potential returners to explore all possibilities and not to dismiss the industry as no longer suited to their lifestyle.?

If you need some support if you're looking to return back to law, speak to our team at Interlink: [email protected]

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