Advancement in a law firm 20 years ago was relatively simple: If you worked hard, did a good job and played nice with your colleagues, chances are you would advance and even make partner. Today, increased competition and trying economic times have shattered this notion. Now, in most firms, you need to work hard and generate business to advance. To obtain new clients, you must market yourself and your firm by spending countless hours at functions, lunches and networking events. The mounting pressure to generate business has increased the amount of nonbillable work required of young lawyers who must manage their billable requirements at the same time.
In addition to spending more time marketing, most young lawyers with children have increased roles at home. Long gone are the days when one parent would work and the other was left to handle the everyday needs attendant with raising kids. Sure, the lawyers in single-income households would make it to ball games on Saturday and help with homework. But making breakfast, packing lunches, washing clothes and soothing newborns at 3 a.m. were left mainly to the nonworking parent. With both parents working, and more single-parent households, more everyday chores and child care must necessarily be shouldered by full- or part-time working parents.
