Who Knew That Women Leaving the Law Would Need to Pay $9000 To Get Back In?

I knew that many law schools and bar associations were developing programs to help women who’ve left the law re-enter the profession. But have to admit that until I read this New York Times story (hat tip to Lisa Solomon), I had no idea how much these programs cost – as much as $9000. For that price, you could almost go back to law school – or start yourself a pretty nice shingle!

Do these pricy programs really provide women lawyers with the tools they need for re-entry. According to the Timesarticle, the program offers lectures on the law, advice on explaining resume gaps and computer training. And lawyers are also set up with an unpaid internship which can help them make contacts even if it doesn’t result in a paying job. At the same time, I felt that at some level, this kind of program exploits women lawyers’ fears that they’ll never find a job in the law once they’ve left the profession – and charges extortionist rates to assist them.

As I’ve posted here for some time, today, there are plenty of options for women who want to work part tiem and keep a foot in the door, or for those who leave the law to raise a family. And you don’t have to pay $9000 for them either. My upcoming book , Solo By Choice will have some materials on a part time practice. And you can also check out my past posts here at MyShingle on work life balance and on women lawyers, including Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor who found amazing success through alternative career paths. Finally, you can also check out my article on how young women lawyers can take charge of their careers.