<p>SOOOOO, what do you guys think about the crazy hours (sometimes) lawyers must work and their families ? Isn’t such a hectic work schedule detrimental to the spouse and kids if the lawyer is so busy, or is never home ? How does this affect women lawyers, i mean, isn’t it harder to have kids and take time off of work with such a demanding job (besides the fact that the law firm will grant maternity leave and some pay) ? Also, lawyers are under a lot of stress a lot of the time, no ? ( of course people in all professions experience stress, but i mean relatively speaking) ?</p>
<p>The long hours lawyers work do have a tendency to put a strain on family life. </p>
<p>My wife and I are both lawyers; she put her career on hold when our children were born, and plans to return (on a greatly reduced schedule, she expects) when our youngest enters first grade next year. There is no question that taking a hiatus of several years in the prime of a professional career has a significant impact on the trajectory of that career.</p>
<p>I know women attorneys who married men whose careers are less time consuming. The two women I know who work as general counsels of public companies are both childless.</p>
<p>I agree with graybeard regarding the impact of law on women. If a woman wishes to have a full time high intensity law career, she will have much difficulty spending time with her children. Raising children is a full time career in itself, but that’s another story. </p>
<p>One benefit of being a lawyer with respect to having a family is this – lawyers are often self-employed. A woman lawyer with a family can work part-time depending on the market in which she works. The down side is that it is very difficult to have a part time practice that does not become a full time practice if the attorney is very good. </p>
<p>I have seen some women lawyers who simply take off for five or ten years and focus on their families. Once the kids are in school, they resume working. In a 40 to 50 year career, 5 or 10 years is not that significant. </p>
<p>I have also seen some women who actually believe they can convince their husbands that both of them will reduce their hours and equally devote time to the children. It’s great in theory, but I have yet to see it work.</p>
<p>greybeard, razorsharp, thanks for those posts. Greybeard: So you said that you’re wife is taking a break from her career because of your children, so when she returns to work, will it be harder for her to find a job (seeing as how she hasn’t been working for some time) ? What would you recommend for someone interested in law (and business, perhaps), would like to be financialy comfortable, but also wants to devote SUFFICIENT (not the bare minimum) time for his/her family and spouse ? Being a lawyer would seem like something I’d like to do, but if I’m going to be single with no kids, then I wouldn’t want that. Also, I’m thinking of going into corporate/business law and/or international law, isn’t that one of the specializations where long hours are the norm (as opposed to family law, maybe) ? Since you are a lawyer, can you please recommend specializations you find to be “good.” Please advise.</p>
<p>Gooduniforme,</p>
<p>My wife is leaning toward being self-employed when she returns to the labor market.</p>
<p>I have a friend who seems to be balancing an estates-and-trusts practice with her family life. I’ve known others who did the same with immigration and workers compensation cases. I’ve heard of others who did the same with family law.</p>
<p>hmm, I think you’re correct Greybeard, but then again, do “immigration, workers comp, family law” type of lawyers have as much advancement opportunities as lawyers who work in top business/corporate firms ?</p>
<p>They’re not your traditional “high powered” career paths. But they’re all ways one can earn a comfortable living while balancing work and family life.</p>
<p>thanks, Greybeard.</p>
<p>how about lawyers who work in the local prosecutor’s or public defender’s office?</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>you might find this article of interest: <a href=“Newsday | Long Island's & NYC's News Source - Newsday”>Newsday | Long Island's & NYC's News Source - Newsday;
<p>since the following thread recently came back up on the parent’s forum, i thought i’d post a link here – will show you what some lawyers (and former lawyers) thought about the lawyer lifestyle.<br>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=78046&page=1&pp=40[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=78046&page=1&pp=40</a></p>
<p>Its simple. To become a corporate lawyer you need to marry beforehand, and make sure she signs a prenup.</p>
<p>“Its simple. To become a corporate lawyer you need to marry beforehand, and make sure she signs a prenup.”</p>
<p>How silly!</p>
<p>Plenty of corporate lawyers are women, so “she” won’t be signing anything any time soon.</p>
<p>Sorry, I meant he/she.</p>
<p>but many pre-nups don’t hold up in court. Therefore, just transfer a lot of property on your parents name, if your relations are in good shape.</p>
<p>Courts typical disregard pre-nups if the parties weren’t represented by separate counsel, or if the circumstances under which they were executed suggest coercion. Barry Bonds’ detour to his lawyer’s office with his fiance on the way to their wedding comes to mind as an example. </p>
<p>But courts are well acquainted with the concept of fraudulent property transfers. Even if you have the sort of parents that would agree to enter into a conspiracy with you to defraud your spouse, don’t assume that the judge will be powerless to remedy the situation.</p>
<p>lol…that’s very true…however, there is one other option, get married to the right person and you’ll never need one (i.e. if you’re 50 and marrying someone who is 20 that’s probably not a good idea)</p>
<p>Considering that one party will definitely be a lawyer and the other party is likely to be one too, I doubt such a prenup would be ill-conceived in such a manner as to be deemed illegitimate in a court of law.</p>
<p>yeah, but what if they’re patent lawyers? :)</p>