Introduction: Yes, You Can Reenter the Legal Profession
Whether your career break was due to caregiving, relocation, illness, travel, or a shift in priorities, returning to the legal field is entirely possible—and more common than ever. The key is to approach your reentry with a clear strategy, updated skillset, and strong personal narrative that addresses your gap while emphasizing your ongoing value.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the steps attorneys can take to successfully return to law after a hiatus, whether it’s been 12 months or over a decade.
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1. Own Your Career Break—Don’t Hide It
Trying to hide a gap in your legal resume is no longer the norm, and in most cases, it can work against you. Law firms and legal recruiters are increasingly open to career breaks, especially when candidates are upfront, confident, and proactive in explaining them.
Why owning your break matters:
- It builds trust and demonstrates integrity.
- It allows you to control the narrative, rather than leaving hiring managers to make assumptions.
- It shows that you’re focused on moving forward, not making excuses.
How to do it effectively:
- Briefly acknowledge the gap in your resume, cover letter, or interview—without overexplaining. One or two sentences are enough.
- Frame the break positively by emphasizing what you’ve done during your time away (e.g., continued learning, volunteer legal work, professional development, or transferable skills gained).
- Focus on readiness, not the reason. Shift the conversation toward your reentry preparation and the value you bring now.
Example language for your resume or cover letter:
"Took a planned career break to support family needs. During this time, I remained active in the legal field through CLEs, legal research projects, and bar association involvement, and I’m now prepared to return to full-time practice with renewed focus."
Remember, the goal isn’t to justify the break—it’s to demonstrate that you’re ready and equipped to contribute as a legal professional again. Recruiters don’t expect perfection, but they do appreciate transparency, maturity, and momentum.
2. Update Your Legal Skills and Knowledge
One of the first steps to reentering the legal field is closing the gap between where your knowledge left off and where the industry is now. The law, technology, and client expectations evolve quickly, so showing that you've actively updated your skills helps eliminate concerns about your readiness.
Why this matters:
- Legal employers want to see that you're current and competent.
- It demonstrates initiative, professionalism, and commitment to your return.
- It boosts your confidence as you reenter interviews and practice settings.
How to update your skills and knowledge:
- Complete CLEs (Continuing Legal Education): Choose courses in your previous practice area or explore emerging fields like privacy, ESG, or legal tech. Many bar associations offer online CLE bundles.
- Attend legal webinars and virtual conferences: These are often free or low-cost and help you understand new trends, rulings, or legislation.
- Subscribe to industry publications: Stay informed through sources like Law360, Above the Law, Bloomberg Law, or ABA journals.
- Get hands-on with legal technology: Familiarize yourself with platforms like Westlaw Edge, Lexis+, Clio, Relativity, and e-discovery tools.
- Join bar association committees or reentry programs: These often provide both skill-building and networking opportunities.
Bottom line:
Showing that you’ve proactively sharpened your legal skills and kept up with industry changes reassures employers that you’re not just returning—you’re ready to contribute from day one.
3. Revise Your Resume to Highlight Transferable Strengths
When returning to the legal field after a career break, your resume must do more than list past jobs—it should strategically reframe your experience to highlight what you still bring to the table. Instead of letting the gap take center stage, emphasize your skills, accomplishments, and continued professional engagement, even during your time away.
Why it matters:
- Legal recruiters want to see evidence of value and readiness, not just dates.
- A well-crafted resume helps shift the focus from your background to your capabilities.
- Transferable strengths—like leadership, communication, problem-solving, and organization—are still highly relevant.
Resume tips for returning attorneys:
- Start with a strong summary: Use a professional summary to explain your background, address the gap briefly (if needed), and highlight your reentry goals.
Example: “Experienced commercial litigation attorney returning to practice after a career pause, with a strong record of successful motion practice and client advocacy.” - Emphasize pre-break accomplishments: Showcase results, such as trial victories, negotiated settlements, or deal values. Use metrics and action verbs wherever possible.
- Include relevant non-legal or volunteer work: If you managed nonprofit projects, led community initiatives, or handled pro bono matters during your break, include them, especially if they demonstrate leadership, legal thinking, or client interaction.
- Use a skills-based or hybrid format (if needed): In some cases, listing core competencies before your chronological experience can help refocus attention on your strengths.
- Incorporate continued learning: Add CLEs, certifications, or courses you've completed during the break to show you're keeping your legal acumen sharp.
Key transferable strengths to highlight:
- Negotiation and advocacy
- Legal research and writing
- Case/project management
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Client service and communication
- Analytical reasoning and attention to detail
Bottom line:
Your resume should tell a story of capability, continuity, and preparedness, not interruption. By showcasing what you’ve done (and what you still can do), you increase your chances of getting noticed and reentering the legal workforce with confidence.
4. Reconnect with Your Legal Network
When reentering the legal field after a career break, your network is one of your most valuable assets. Many legal jobs are never advertised publicly—they’re filled through referrals, word-of-mouth, and trusted connections. Reaching out to your existing contacts not only opens doors but also rebuilds your visibility and confidence in the legal community.
Why networking matters more than ever:
- Legal hiring is built on trust and relationships—referrals often carry more weight than cold applications.
- Reconnecting shows you’re serious about returning and can generate leads, recommendations, or even job offers.
- It allows you to gather market intel, understand current hiring trends, and re-familiarize yourself with industry changes.
How to reengage your legal network:
- Start with people you already know: Reach out to former colleagues, law school classmates, mentors, or even previous clients. A simple message like “I’m planning my return to practice and would love to catch up” can go a long way.
- Update your LinkedIn profile: Make sure your photo, summary, and experience reflect your reentry goals. Consider posting an update about your return to practice.
- Attend legal events and CLEs: These are natural spaces to reconnect, meet new professionals, and learn what’s happening in your target practice areas.
- Join bar associations or alums groups: Many offer dedicated reentry resources, mentorship programs, or networking meetups tailored to attorneys returning to the profession.
- Ask for informational interviews: These aren’t job requests—they’re opportunities to learn from others, ask about their career paths, and get advice on navigating the current market.
Don’t underestimate the power of a casual coffee chat or LinkedIn message. Many returning attorneys secure contract work or full-time roles through simple, intentional outreach.
Bottom line:
Reconnecting with your legal network helps you get back in circulation, gain referrals, and remind people that you’re still a talented, capable attorney, ready to contribute again.
5. Start Small to Build Momentum
After a career break, reentering the legal field doesn’t have to start with a high-profile full-time role. In fact, beginning with smaller, more flexible opportunities can be a smart and strategic move. Taking on contract work, freelance projects, or part-time legal assignments allows you to rebuild confidence, refresh your resume with current experience, and ease back into the pace and demands of practice.
Why starting small works:
- It helps you transition gradually and adjust to current legal workflows, technologies, and client expectations.
- You gain recent experience, which is invaluable for filling in resume gaps and demonstrating readiness to recruiters.
- You can test different roles or practice areas, especially if you're exploring a new direction in your legal career.
- It gives you a chance to rebuild your professional reputation and collect references or testimonials.
Smart ways to reenter the legal workforce gradually:
- Contract attorney work: Handle document review, research, or temporary case support through legal staffing agencies.
- Freelance legal projects: Assist solo practitioners or small firms with overflow work, briefs, or transactional matters.
- Part-time or project-based roles: Join a firm on a reduced schedule or assist during peak caseloads.
- Pro bono or nonprofit involvement: Offer your legal skills to organizations in need—great for rebuilding your confidence and visibility.
- Returnship programs: Some law firms and companies offer structured programs for experienced attorneys reentering the workforce, providing mentorship and hands-on legal work.
Pro Tip:
Treat smaller roles with the same professionalism and commitment as a full-time position—they can lead to long-term opportunities or strong recommendations.
Bottom line:
Starting small isn’t a step backward—it’s a strategic way to build momentum, reestablish your legal credentials, and ease back into the field with purpose and confidence.
6. Practice Interviewing and Addressing the Gap
One of the most anxiety-inducing aspects of reentering the legal field is anticipating how to explain your career break in interviews. The good news? Most legal employers understand that career gaps happen. What matters most is how you present it—with clarity, confidence, and a forward-looking mindset.
Why preparation is key:
- It prevents you from sounding uncertain, defensive, or unprepared when the question comes up.
- A well-practiced response can shift the focus away from the gap and onto your strengths, experience, and readiness.
- It boosts your confidence, which shows in your tone, body language, and responses.
How to address your career break in an interview:
- Acknowledge it briefly and honestly. Keep it simple—don’t go into too much personal detail.
- Focus on what you’ve done during the break to stay sharp: CLEs, certifications, networking, volunteer work, or relevant projects.
- Reframe the gap as a reset that gave you clarity and renewed commitment to return to legal practice.
- Pivot quickly to your qualifications, experience, and what you’re excited to contribute now.
Example response:
"I took a two-year career break to focus on family responsibilities. During that time, I stayed engaged by completing CLEs in employment law and volunteering with a legal aid organization. I’m now fully reengaged and ready to bring my litigation skills and client-focused mindset back to full-time practice."
Practice tips:
- Rehearse your response out loud or with a friend, coach, or mentor.
- Prepare for behavioral questions about leadership, conflict resolution, and time management.
- Have a few strong stories or wins ready from your prior legal experience to shift the conversation toward your strengths.
- Ask thoughtful questions that show you're up to speed and invested in the firm's goals.
Bottom line:
The key to handling your career gap in interviews is to own your story, stay positive, and quickly pivot toward your current skills and enthusiasm for the role. Confidence and preparation go a long way in showing employers that you're not just ready to return—you’re a strong asset worth hiring.
7. Stay Confident and Persistent
Reentering the legal field after a career break isn’t always fast or easy, but confidence and persistence are essential for success. You may face rejections, slow responses, or doubts (both internal and external), but staying focused on your long-term goal will keep you moving forward.
Why mindset matters:
- Confidence reassures employers that you’re capable, committed, and ready to contribute.
- Persistence helps you push through the challenges of job hunting in a competitive market.
- A positive attitude is contagious—recruiters and interviewers are more likely to advocate for candidates who show energy, clarity, and self-belief.
How to build and maintain your confidence:
- Reflect on your accomplishments—review your past wins and legal successes to remind yourself of your value.
- Surround yourself with support. Join legal reentry groups, mentorship programs, or career coaching communities.
- Celebrate small wins, whether it's a networking call, a job lead, or completing a new CLE.
- Practice self-talk and mindset reframing. Instead of focusing on the gap, focus on the growth. You're not starting from scratch—you’re returning with experience and perspective.
How to stay persistent:
- Set small, realistic weekly goals—like reaching out to five contacts or applying to three roles.
- Don’t get discouraged by “no” or silence; follow up professionally and keep momentum going.
- Be open to alternate paths (e.g., contract work, returnships, part-time roles) that can lead to long-term opportunities.
- Keep learning and networking, even when interviews slow down.
Bottom line:
Reentry is a process, not a one-time event. Staying confident and committed—even through setbacks—will help you stand out, stay the course, and ultimately find the right opportunity to reignite your legal career.
Conclusion: Your Break Doesn’t Define You—Your Comeback Does
Returning to law after a career break is not only possible—it’s increasingly common. With the right strategy, updated tools, and strong storytelling, you can successfully reenter the legal field and thrive. Whether you step back into a firm, move in-house, or explore alternative legal roles, your experience—past and present—has value.
