Returning to law after a career break
Steps to get back into law
Get up to date
Keep your knowledge and skills up to date by:
- researching your industry
- following potential employers on LinkedIn and Twitter
- taking part in returner courses
If you have any gaps in your experience, use your contacts to help you find a work placement, volunteer or do freelance, interim or temp work.
Review your skills
Ask friends, family and your contacts for feedback on what you're good at, with specific examples.
Shortlist a handful of achievements that you’re proud of.
You’ll have developed transferable skills from having a career break, such as being agile (managing your work and personal priorities) and being able to deal with change.
Update your profile
Highlight your achievements in your CV, starting with your pre-break experience.
Make it clear that you took a career break and include periods of study or volunteering. Explain what you're looking for when you return to work.
You should also update your LinkedIn profile. This will help recruiters and hiring managers find you and determine your suitability for a role.
Prepare to network
Networking is important when returning to law. Experiment with different networking groups and build relationships.
Keep a record of who you’ve spoken to and follow up where appropriate.
Reconnect with former contacts, for example, using LinkedIn.
Create an impression
Get business cards printed and have your elevator pitch (an introduction that says who you are, what you do well, and shows off your unique selling points) ready.
You need to make an impact in around a minute – first impressions count.
Our Back to Law Ambassadors give tips on creating elevator pitches.
Be resilient
Keep applying for suitable roles and ask for feedback if you have not been successful.
Routes back into law
To help you plan the next stage in your career, you can:
- attend our returner courses
- read about the experiences of our Back to Law Ambassadors
- be matched with a mentor who successfully returned to law after a career break by emailing careers@lawsociety.org.uk about the mentoring programme
Consider all areas of law and find the right environment to suit you. For a better work/life balance, see flexible working options.
If you’re returning to your previous role, you may want to consider your career options as a solicitor.
If you’re looking for a new role, you may want to change career direction.
Your practising certificate
A practising certificate lasts for 12 months. You must have a current practising certificate before you can offer your services as a solicitor.
Restore your name to the roll of solicitors
You need to be on the roll of solicitors before you can apply for a practising certificate.
If you’re not on the roll, you can apply to restore your name through your mySRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) account. The fee is £20.
Read the SRA guidance on how to restore your name to the roll
Renew your practising certificate
Once you’re on the roll of solicitors, you can renew your practising certificate.
Apply for a practising certificate on the SRA website.
Prove you can practise
You must prove that you’re competent to practise by meeting the competencies set out in the statement of solicitor competence.
It’s made up of three parts:
You no longer need to count continuing professional development (CPD) hours.
Learn more about continuing competence.
Flexible working
You have the right to request permanent changes to your contract from the first day of employment.
You will be able to ask your employer for changes to how long, when and where you work.
Also, you will no longer have to explain what effect, if any, the flexible working request would have on your organisation and how any problems could be overcome.
Your organisation does not have to accept this request, but if they reject it, they must do so for a legally valid reason.
Resources
Reignite Academy – opportunities for lawyers to return to work after a career break, through tailored returnship programmes and direct recruitment.
When do I need a practising certificate? – guidance from the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Career Returners – a consulting, coaching and network organisation, specialising in enabling professionals who have taken a long career break to get back to fulfilling work.
Career development events
Recharge: how to work more flexibly and develop a portfolio career
Date: Tuesday 16 September 2025
This free online classroom and Q&A is aimed at solicitors across all levels of PQE who have hit a career crossroad and are considering how they can work more flexibly by building a portfolio career.
Considering moving in-house? How to successfully transition from private practice to in-house
Date: Wednesday 22 October 2025
This online interactive masterclass is aimed at M&A and commercial solicitors across all levels of PQE considering moving in-house. It covers the key skills and attributes employers look for when hiring in-house solicitors.
Recordings
Watch recordings from our Recharge series:
- how to work more flexibly and develop a portfolio career (one hour)
- how to turn your career ideas into action (one hour)
- the dos vs don'ts when planning your return to the legal profession (one hour 30 minutes)
- job searching techniques (one hour)
- interview tips (one hour)
- being back in the workplace as a returner (one hour 30 minutes)
- navigating your return to the profession (one hour 30 minutes)
- how to navigate the job market as a returner (46 minutes)
- changing career direction (one hour 21 minutes)
- marketing yourself (one hour 36 minutes)
- how to turn you career ideas into action (one hour 30 minutes)
- networking tips for job hunters (one hour 30 minutes)
Watch recordings from our Changing career direction series:
- career options (one hour)
- what are my realistic options? (one hour 30 minutes)
- hear from those who have successfully transformed their career (one hour 30 minutes)
- considering working as a consultant or freelance lawyer? (one hour)
- considering working in house? (one house 30 minutes)
Other recordings:
- group career coaching for those returning or changing careers (two hours)
- conversation on returning to work and working flexibly (one hour 30 minutes)
- how to use a skills audit to reinvent your career (one hour)
- working flexibly as a consultant (one hour 30 minutes)