CLE Programs

Returning to work after a career break is many times a difficult feat, but it can be particularly difficult for those in the legal profession. Attorneys who leave practice for a period of time, whether to raise a family or to try a new career, often face daunting challenges in their efforts to return, created by both internal and external factors. After a career hiatus, employers may question an attorney’s knowledge and ability to perform, perhaps even their commitment to work itself. The returning professional may not know where, or how, to begin their reentry to paid employment.

A successful reentry strategy includes fully understanding the range of skills and knowledge one can contribute to a work arena— even if those skills have been dormant for some period of time— and the ability to articulate and demonstrate these skills to a receptive employer. Our panel of attorneys who have returned to practice or found alternative careers, and a nationally known career reentry expert will discuss their reentry experiences. Topics include:

• “Step-in and step-out” tips: practical insight and advice about the steps necessary to reenter successfully, including how to stay professionally connected, involved and relevant while on a career break;
• How to jumpstart your career if you have been professionally disengaged;
• An overview of the many available resources for those seeking to reenter, from employer-based relaunch initiatives to private company programs, to seminars and conferences offered through leadership institutes at area colleges and universities; and
• Effective networking strategies.