My saviour: flexible working

When life changes occur sometimes you want to have the flexibility to adapt, be present in all areas of life, thrive professionally and still retain your career.

In short, my ex-fiancé and I parted ways, I became a single mother of an infant, and unexpectedly both of my parents passed away. I went from spending a big part of my life pursuing my legal aspirations to finding myself lost. My focus in life had shifted.

But I’m greedy and I wanted it all. I wanted to fulfil my legal journey but also be the best mother to my son. At one point, this would have been impossible – the gruelling hours expected by employers, the assumption that family or an outside life comes second to your job. Sadly, this still holds true for many and tragically, as a profession, we have lost people due to this unhealthy work culture. From personal experience, flexible working has allowed people like me to balance their professional responsibilities with personal commitments. I can schedule work around my child’s needs and manage household tasks more effectively.

I was extremely lucky to find Mary Biggam and Lisa McLuckie, who understood my needs and restrictions and offered me my present role. Working remotely has minimised the stress associated with commuting and nursery runs. Yes, sometimes I have to dash to the office. However, if I had to do this every day, I would become stressed, irritable and not a nice person to be around. I would be doing a disservice to my clients and my micro family and ultimately burn out. Flexible and remote working has given me more good-quality family time, as well as time for self-care and professional development. It has even allowed me to write an article or two.

Flexible working has brought an added benefit too, as I believe I am more productive when I have autonomy. For those who know me, I am a people person and with that comes the need to communicate, but when I am at home I structure my workday to maximise efficiency, no distractions, so I know that when I log off, I actually log off. So many in the legal profession burn out from the archaic view that ‘law is your life’ and if you don’t have law, you have nothing. I refuse this concept wholeheartedly and I acknowledge that ‘law is a PART of my life’. I love my job but I love my family too. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, it’s the truth.

The hours suit me, so I have no intention of leaving. Parents, like me, are more likely to remain loyal to employers who support their work-life balance. Why? Because finding an employer with a healthy work ethic – not only on paper but in reality – is hard to come by in the legal sphere. I was at a Women in Law event when someone stated that they would be mocked for their reduced hours – this needs to not only be tackled but annihilated completely.

Initially, I thought achieving a work-life balance was an impossible task, especially as a Black female. I mention this because it is crucial to address the representation and unique challenges faced by Black females in the legal profession in Scotland. Black women are already underrepresented in the legal sector and often encounter barriers to advancement. Culturally, I was taught to always prioritise family over career advancement, which would have led me to give up my career in favour of my family commitments. At one point, I nearly did. Flexible working arrangements have empowered me not only to hold onto my career but also to thrive professionally. I serve my clients and I help contribute to the retention of women in the legal sphere. By embracing flexible working practices, organisations as a whole can create more inclusive workplaces and reap the benefits of a diverse and engaged workforce. 

We are professional solicitors; we don’t need anyone watching us work in order to get the job done. The clients trust us, maybe we should trust each other a little more too.

Written by Meya Phiri - Meya also contributed to the Flexible Working article