It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to become an attorney, from the years spent in law school to the endless nights spent studying for the Bar Exam. Achieving the status of attorney is no small achievement, but it is only the start of a lifelong journey.
On your journey from the classroom to the courtroom, you will experience many life changes and face lots of challenges. Balancing the needs of your life as an attorney and your life as a mother is one of the best examples. Being both a mother and a lawyer can be tough, but there are ways to make the balancing act easier.
Learn to Have Compassion
Compassion is not a word many outside the legal profession would associate with lawyers, but experienced legal professionals know better. The best lawyers are among the most compassionate people on the planet, able to see things from their clients' point of view and put themselves in the shoes of individuals from all walks of life.
Learning to have compassion is a vital part of being a parent, and one you will learn quickly as your children grow and demand more of your precious time. The compassion you foster now will pay off in the future, so pay close attention to those around you and look for ways to make their lives better.
Balance Your Time
Maintaining a proper work/life balance is hard for any working mother, but this juggling act is even more difficult for busy employment law attorneys. Lawyers are bound by law, and by tradition, to serve the needs of their clients, and they work hard to put the needs of their clients first in everything they do.
At the same time, working mothers have a responsibility to their children and their spouses. They need to be there for the big events in their lives, from kindergarten graduations and dance recitals to football games and graduations. Balancing those often competing needs can be quite difficult, but it is something every lawyer who is also a working mother will need to master.
By working with their law firms and being honest with their colleagues, lawyers with family responsibilities can develop a solid work/life balance, one that allows them to serve the needs of their clients without shortchanging their spouses or neglecting the needs of their children. Creating a work/life balance is rarely easy, but it is always rewarding.
Get Some Sleep
As a lawyer and a mother, you may be able to have it all, and you work hard to make it happen. What you cannot do, however, is run your mind and body 24/7 without taking a break. Learning to relax, unwind and get the sleep you need is essential to your physical and mental well-being, so give yourself the break you deserve.
You may think that taking time for yourself means less time for your family, but in reality the opposite is true. You will be no good to your spouse, or your children, if you are sleep-deprived and running on auto-pilot. By taking the time to recharge your batteries and get the sleep you need, you will awake refreshed and ready to take on the day – and the needs of your family and your clients.
Invest in an Espresso Maker
It has often been said that the legal profession runs on caffeine, and that is not so far from the truth. No law office décor is complete without a state-of-the-art coffee maker, and by mid-morning, many attorneys have already consumed several cups of their favorite brew.
If you are looking for a home accessory that will pay dividends for years to come, you cannot go wrong with an espresso maker. If you get creative enough, you can write off your new espresso maker as an essential business expense, but no matter what you do, you will enjoy the jolt of caffeine, and the extra energy it gives you.
Nurture the Relationship with Your Firm
Maintaining a positive relationship with the firm you work at can make your days at the office productive and even fun. Having a poor relationship with your firm can make every minute you spend their drudgery – and a source of endless stress.
The difference between the two scenarios is more important than you may think, and you have more control than you realize. While nothing can transform a terrible boss into a stellar one, the actions you take every day have the ability to nurture, or damage, the long-term relationship with your firm and your clients.
A good relationship with your firm can also give you greater freedom and flexibility for your home life. If your associates value the contributions you have made, taking a few hours off to attend your son's baseball game or go to your daughter's ballet recital will be no big deal.
Take Care of Yourself
Taking care of your family is hard work. Your duties as a lawyer take up an enormous amount of your time, and the needs of your family can be just as demanding. If you want to take care of your clients, your family and everyone else making demands on your time, you first need to take good care of yourself.
Taking care of yourself can take many different forms, and there is no one right approach. If you crave pampering, a trip to the local spa and a relaxing massage might be just what the doctor ordered. If you prefer solitude and natural beauty, a walk in the woods or an exhilarating weekend hike can clear your mind and recharge your batteries. No matter what form it takes, taking good care of yourself means you can take care of everyone else – from the client you are defending to the children you are raising.
In this day and age, you truly can have it all. You can enjoy a fulfilling romantic relationship with your spouse or partner, a nurturing relationship with your children and a profitable professional relationship with the clients you serve. As a lawyer, and a mother, you really can have it all. Just remember to take care of your needs so you can take care of everyone else.
