Both men and women leave the practice of law because they find legal work and/or the firm environment dissatisfying, for elder care, or parenting reasons.  When leaving a legal job, or if you have already “opted-out” of your job, think systemically and strategically about your future position whether it is in law or in a different career.  The Center for Work-Life Policy reports that lawyers who leave the profession earn, on average, 41 percent less that their counterparts who never take time out.[i]  Additionally, the challenges of finding a new job can be daunting and discouraging, even if an individual is only unemployed for a short time, such as one month.  Many people with advance degrees and good work experience naively believe that they can take a career “time-out” and not suffer a penalty.  Unfortunately, they are blindsided when attempting to re-enter the work force because they are routinely rejected without even being invited to interview for the sought after position.

Prior to re-entering the workforce, the unemployed professional should do some soul searching to learn what they want to do, and how he or she wants to do it, i.e., full-time, part-time, flextime, job sharing, telecommuting, etc..  Those issues relate to the individual’s work-life balance and the individual’s core values.  The answer will be unique to that individual and is guided by his interests, values, and skills.  As a starting point, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® and the Strong Interest Inventory® can assist in that regard.

Opt-In With Education

In order to opt-in to the workforce, an unemployed person may need to attend conferences to stay current in the type of law practiced, in a new specialty of the law, or in an alternative career outside the legal arena.  If the job seeker is changing the type of law practiced, a course will teach the necessary skills and information.  It will also show potential employers the unemployed individual’s commitment to the new practice area.  Likewise, if an unemployed job seeker is switching careers, that person will benefit from coursework to learn the trade and to provide experience in the new field. Such preparation will allow the individual to hit the ground running.

Opt-In Through Networking

Another way to enter the work force is to maintain or reconnect with your contacts using social media, personal meetings (perhaps over coffee), and/or at conferences or trade shows.  Job seekers should attend local networking events that are hosted by professional associations in their field.  It is helpful to the job seeker to take advantage of social networking, which includes maintaining a current LinkedIn profile as well as checking it regularly.  To increase the chances of successfully landing a new position, an unemployed job seeker should get prepared for the sought after position prior to sending their resumes to potential employers.

Opt–In Through Volunteering

Additionally, an unemployed professional can re-launch their career by volunteering.  This is useful when the job seeker is interested in working for a certain organization but concerned that their resume will not measure up to other applicants with more recent work experience.  By volunteering, the organization can learn about the ability and character of the job seeker before the individual applies to the sought after position.

Opt-In By Interning or Consulting

An unemployed professional can also re-launch their career by attaining an internship or consulting opportunity.  For example, if an unemployed job seeker believes that a company is interested but is concerned about his career break, the job seeker could suggest a three-month, nonbinding internship or consulting arrangement.  At the end of the three months, the company can hire the job seeker permanently, terminate the individual, or renew the arrangement for another trial period.  Starting out as a paid intern or consultant provides both the job seeker and the potential employer an opportunity to see if the job opportunity fits.

In conclusion, an attorney should think carefully about their future before opting-out of their position.  The attorney will likely face challenges if and when he opts-in to his career.  When an unemployed professional opts-in, there will probably be economic costs due to leaving the work force and there will be costs involved in learning and knowing the current laws and technology.  The best practice is to think carefully and strategically before opting-out so the individual maximizes their opportunity to return to work.