Many legal professionals may choose – or be required – to take a break from their careers. In particular, many women take career breaks because of caring responsibilities which generally fall on them.
Following a six-year career break, I found myself drawn back to a career which I thoroughly enjoyed and filled with a passion to help people. I took the decision to break into the legal sector once again after already having to work hard to obtain a training contract and qualify. I knew that I would not be able to just apply and walk back into a role.
I qualified into the crime and regulatory sector. This required travel around the country, visiting clients in prisons and police stations at all times of the day and night. If you were on the police station rota you could be required to attend the police station at very unsociable hours.
I was therefore aware that given my caring commitments I would not be able to commit to the same working pattern. I would need an office-focused role but in an area of law I was passionate about. I knew it would be a difficult task and was prepared to take on a more junior or a paralegal position to gain a feel for the sector and grow in confidence.
I quickly realised that not only was it difficult to change disciplines, but also that there was no support for lawyers returning to the profession after a career break. I knew it would be an uphill struggle but was determined to overcome every possible hurdle.
I spent hours researching courses and potential areas of law that would enhance the experience I had gained. I also looked to my transferable skills and started applying for positions in the regulatory sector. This was wide-ranging and would allow me to use the experience I gained during my training contract and post-qualification. I sent applications to various firms and at times never heard back. I was becoming disheartened and felt dejected. My confidence was knocked considerably – I questioned my career choices and whether I should ever have taken a career break. At the time of taking time away from my career, I felt it was the best decision. I did not feel I would be doing my employer justice knowing that I could not give my job the best I was capable of, given my other responsibilities.
After trawling through jobs on the internet, I came across a post on Facebook by the Women Returners and the Law Society regarding a pilot scheme in which a number of firms were participating. The scheme was aimed at lawyers returning to the profession after a period of absence. I applied and was successful at interview with a local firm. This position not only gave me a chance to re-enter the profession and gain experience, but also the confidence I needed to go back to work.
Although this scheme was then the first of its kind, I have found many more firms following suit. Firms recognise there is so much untapped talent waiting for an opportunity.
Post-Covid, there has been a greater interest for people to return. The introduction of remote or hybrid working and also use of webinars for training and virtual coaching have all led to a higher number of people wanting to return to the profession. Firms are also offering peer-to-peer support, career clinics and refresher training. Firms are much more open to retraining, part-time hours and flexible working, which can be barriers for many who wish to return.
I would also like to point to potential pitfalls in which jobs offer a high degree of flexibility as part of their branding but where the reality is different. I have heard many stories of firms still working a rigid regime and where the billable hour makes any flexibility an impossibility.
A network of allies, colleagues, mentors and peers is extremely important. Always keep in touch with people and learn about what is happening in the legal market. Update your CV and make clear why you were on a career break. Also, did you add to your skills? If you were ‘only looking after the children’, that is a skill in itself. It teaches you time management, working under pressure, multi-tasking and so much more. We should never think our time out was not useful.
Sairah Hussain is a solicitor and member of the Junior Solicitors Network advisory committee
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