// Just because someone took a break from the legal profession, it doesn’t mean that Biglaw is foreclosed as a career option. Well, while there has never been a *rule* about it, but ya know, coming back to Biglaw after a multi-year break was far from common. (This is my lack of shock over Biglaw’s continuing diversity problem.) Anyway, one firm is trying to make it easier for folks to get back in the fold of Biglaw.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer recently announced its Returners program, open to folks who have left the profession for two or more years, whether it be to raise a family, take care of a family member, or to pursue another opportunity. We all know Biglaw is super busy and there really aren’t enough qualified lawyers out there to handle all of the work, which has created a scorching hot lateral market. This program will help fulfill that need while also giving an assist to diversity, as reported by Reuters:

googletag.cmd.push( function() { // Enable lazy loading. googletag.pubads().enableLazyLoad({ renderMarginPercent: 150, mobileScaling: 2 }); // Display ad. googletag.display( "div-id-for-top-300x250" ); googletag.enableServices(); });

Although the program is partly about boosting headcount, “it’s also an attempt to focus on a real shortcoming of the profession by saying, sometimes when people have been driven out of it, they can be lured back into it,” said Boris Feldman, Freshfields’ head of U.S. technology and a partner in the firm’s Silicon Valley office.

Sponsored Three Traits That Make For An Unrivaled Attorney There are three traits that every attorney needs to be successful – to take on a new legal task feeling unrivaled. From Above the Law And Thomson Reuters

So, what does the program look like? From the firm’s press release:

Initially offered in the firm’s Silicon Valley office, the program gives participants the opportunity to work with high-profile clients and collaborate with cross-border, cross-functional teams, while supporting them with a full range of mentorship, training and development resources. These include: technical training tailored to individual, role-specific and client requirements; a dedicated mentor; and access to senior management and the firm’s extensive support network and community, including other returning professionals who understand the challenges of career re-entry.

googletag.cmd.push( function() { // Enable lazy loading. googletag.pubads().enableLazyLoad({ renderMarginPercent: 150, mobileScaling: 2 }); // Display ad. googletag.display( "div-id-for-middle-300x250" ); googletag.enableServices(); }); googletag.cmd.push( function() { // Enable lazy loading. googletag.pubads().enableLazyLoad({ renderMarginPercent: 150, mobileScaling: 2 }); // Display ad. googletag.display( "div-id-for-storycontent-440x100" ); googletag.enableServices(); }); googletag.cmd.push( function() { // Enable lazy loading. googletag.pubads().enableLazyLoad({ renderMarginPercent: 150, mobileScaling: 2 }); // Display ad. googletag.display( "div-id-for-in-story-youtube-1x1" ); googletag.enableServices(); });

It’s nice to see a firm thinking outside the box to tackle two issues with a single solution.

Sponsored Sponsored Three Traits That Make For An Unrivaled Attorney There are three traits that every attorney needs to be successful – to take on a new legal task feeling unrivaled. From Above the Law And Thomson Reuters Sponsored A Faster Way To Perfect Your Legal Briefs These new tools can not only accomplish far more than the average human in far less time but also produce better, more reliable results. From Above the Law And Thomson Reuters Sponsored Are You Looking For A Transition Into A First-Class In House Role? Look no further. Successful private equity investor in New York is looking to fill the role of Chief Legal Counsel. From Kinney Recruiting Sponsored Are You Looking For A Transition Into A First-Class In House Role? Look no further. Successful private equity investor in New York is looking to fill the role of Chief Legal Counsel. From Kinney Recruiting

Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).

Sponsored Sponsored The Definitive Guide To Scaling Your Law Firm Your Step-by-Step Roadmap for Making 2022 Your Best Year Ever. From Unbundled Attorney and Above The Law Sponsored GCs: When Do You *Really* Need An Elite Law Firm? An agile approach to legal resourcing can bolster your department. Here’s how. From Above The Law and Axiom Topics

Biglaw, Diversity, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Lateral Moves