Returning from Maternity Leave as a Lawyer – A Guide
When I returned from maternity leave after having each of my two children, there were few people to ask as there were so few senior female lawyers, let alone female lawyers with children, at the firm I worked for at the time. In fact, it’s one of the reasons I set up this community – so that there would be a place for women to give advice, support and encouragement to each other.
I asked my network for their advice and tips and here’s what they said. I’ve added my advice at the end.
No Time for Golf
Are you a boundary boss? Or does the word “yes” fall out of your mouth before you’ve even had chance to think?
My boundaries have historically been porous in the extreme. I rarely said no to anything as I hated disappointing people, even a tiny bit. As women we are socialized (and often expected) to say yes and help people, and it can be very hard for us to refuse a request, even when our plates are already overflowing.
What’s Your Law Origin Story?
What was the moment when you realized that you wanted to become a lawyer?
My parents strongly encouraged my two sisters and I to go down the law route. Both my parents were teachers when we were growing up and they repeatedly warned us against entering what they described as a “thankless profession”. We were studious and liked reading. My Dad informed us that our objective should be to find a job that we liked and which would involve “getting paid the most money for the least work”. I’m certain that law doesn’t meet the last criterion but it wasn’t bad advice overall. It’s no coincidence that two out of the three of us ended up as lawyers.
Try These Hacks for Incredible Productivity
I think the word “hack” is overused nowadays and I really don’t like it. We’re bombarded with supposed “hacks” that promise to make our lives easier but rarely deliver.
Well, here I am, with a hack! Wait - come back!
Seriously, this is something which has really helped me. It’s to do with time. And using the time we have in the best way possible.
A Huge Lesson I Learned at an Airport
I was taught the importance of kindness many years ago on a trip to Barcelona. My husband and I were queuing up to go through security. We were stood directly behind a family of four: mum, dad and two teenage kids. The dad seemed extremely stressed.
When one of the man's sons went through the scanner, he started bucking and shrieking. He was over 6 feet tall and it was alarming to watch. His dad did his best to restrain him and calm him down so they could get through.
And then it hit me: the man's son was autistic. The dad had done this before and knew what was coming; that’s why he’d been so stressed.