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I feel very sorry for the writer. I am a practitioner who is well past the age where my kids need home schooling, and my son who is a solicitor does not yet have kids.

In my time in the profession I have seen the troubles that can attach to practitioners with kids, especially those who have, in substance, primary responsibility for raising kids..

My advice to the writer would be to decide what she feels she needs (eg, become part time for a bit), and then take the initiative and tell her firm what she needs. Most firms I know would be more than happy to help. If she needs a period of part time work, just say so.



I am not being unfeeling when I say that sometimes (or even often) women have to take the initiative. I like to think that I am sensitive to these issues (my wife is also a solicitor, and has taken a lead in her firm about improved conditions for working mothers). It would be futile to assume that male dominated firms, even with the best intentions, understand what is needed to support working mothers.