For Law Students

Information for and by students like you!

How to Find a Job that Allows for Work/Life Balance

Preparing for law firm interviews can often be overwhelming. How to Find a Job that Allows for Work/Life Balance offers resources to help you prepare for interviews, as well as strategies for asking difficult, but important, questions on work/life balance. Knowing how, when, and what to ask during a law firm interview is a crucial first step in finding the right work environment.

PAR Law School Project's "Mythbusters"

  • "Work/Life balance is a women's issue."
  • "Law firms lose money on part-timers."
  • "Clients won't work with attorneys who aren't available 24/7."

Employers rely upon these and other myths when refusing to implement flexible work arrangements in their workplaces. "Mythbusters" will help you respond to and dispel these and other misconceptions about the nature of part-time work. Only by engaging in an active communication with employers can you impact the direction of the legal profession.

The Project for Attorney Retention (PAR) Law Student Project

A recent study by NALP found that more than 70% of law firm attorneys reported having moderate to major problems meeting their personal and health needs, handling family, parental, and household responsibilities, and finding time for cultural and leisure activities. With job satisfaction this low, and with law firm attrition consistently on the rise, it's no wonder that legal employers are beginning to take notice and offer the environment and lifestyle that overworked attorneys are demanding.

The news isn't all good, however. At most firms, work/life balance is the official party line, but real life may be quite different. At some firms part-time programs are a dead-end street; at other, part-timers have as good a shot at partnership as do full-time attorneys. How can you as a law student job seeker know which firms are which?

The resources on this page are designed to help you research and identify legal employers that can offer you a challenging and rewarding workplace that also supports a healthy work/life balance. Long-term career potential and a fulfilling life outside of the office shouldn't be mutually exclusive.

The PAR Law School Project works with other organizations, such as Law Students Building a Better Legal Profession and Ms. JD, to provide you with resources regarding work/life balance in the legal profession.

PAR provides information to law school career centers and placement offices and PAR staff are available for presentations at law schools and law firms. If you want us to contact someone at your law school or want a presenter, contact us.

PAR also identifies, researches and posts best practices on its website and soon will be featuring firms that we believe have developed new models of legal practice. If you think your firm employs a best practice or has an innovative practice model, let us know. PAR will follow up on your lead and research it.

Finally, check out PAR's weblog, Up to PAR, where we comment on the latest news regarding PAR and work/life issues. We encourage you to share your thoughts by posting comments. Partnering with PAR in these ways--Thanks for your input and for utilizing PAR as a valuable resource.