Comments on: Moms, Law and Change

By: tidhlaw

tidhlaw — Thu, 12 May 2005 22:28:36 +0000

Twenty two years ago, when I began my career, the comments in this post would have been unthinkable. Back then, women with top ranking from top law schools who chose to go the large firm route had to do it all. My two year old daughter was relegated into my sister’s capable care — while I threw myself full force into partnership track. My sister was the first to experience the usual milestones of my daughter’s development. During my pregnancy with my second child I continued to work against doctor’s orders, often working all night, sleeping in the women’s bathroom and buying new clothes the next day.
It was not until my third daughter was born that I realized that making partner was not worth the compromises I had been making. And the only regret I have about that decision is that I did not make it sooner.

By: Carolyn Elefant

Carolyn Elefant — Wed, 11 May 2005 06:59:07 +0000

As Lisa and other commentors have pointed out, one can’t work seriously from home without a stable childcare arrangements, which might range from an in home sitter to preschool programs or joint arrangement with other working parents. It really depends upon how much you’ll be working. Certainly, working with children running around does not benefit either parents or the children, though sometimes in a pinch, it’s necessary. And for parents who really want to do nothing more than follow trends to keep a foot in practice while their children are young, stable childcare might not be necessary.
Also, as the comments bear out, many of these “ideal” work-home set ups that we read about don’t just “happen.” They require advance planning and creativity – in other words, they require moms to invent a future and bring others along.

By: Lisa Solomon

Lisa Solomon — Tue, 10 May 2005 19:07:34 +0000

I found your lead quite accurate. I got married in 1995, and, since I planned to have children, in 1996 I started my own legal research and writing practice out of my home. At that time, the technology that facilitates this kind of practice was in its infancy: many of my clients didn’t even have e-mail, and I had to pull them kicking and screaming into the internet age. I now have a successful home-based practice that gives me a decent amount of “face time” with my 7 year old daughter and 2 1/2 year old son. The most important consideration is that, because I work for myself, I have a great deal of control over my workload.
That said, I am somewhat concerned about the picture presented by the Boston Globe article. If a mother (or anyone else who works at home) wants to be taken seriously, she still needs to separate work and home to a certain extent. A boisterous “kitchen office” does not seem conducive to in-depth legal thinking. Also, if you have young children and plan on working full time, child care is a must.
The ABA Journal addressed the topic of “lawyer-moms” with home offices in its November 2004 issue. The article is available on my website at http://www.questionoflaw.net/ABAJournalNovember2004.pdf

By: Dominique

Dominique — Tue, 10 May 2005 11:31:36 +0000

I’m a 3L whose about to take her last final exam tomorrow. I’m also the mother of two children, a 2 year old boy and a 6 month old girl. This fall I’ll be joining a large law firm in Washington DC, where I’ll be working a reduced schedule (80%), but it doesn’t quell my sense of impending doom that I won’t be happy there and that the sacrifice (being away from the kids) won’t have been worth the money. It seems ironic that even though, as a graduate of one of the nation’s top law schools, I’m supposed to have all these opportunities, making lots of money in a big law firm seems to be the only viable route. My friends in private practice, though child-less, are quickly getting burned out. What will become of me? This article is very inspirational to someone like me. The message that I don’t have to settle for being the fringe participant in the law firm community is a powerful one. I have the ability to chart my own course. But this requires a certain confidence, a certain lower level of risk aversion.
I guess we’ll see how it goes.

By: Michael Adams

Michael Adams — Tue, 10 May 2005 08:44:29 +0000

I am glad to see that other dads have the same idea. My oldest (of 4) suffered a brain injury, so either my wife or I must keep close contact with him. For a variety of reasons, we decided that it was best for me to stay home. I am now developing an estate planning practice from my home. It works well because drafting and printing are easily completed at home on my time. Face-time with clients is in their homes, either in the evenings or on weekends. My wife is also my notary, so she is available for document execution.

By: Carolyn Elefant

Carolyn Elefant — Tue, 10 May 2005 02:52:36 +0000

Thanks for the comment. To begin, I want to note that I didn’t intend for my post to overlook fathers who work part time (or stay home) with children; I had focused on moms since it was Mother’s Day.
I do agree that law readily accomodates a part time or partly home schedule. One of my sisters is a college professor engaged in scientific research and who runs a lab. There are times that she must physically be at the lab – she cannot do her work virtually. But that’s not the case for lawyers. And there are many practice areas that accomodate a schedule – a few litigation matters, appellate work is another.
I think that many people who choose law tend to be less entrepreneurial and creative and are looking for a stable career. Thus, they are less adept at thinking creatively about how to make a part time schedule work. But I do believe that is changing.

By: ctd

ctd — Mon, 09 May 2005 22:43:56 +0000

I am a (lawyer) father who works part time. I cannot imagine how you can work at home with a kid if you are sole carer – I honestly don’t think its fair on the kid (ie ‘go over there and play for 15 minutes’ – could easily become ‘go and watch tv for 4 hours’) let alone being fun for the adult.
But, having said that, it seems bizarre to me that more lawyers cannot work part time. After all, it is almost the ideal profession – you just take on less files.
Admittedly I think you need to work at least 2 and probably 3 days per week to keep things going and not over burden other staff. You also need a good assistant and other peope in the office to whom you can delegate. And, finally, there are certain areas in which you can’t work (those with high turnover, those with quick turnaround). But litigation, for example, is ideal – you know well in advance when the case will be on, when depositions or other court appearances are required. So long as the number of cases you have is reduced, there is very little difference in service quality.
Why this isn’t more often recognised is strange.

By: Inside Opinions: Legal Blogs

Inside Opinions: Legal Blogs — Mon, 09 May 2005 11:48:12 +0000

Working parents, law and change — How to make every day Mother’s or Father’s Day

Six years ago, the CEO of Women.com, Marlene McDaniel, walked into my cube, picked up my jangling cell phone, and turned it off.