10.03.08
avoiding part-time pitfalls
One of the common challenges faced by lawyers who elect to be part-time is that they are often overlooked when it comes time to pitch a major client outside of work hours or even meet with a client in an informal setting after work.
There is often an assumption by the other lawyers in the firm that part-time lawyers don’t want to participate in activities that extend beyond their usual working hours. To complicate matters, many full time lawyers hesitate to even mention such opportunities to part-time lawyers because they think that doing so is disrespectful of their colleagues’ part-time arrangments. The result can be the unintentional marginalization of part-time lawyers.
To make certain you are not left on the perifery of client development and client relations, be proactive. Educate the people you work with about your definition of part-time. If you want to be included in outside activities, let your collegaues know that you are more than willing to arrange your schedule to participate in after-hours events if given advanced notice. Don’t assume that because you are part of the team or because you service a client regularly, that you will be invited or even informed of after-hour activities.
In an ideal world, inclusion would be a fair assumption. But in a world where our industry is still trying to figure out how part-time works (many firms don’t even have written part-time policies), you have to take the lead to educate those around you. Let your colleagues, your practice group, your marketing director, and your staff know what your preferences are. If you hear of an opportunity that passed you by, talk with those who were involved and mention that, yes, you are part-time, but you would still like to be kept in the loop so that you have the option of participating. Remember — you are not being pushy or critical. Rather, you are helping others navigage the “part-time” waters in a way that is respectful of your wishes. Some may even thank you for taking the time to clarify and for removing the awkwardness caused by their assumptions.
Tip of the day: Educate those you work with on how you define part-time and the extent to which you want to be kept in the loop on after-hour activities. Tell them what you want and what you expect. Don’t let assumptions about “part-time” get in the way of business development and client relations opportunities.
