Types of FlexWork: Part I – Arrangements I’ve worked

Flexibility comes in many forms, and it’s only limited by your imagination. Once you get a handle on the needs of your family and law practice, you can design a proposal that fits both. Be creative, and be persistent in your quest!

My first part-time position grew out of a full-time job. Before I had kids, I worked as a full-time litigation associate at a partnership-track firm of about 30 attorneys. I returned in that capacity after I had my first child.

Consecutive full days

By the time my baby turned one, I was desperate (!) for a change. I made a proposal, and the firm agreed to let me reduce my hours. Their main condition was that I work consecutive days and be in the office full-time on those days. We agreed that I would work full days Tuesday through Thursday. I remained an employee, but was paid an hourly rate based on my billable hours.

I loved the three-day work schedule. It gave me four days off to be with my daughters, run errands when it wasn’t rush hour, and travel to see my parents out of town. It was easier to stay in professional mode for three days in a row rather than to skip days. I appreciated not having to pack diaper bags and lunches five days a week. (Oh, the food chopping and packing!) I kept this schedule until my first daughter was about three and I had a second baby. At that point, I opted to stay home.

Mondays off

After being a stay-at-home mom for over a year, I got the urge to go back to work. I knew that the attorney I’d previously worked for needed full-time support, so that wasn’t an option if I wanted to work part-time. I called up attorney friends in my general practice area to look for other options. With their help, I found a 70-attorney firm that had a sudden influx of work due to hurricanes that hit Texas beginning in 2005.

The firm had so much work, it was an all-hands-on-deck situation. Because my background was such a good fit, they were happy to have any amount of hours I could work. I committed to 20 hours a week, spread over 4 days, with Mondays off.

Having Mondays off started as a way for me to try to keep the long weekends I had at my prior job. It worked extremely well once my kids were in grade school because of all the one-off holidays. The random holidays were usually on Mondays, and they happened about once a month. So, I never had to ask for those days off or make up the hours some other way.

I kept this arrangement for several years until my kids got older and the hurricane work dried up. At that point, I was ready for more of a challenge.

Daily reduced hours

A recruiter helped me find my current part-time job. I had answered one of her ads for a part-time position that was filled before I even applied, but she liked my resume. She found a small insurance defense firm that was growing and needed help. The firm wasn’t sure exactly how much help it needed, so it didn’t want to commit to a full-timer. 

We agreed I’d work about 20 to 25 hours a week over the course of five days. I was sad to lose my Mondays off, but the challenging workload really needed daily attention. Plus, the firm had remote access, so I could easily log in and work from home on those random holidays or when the kids were sick. Call me crazy, but I’m not one who enjoys working from home. I prefer the quiet and focus of an office!  

This continues to be my current schedule. I do miss running errands on a weekday instead of with the crowds on weekends, but it really is easier to manage my practice with a daily presence. Also, I’m not missing out on any time with the kids because they’re in school all day.

The firm and I have developed a great working relationship. They know I’m conscientious about getting the work done, so they don’t need constant face time. If I decide to take time off, like during the winter holidays, they know I’ll work hard to meet my deadlines and monitor cases remotely if needed.

How do you flex?

Do you have experience with a different arrangement? Tell me about it!

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