Three months ago, Jamie Szal, a mother and partner at the firm Brann & Isaacson, gave birth to her second child. She returned to work and geared up for a business trip away from home and her infant. She acknowledged that many parenting guides fail to discuss the practical aspects of being a working mom, such as parental leave, pumping breaks, childcare, and scheduling adjustments.
Here are Jamie Szal’s suggestions for law professionals heading back to work after maternity leave:
- A wearable or truly hands-free pump. These devices allow you to work while pumping, reducing disruptions to your workday. However, keep in mind that these pumps tend not to drain as effectively as breastfeeding directly or using a more traditional pump, so adjusting your suction settings or pumping more frequently may be necessary.
- A second pump and extra pump components to keep at the office. This will prevent the unfortunate situation of forgetting your pump at home when it’s needed at the office.
- Arrangements for storing expressed milk. Whether you utilize the office fridge, a mini-fridge, or a Ceres-chiller, you must ensure your milk stays cold until you return home.
- Consistently scheduled pump sessions. Blocking these periods on your calendar can prevent accidental overbooking and ensure your colleagues are aware of your pumping times.
- Be assertive about your needs when traveling or away from the office. Request breaks for pumping and private rooms for the task, and if traveling for more than three days, consider a service like MilkStork for sending frozen expressed milk home.
- Be diligent about your billable hour requirements and keep a close eye on your time tracking. Emily Logan Stedman’s posts on LinkedIn offer a step-by-step guide to reverse engineering billable hour requirements.
MothersEsquire has been actively working with the American Bar Association on a resolution for best practices for bar examinations, CLEs, and law schools.
Jamie Szal is recognized for empowering her communities, co-authoring best-sellers “#Networked” and “Women in Law”, showcases the power of women supporting women. She reminds law professionals who are new mothers that they are not alone and encourages them to ask for support when needed.