Who doesn’t believe in second chances? Most people do.
However when it comes to the legal and financial professions, which are very competitive industries, women face huge hurdles when they decide to return to the legal and financial services professions after taking more time off than is allowed under federal regulations. Not only do women face huge obstacles but they also lose earning power.
Sylvia Ann Hewlett of Columbia University has documented this phenomenon. According to her research, when women leave work or off-ramp for periods on average of 2.2 years they lose 18% of their earning power. And for women in the banking and financial services sector, they lose 28%. And it follows that the longer the period of time a woman spends away from work the more severe the penalty becomes. For women off-ramp for 3+ years, there is a 37% reduction in their earning power.
Most women off-ramp to have children but it is quite possible there are women who off-ramped after 9/11. Programs exist to assist women who are returning to work, or on-ramping.
Below is a summary list of 4 organizations where women (and some men) who are looking to return to law and perhaps the financial services industry can find information and assistance.
1. On-Ramp Fellowship — Matches experienced women to available positions in legal and financial services industries
Requirements: 3+ years experience, at least 2 year hiatus from work, and active Bar membership
Benefits: $125,000 salary plus benefits, Online CLE, Training in Negotiations, Business Development and leadership, One-on-one coaching be legal career counselors, Complex legal assignments, On-going feedback, Support for your work
Process: (1) Apply on-line, (2) You can only select positions in the state where you are barred, (3) Pay $250 for an initial assessment on writing style, workplace preferences and work habits (you will receive a copy of the report), and (4) Provide them with 3 references, which they will contact.
You can participate in this program from anywhere. You just need access to the internet.
More information can be found at www.onrampfellowship.com
2. Pace Law School — New Directions for Attorneys in Association with Westchester Women’s Bar Association — 5 month program
Benefits: Refresher legal research course; Specifically tailored legal research and writing course; Individual career counseling; Substantive and career related materials and resources; Assistance and job preparation of job seeking tools, like resume and cover letter; Mock interviews; Instruction in classes earning over 24 NY CLE credits and Unlimited number of additional courses & CLEs at no extra costs for 1 year from last day of school; Opportunity to obtain an externship with organization to provide supervised experience; and mentoring.
Cost: $6500 tuition and $500 nonrefundable administration fee
This program regularly hosts information sessions in the NY area. To participate in this program you have to attend courses in person at Pace University.
More information can be found at www.law.pace.edu/newdirections
3. Opting Back in & Forging Ahead
UC Hastings School of Law’s Center for Work Life Law (WLL) used to host regular phone sessions with people who were trying to return to the legal profession. This program no longer exists but there is a resource brochure that exists. If you call, they may email the brochure to you. It is filled with advice and online resources that you can use.
For more information call 415–565–4640
4. Allegheny County Bar Association
Their website has a list of articles which may point you in the direction of resources which might be helpful to you.
More information can be found at www.acba.org/Parenting_Family-Leave_Off-Ramping_and_On-Ramping
You can also find information by googling “lawyers on ramping and off ramping”.
Good Luck!
