When aspiring lawyers are in college and law school, they typically have substantial time off from their studies. Indeed, students usually have weeks off between semesters, and may have close to three months off during the summer. This permits students to travel, relax, and do whatever is necessary to recharge their batteries. However, practicing attorneys often are not permitted to take more than a few weeks off at a time. For many attorneys, the only way they can take more time off from work is if they intentionally begin a new job weeks or even months after departing their old one.
I have heard of lawyers taking one week or two weeks off to go on extended vacations. In one instance, I knew a lawyer who took nearly an entire month off to attend a wedding and a honeymoon. The longest amount of time I ever took off as a practicing attorney was a little longer than two weeks. I once worked at a law firm at which pretty much everyone took off for the last few weeks of December. This was an awesome experience, since taking off so long really permitted me to recharge my batteries and be ready to return to work feeling rested in the new year.
The only time I knew attorneys to take longer than a month off was when friends of mine started new jobs. They negotiated a future start date with their new employers, and they stopped working at their current employer knowing that in a month or two they would have a new job lined up. Everyone I know that facilitated this arrangement really enjoyed the extended time they had before starting their new jobs.
One of my friends stayed at home but caught up on a bunch of errands, watched some television series they’d wanted to see for a while, and made time to see friends and family they had not visited in ages. Another one of my friends who opted for this arrangement elected to travel for weeks to a bunch of far-flung locations. It would have been extremely difficult for this friend to travel to so many distant places within the confines of a normal vacation at a law firm job.
People feel more alive and healthier when they have extended time off from work. Not having to return to work for weeks or months can lead to greater relaxation than if someone takes a shorter vacation. In addition, taking such time off between jobs means that there is less likelihood that something will interrupt a lawyer’s vacation. People do not get work emails or client calls if they are in-between jobs, and this can enrich that person’s time off substantially.
Not everyone can take gaps in their employments. Some cannot financially afford to take such time off without a paycheck. In addition, longer periods between jobs can raise red flags for future employers since gaps in resumes might be perceived negatively.
However, if people have the freedom and flexibility to take time off between jobs, the benefits usually outweigh the risks. Free time during this period is often more secure from interruptions and taking longer periods off than is available during work vacations can have a positive impact on an individual’s mental health and well being.
Jordan Rothman is a partner of The Rothman Law Firm, a full-service New York and New Jersey law firm. He is also the founder of Student Debt Diaries, a website discussing how he paid off his student loans. You can reach Jordan through email at jordan@rothman.law.
The post Attorneys Should Take Long Times Off Between Jobs appeared first on Above the Law.
When aspiring lawyers are in college and law school, they typically have substantial time off from their studies. Indeed, students usually have weeks off between semesters, and may have close to three months off during the summer. This permits students to travel, relax, and do whatever is necessary to recharge their batteries. However, practicing attorneys often are not permitted to take more than a few weeks off at a time. For many attorneys, the only way they can take more time off from work is if they intentionally begin a new job weeks or even months after departing their old one.
I have heard of lawyers taking one week or two weeks off to go on extended vacations. In one instance, I knew a lawyer who took nearly an entire month off to attend a wedding and a honeymoon. The longest amount of time I ever took off as a practicing attorney was a little longer than two weeks. I once worked at a law firm at which pretty much everyone took off for the last few weeks of December. This was an awesome experience, since taking off so long really permitted me to recharge my batteries and be ready to return to work feeling rested in the new year.
The only time I knew attorneys to take longer than a month off was when friends of mine started new jobs. They negotiated a future start date with their new employers, and they stopped working at their current employer knowing that in a month or two they would have a new job lined up. Everyone I know that facilitated this arrangement really enjoyed the extended time they had before starting their new jobs.
One of my friends stayed at home but caught up on a bunch of errands, watched some television series they’d wanted to see for a while, and made time to see friends and family they had not visited in ages. Another one of my friends who opted for this arrangement elected to travel for weeks to a bunch of far-flung locations. It would have been extremely difficult for this friend to travel to so many distant places within the confines of a normal vacation at a law firm job.
People feel more alive and healthier when they have extended time off from work. Not having to return to work for weeks or months can lead to greater relaxation than if someone takes a shorter vacation. In addition, taking such time off between jobs means that there is less likelihood that something will interrupt a lawyer’s vacation. People do not get work emails or client calls if they are in-between jobs, and this can enrich that person’s time off substantially.
Not everyone can take gaps in their employments. Some cannot financially afford to take such time off without a paycheck. In addition, longer periods between jobs can raise red flags for future employers since gaps in resumes might be perceived negatively.
However, if people have the freedom and flexibility to take time off between jobs, the benefits usually outweigh the risks. Free time during this period is often more secure from interruptions and taking longer periods off than is available during work vacations can have a positive impact on an individual’s mental health and well being.
Jordan Rothman is a partner of The Rothman Law Firm, a full-service New York and New Jersey law firm. He is also the founder of Student Debt Diaries, a website discussing how he paid off his student loans. You can reach Jordan through email at jordan@rothman.law.
The post Attorneys Should Take Long Times Off Between Jobs appeared first on Above the Law.
