In our Careers Clinic, we hand over to you, our community, to send in a question on career progression.
This month, Associate Consultant Bill Szajna Hopgood gives his advice to an ambitious private client solicitor lawyer struggling to juggle her career with looking after her young family.
I’ve found 2024 tough so far – It’s been a very busy start to the year at work and I’ve also got a daughter who is in the middle of her first year at primary school. It’s been a struggle to achieve everything I need to in my role alongside my parental responsibilities (and general life admin!) I’d really like to make Head of Department in the next few years.
How can I maintain a healthy work-life balance while progressing in my legal career?
Juggling a demanding job in the legal field and being present for your family can feel like walking a tightrope. You’re not alone in striving for that elusive work-life balance while trying to do well at work and move closer towards the next step in your career. As someone with a young family myself, I know first-hand how it’s not always easy to get that balance right!
With the pressures of billing targets, a busy caseload and networking expectations that eat into your family time, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, there are strategies you can adopt to ensure you’re moving towards your goals—both professional and personal.
Here are some steps to help you strike the right balance:
Prioritise and set realistic daily goals
The key to effective time management is knowing what needs to be done and when. Each day, identify the tasks that are crucial and tackle them first. Resist the temptation to over-commit; setting achievable daily objectives can result in a more productive workday and reduce the likelihood of work spilling into precious family time.
Schedule wisely
Balance isn’t just about reducing work hours—it’s about making sure you allocate your time effectively. Use a weekly planner to map out your commitments. By visualising your week, you can carve out uninterrupted time for your family and ensure your work doesn’t seep into these precious moments.
Delegate and communicate
You don’t have to go it alone at work. Delegating can be empowering, so pass on tasks to colleagues where possible. If there’s an upcoming event you’re expected to attend outside of working hours, perhaps a colleague could go instead?
Have you spoken to your manager about how you’re feeling? They may be able to help you prioritise your work or reduce your caseload temporarily to give you some breathing space. Communicate your boundaries clearly and don’t hesitate to renegotiate these as your circumstances change.
Establish boundaries
Be disciplined about when your workday ends. Setting and maintaining clear boundaries isn’t just good for you and your family, it’s necessary for your mental health. Overworking leads to reduced productivity and possible burnout, so set boundaries to protect your time outside of work.
Regularly review your approach
What works today may not work tomorrow. Our lives are constantly changing, and so should our strategies. Regularly assess the effectiveness of your approach to time management and adjust as necessary, especially as your daughter grows up and your career evolves.
Your dedication to your career and family is clear. But remember, work-life balance is not a destination—it’s something that needs to be continually managed.
Remember, as long as you’re at a firm that supports you, every step forward in your career is a step that can be taken alongside—not at the expense of—your family commitments. As you climb the legal career ladder, this holistic approach to balancing work and life will not only support your immediate goals but will also set a foundation for long-term satisfaction and success.
