Law Society to draw up guides for new parents

The Law Society of Scotland is publishing guides for solicitors, paralegals and other legal workers who are returning to work after becoming parents.

The 12 guides, produced for the Society by The Talent Keeper Specialists, are intended to ease the transition back to work for new parents, while also highlighting best practice for line managers who have staff on leave.

The Law Society has called on parents in the legal sector to share their “positive experiences” in order to inform their work on the guides.

An online survey has been opened until 26 August 2015, inviting parents to contribute — either anonymously or on a named basis — to the guides, which deal with the following themes:

• How to ensure a smooth handover to and from your cover

• How to ask for and make the most of Keep In Touch (KIT) days

• How to pitch for flexible working

• How to renegotiate your role

• How to set yourself up for a great return

• How to reignite your confidence

• How to ensure a strong first 90 days back in role

• How to draw boundaries between work and home

• How to get on the right people’s radar and get ahead when you’re back

• How to signal the desire and get on the partner track

• How to make a positive start to combining fatherhood and career

• Best practices for managing maternity leave for line managers

Janet Hood, convener of the Law Society’s equality and diversity committee, said: “Over the past decade we have heard both horror stories and enlightening stories about women’s experiences when returning to work after maternity leave.

“But becoming a new parent and returning to work does not only affect new mums – new dads too have to make the transition to being a working-father and line managers need to play a big role in supporting those on leave and managing their experience as they return to work.

“That’s why we thought it was imperative to produce these guides for new mums, dads and their line managers too.

“We hope solicitors, paralegals and others will share their positive experiences with us in order to help others.”