New York Lawyer
April 28, 2005

Q:
I am a fifth-year associate at a large regional firm and have recently been offered a position at a large national firm that is more money, closer to home and would offer more interesting work. I am anxious about the opportunity but somewhat hesitant to accept the offer because my husband and I are trying to have a baby. Will partners resent it if I start a new job and am pregnant shortly thereafter? I do intend to work part time after a baby.

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A:

Obviously it can be awkward to start work on a full-time basis, only to ask to change your status very shortly thereafter. To cut to the chase: Yes, if you start a job and then immediately or soon thereafter leave on maternity leave, asking to return on a part- time basis, partners will resent it. That�s a fact, leaving aside that they can�t discriminate against you on the basis of your pregnancy.

I would start the analysis by figuring out what you would like to do from a professional standpoint. At present you are with a regional firm, which probably is somewhat less demanding. Also, the people you work with know you and presumably trust you. If you were to remain there, it would be far easier to convince them to allow you to do a part-time schedule, than if you were to go somewhere as a brand new person with no track record.

So carefully evaluate the advantages present in the firm where you are already a known quantity. It could be that it makes more sense to stay where you are during the time period when you want flexible work arrangements.

However, if you want to go the national firm very much (which will be at least as demanding as the regional firm and probably more so), and believe that you could make a long-term career with this firm, then you should seriously consider it. Remember, however, that the new firm will not know you or have anything invested in you. If, shortly after joining, you go out on maternity leave and then ask for a reduced hours schedule, they of course are under no obligation to provide such a schedule for you. They will be far less likely to provide such a schedule for someone whom they don�t know and aren�t wedded to. You will therefore be taking a major risk.

If, alternatively, your thought is that you will go to the new firm, attempt a part-time schedule if possible but carry on with a full-time schedule if part-time is not an option, switching to the new firm can work out. In other words, you can�t count on the new place going along with your agenda.

Do your homework, in any event. Ask around about the new firm. Find out whether they have an open attitude about flexible work schedules, look at their percentage of women partners, try to determine the number of women lawyers at the firm who have children, find out how many people have reduced hours schedules, etc. In other words, try to figure out if it�s reasonably family friendly in the first place. You may then get a better sense about whether it�s the place for you.

Sincerely,
Holly English