This Is What Happens to Your Law Career After a Break

 

SUMMARY

This article provides advice for lawyers who have taken a break from their profession and are now looking to restart their careers. It discusses the importance of being prepared to explain the reasons for taking a break, showing employment stability, highlighting law firm experience, and utilizing education credentials to get back into legal practice. The article emphasizes that it is important to plan and have the right credentials to reenter the legal profession after a break successfully. Lastly, it encourages seeking professional assistance with finding the best placements for your skills and experience.
 
Are you considering taking a short break from your law firm job? If so, you may want to think again. Taking an extended leave of absence could damage your law career. This is because of how law firms view attorneys who take a break from law. Because of that, many aspiring and talented attorneys find it challenging to reenter the legal industry after a hiatus. Therefore, weigh the pros and cons carefully if you are considering taking a career break. 

Of course, you may have legitimate reasons for wanting to take time out from your law career. And many law firms understand that. However, a few months in the law industry can put you at a significant disadvantage when applying for a job. 

In this article, I will share my advice on keeping your law career plan on track to enjoy top success in law practice. And if you decide to take a career break, you will get some tips on getting a job in a law practice.
 

QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN THIS ARTICLE

 

• What are some ways to restart a legal career after taking a break?
  Be prepared to explain the reasons for taking a break, show employment stability, highlight your law firm experience, and use education credentials to get back into the legal profession.
   
• How can I demonstrate my dedication to a firm during the interview process?
  You can demonstrate your dedication to a firm by highlighting your work record and results before taking a break and showing that you plan on sticking around by having worked for the same law firm for several years or planning to start a family in the area.
   
• How can I increase my chances of being hired after taking a break?
  You can increase your chances of getting hired by having experience in a practice area currently in demand and highlighting outstanding academic credentials.
   
• What risks are associated with a break from working as an attorney?
  Taking a break from working as an attorney can be risky and difficult to restart your career. Additionally, you may lose out on salary and seniority.
   
• How can BCG Attorney Search help attorneys reenter the legal profession?
  BCG Attorney Search helps thousands of attorneys reenter the legal profession annually by finding the best placements for their skills and experience. They can help you get started in your search for a new job.

 

Reasons to Take a Break from Your Law Job

Let’s face it, life sometimes throws a curveball, and we must deal with it. Sometimes, an attorney could feel it’s best to take a break from their current position. For example, you may have to deal with a serious health condition, the sudden death of a close family member, or having a baby.

Even if you must deal with major life events, you should try only to use approved vacation time.

Of course, this sounds unfair, and it probably is. However, the truth is that hiring managers raise eyebrows when they notice an applicant with a significant gap in employment.

Additionally, it is vital to stress that your mental and physical health should always take priority. And if you need to care for a family member, that is also important. Finally, in some cases, looking at new career options may be necessary after you resolve current issues.

However, it will harm your law career if you decide you need a break because you are in a high-pressure career or want to pursue some personal lifestyle goals.
 

Why Law Firms Dislike Applicants with Career Breaks

There is a certain logic as to why law firms are suspicious of career lawyers who take extended breaks. Here is how it works.

College graduates leave law school with hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loans to pay off. Therefore, the first part of their career is to lower their debt and pay back loans.

Then, as lawyers progress in their careers, they take on more obligations—a mortgage, saving up for the kid’s college fund, and paying off car loans. Therefore, it seems illogical that an attorney with many obligations would suddenly stop working. Instead, they are willing to risk their family’s financial security to pursue personal whims.

From the other perspective, big law firms want attorneys who take on obligations. It means you must work hard and bill many hours to support your family and lifestyle. And it doesn’t matter how much your earn. For example, partners earning $2 or $3 million per year have a certain lifestyle to maintain.

Therefore, from the law firm’s perspective, it’s illogical why a successful attorney would make a career choice to take a break. The only logical explanation most law firms come up with is that the lawyer is somehow to blame. They typically put you into one of the following categories:
 

• You got fired
• You are not committed to your career
• You are not motivated to practice law
• You display rogue elements unsuitable for corporate law firms
• You must be independently wealthy and view law practice as a hobby, not serious work

Most law firms expect certain things from their attorneys. And to be successful working in a legal practice, it is vital to align with the company culture. This could also mean the type of neighborhood you live in, college education, and social status. And one thing law firms never expect—an attorney would willingly choose to take a gap year.
 

Reasons Never to Take a Hiatus from Your Law Job

The primary reason you should seriously consider if you must take a break is this—future law firms will assume, rightly or wrongly, that you got fired.

Of course, take a hiatus if you have a future job lined up or are considering an alternative career. However, suppose your goal is to return to the legal industry. In that case, think carefully if it’s the best choice.

Here are four reasons to avoid taking an extended career break if you want to get back into law.
 

1. Future employers think you got fired.

The most common reason to avoid a law career hiatus is that it looks bad on your resume.
Unfortunately, there is no rating system or agency for attorneys. Therefore, hiring managers can only judge you by your resume—law school education and employment stability. When they see a big gap in employment history, they assume you were asked to leave, got fired, or couldn’t get a job after leaving. 
Of course, an employment gap is not a big “no-no” for law firms. However, you are disadvantaged compared to a similar applicant with a stellar employment record and no significant gaps. And no law firm wants to hire an attorney who was fired in their career. 
 

2. Future employers assume you have mental health issues.

The second most common reason to avoid taking an extended break is that employers may assume you cannot deal with the stress of being a lawyer. Of course, lawyers get overworked, stressed, and suffer from burnout. And in cases with mental health issues, taking an extended break may be your only choice. 
Unfortunately, competitive law firms are not keen on employing someone who cannot keep up with the pace. Therefore, looking for a job in a smaller firm may be better, or going into a niche practice area with less competition.
 

3. Future employers think you are disloyal.

Taking an extended break in a law career could signal to future employers that you are not loyal. Working in the legal industry can be an intense experience due to its competitive nature. And this is how big law firms become profitable, rich, and successful. Attorneys are continually competing with each other, and law firms love it.
Therefore, taking a break sends the wrong message to law firm employers about priorities in your legal career.
Think about it from the perspective of big law firm clients. They want attorneys working for them who are “up for the fight” or “hungry for success.” They do not want someone who has lost their motivation to win cases. For example, would you want a doctor to treat you after he recently returned from a two or three-year break? Probably not. You would want a professional who is on top of their game. 
 

4. Future employers assume your legal skills will suffer.

Being away from the legal profession for an extended period will affect your legal skills. You must actively continue your education while taking a break to improve your skills as a competent lawyer. However, when taking time away from law practice, you are typically not thinking about it as intensely as if you were in a high-pressure law firm.
The same is true with anyone wanting to be top of their profession. Think about a sportsperson who takes a break for whatever reason. They need a lot of time and training to reenter their career where they left off. They typically come back at a lower grade and less prestigious team. The same is true in the legal profession.
 

How to Restart Your Legal Career After a Break

The good news is that you kickstart your career in the legal industry if you keep expectations realistic. Then, when applying for a new job, the recruitment managers will evaluate your stability and how your resume stacks up to the competition. 

Here are some ways you can successfully get back into practicing law after an extended break. 
 

Be prepared to explain the leave of absence

• The first thing during the interview process is to explain the reasons for taking a break. For example, let the hiring manager know if the gap was for circumstances beyond your control. Remember that attorneys are people with feelings, and they can empathize with legitimate reasons for a leave of absence. Then explain to them that you were not asked to leave or were fired or took a leave of absence due to a nervous breakdown. Of course, you must be honest in your explanations.

Show you have employment stability

• Recruitment managers want to hire attorneys who will stick around. After all, the recruitment process is lengthy and expensive, and law firms want stability. Therefore, in the interview process, highlight your work record and results before the gap. Show your potential employer that you will be an asset. Demonstrate your dedication to the firm and your work. Did you work for the same law firm for several years before you took a break? That can show a future employer that you plan on sticking around. Additionally, you can show stability if you have bought a house in the area or plan on starting a family.

Highlight your law firm experience

• Your chances of resuming a law career are greatly enhanced if you have a niche, in-demand practice area. Also, do you have specialized skills that could be an asset to a big law firm? You will increase your chances of getting hired if you have experience in a practice area currently in demand.

Use education credentials to get back into the legal profession

• You can highlight any outstanding academic credentials to get back into practicing law. Law firms often market their attorneys to potential clients by highlighting their law schools. So, saying that a lawyer went to Harvard, Yale, or Stanford could give the firm “bragging rights.” However, this tactic may not work if most of the firm’s attorneys graduated from the same school.

 

Taking a Break in Your Law Career — In Conclusion

Remember, the best time to take a break or a gap year is between college and law school. However, once you start your law career, taking a break can be a risky move. It will be difficult to restart your career.
Therefore, if you decide that taking a leave of absence is necessary, ensure to plan appropriately. For example, getting specialized skills before you leave can help you return to a good law job. Also, ensure your resume shows stability up until you take a break. 

At BCG Search, we help thousands of attorneys reenter the legal profession every year. We can find the best placements for your skills and experience. Contact us today to get started.
 

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