September Plans postponed 12 months

[momofnerds]

that sounds like a sound plan. I will say that I think you need to investigate the outcome of the program a bit more. I know some law clerks who work long hours and some weekends, and I know some will say that the hours are great and all but you will be the bottom of the pit so it will take some time till you get what you want.

[bright sparks]

that sounds like a sound plan. I will say that I think you need to investigate the outcome of the program a bit more. I know some law clerks who work long hours and some weekends, and I know some will say that the hours are great and all but you will be the bottom of the pit so it will take some time till you get what you want.

Believe me, I have done extensive research and the general hours are M-F with occasional Saturdays, sometimes even on a rotational basis depending on the size of the company. I have visited 3 schools, spoken with academic advisors, been to the employment help centre to do career research, been on online forums and have look in great length at job sites not only at vacancies but also statistics and job prospects for the future. I have been very honest with myself that this isnt something to enter into lightly and I want to make a career change, not just get a job. Thats why its worth being out of work for a couple of years if it means getting a good job that I can grow and progress in. There are so many different work environments for Law clerks too so I may very well have to narrow down where I am willing to work based on the employers needs. Courthouses for example do not do any late evenings, but depending on the place some Saturday mornings are mandatory as part of the job position. Law firms more than likely will require some late evenings though for sure. I am not entirely closed to the idea of some late nights and occasional Saturdays as my kids are older and able to take care of dinner etc but I wouldn't take a job where it was multiple times a week and an absolute requirement or like retail for example where there will be regular long days over the weekends more than regular weekday office hour type shifts. Administrative work is still primarily Mon-Fri so from what I have seen there will be lots of choice, and obviously as a new graduate I'm going to get all the bad shifts and jobs initially. There are even a number of positions that state flexibility to work from home a day or two a week once an employee has demonstrated effectiveness and efficiency to work independently without supervision. There are lots of options which is appealing. It may be that after some time a position comes up which is in an area that I really want to work in but with less than ideal hours and it will just be a matter of figuring out what is more important to me at that stage. That's also the beauty of my kids being older too and not requiring childcare. I am clear on what I want and where I am willing to bend and I think it is key to be flexible at the same time as knowing what my needs are so I can still fulfill my role as a mother and wife adequately, balance is key. That's the same in any job though but there really aren't to many law clerk positions requiring work outside M-F and those that do will make that known, or if not I certainly will be thorough when accepting a job and making clear where I am flexible and where I am not to the employer.