Tanya Berridge-Burley found herself attending our returner course to regain her confidence. She relates her positive experience and how she realised that she was not alone after all.
I'm a 37 year old non-practising solicitor and the mother of two adorable, and spirited, young children. One is 5 and just started school. The other is 18 months and hurtling towards the terrible twos.
My work is done, I feel. Time to get another job. I need to give my brain a workout. Make a contribution to society. Swap CBeebies for Newsnight, Julia Donaldson for a newspaper. But I cannot motivate myself. I haven't worked for 6 years and I lack the confidence, the knowledge and the know how.
What to do? My first step was the internet. I found the AWS Returners to Work Course. the Association of Women Solicitors provides support and advice and has now merged with the Law Society to form the Women Lawyers Division.
It intends to build on the success of the AWS by engaging directly with its women members, who join automatically through their membership of the Law Society.
I noted a two-day course was coming up in Oxfordshire so I booked myself onto it. I had a lot of concerns: would I be the oldest, the longest out of work, the least experienced, would the children (and husband) survive a night without me?
Nevertheless, I forced myself onto the train and arrived with a bag full of nerves. After checking into Eynsham Hall, a beautiful Grade 2 listed mansion, I was directed to the conference building. I walked in, expecting the course to be cancelled due to lack of interest, to discover a room full of women just like me and one very brave gentleman.
We were greeted with tea, biscuits and lots of friendly faces. The first day programme consisted of delegate introductions, a talk on getting work in the recession, as well as practical advice on services available to us and even a social media class for technophobes.
The introductions gave me a feel of the other delegates – their ages and time out of work, their backgrounds and wishes for the future. The general theme running throughout was everyone's lack of confidence and fear of failure. It was comforting to know we were all in the same boat.
Next were the CV clinics. This gave us a chance to meet a professional who had reviewed your CV and then provided an abundance of advice and helpful ideas on how to write and present your CV, as well as yourself. Focus on what you have done and what you can do. You are a product – sell it!
The day ended with a remarkable talk by Jane Silver-Frost. After a 10 year absence from the law on medical grounds (in fact she had retired and did not expect to return) she attended an AWS Returners Course and thereafter secured a position as a judge of the First Tier Tribunal in the Social Entitlement Chamber. An amazing accomplishment and truly inspiring.
This led on nicely to the evening's entertainments. Drinks followed by dinner in the magnificent dining hall. A time to booze, schmooze and do that all-important networking. I found it a good chance to chat with my fellow delegates and speakers in a relaxed environment, where I made some firm friends and great contacts.
The following day focused on career options and building your confidence. There were speakers from a variety of industries, including local government, the Government Legal Service, LawWorks (a national charity and pro bono clearing house), as well as in-house and sole practice. I realised there were so many choices out there for me, I just had to have the self-belief.
After lunch, we re-assembled for a crash course in confidence building. We were put into groups to discuss the cause of our fears – lack of knowledge and experience – and between us came up with the solutions: courses, networking and volunteering.
There are plenty of CPD courses and networks. Charity centres are a good place to give back, as well as to learn and gain experience – try Citizens Advice or LawWorks. And remember, knowledge is power – the more you learn, the greater your confidence.
The course ended with another rousing speech, this time by Matthew Davies, an HR Consultant working in the manufacturing sector. In 2006 he gave up work due to a debilitating illness. Again, he thought that was it. After attending an AWS Returners Course in 2012 he gained the confidence to return to the work force. He is now on the Law Society's national committee of lawyers with disabilities. I felt humbled and encouraged.
What have I taken away from this course? Confidence - knowing what to do and how to do it, coupled with a great support network. Motivation – from inspiring talks and people. Uplifted - that we're all in the same boat and we're going to sail off into the sunset together…
Find out more about the returner course by emailing womenlawyers@lawsociety.org.uk.