Summary: Attorneys that take extended time away from practicing law will find it very difficult to return to work for a law firm.
Read Why You Can Never Stop Practicing Law for More Than a Few Weeks Once You Start to learn more.
You work hard and make it through law school to start working as an attorney at a law firm. After a few grueling years, you start to ponder taking a break or trying out a different career. You may think that if things don’t work out, you can always return to being an attorney. This is not true and Harrison Barnes explains why.
After an attorney has been out of work at a law firm for even a few months, their chances of getting back into a law firm are severely cut. There are few exceptions such as having a baby, illness, etc. but being away from your job for more than they standard allotted time starts to eat away at your chances of being welcomed back into the industry.
Read The Best Legal Recruiter Can Market Most Attorneys to learn more.
Most attorneys are just like every other middle-class individual. They have responsibilities and bills that require them to keep working. Taking time off is unheard of because then there is no income to pay the bills with. When a law firm sees the resume of an attorney with a period of unemployment, they assume the worst – the attorney was fired for being uncommitted, lazy, crazy, and other negative reasons.
Read Top 20 Common Mistakes Attorneys Make When on the Job Hunt.
One factor that can help if you do happen to take a break from practicing law is your educational qualifications. Attorneys with the best academic credentials and experience in an in-demand practice area with a top law firm will be considered by firms. However, if the firm gets the impression that you may take a break again, no level of educational qualifications will help you.
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