Being a working parent looks different for everyone, but there are many tactics and techniques that are effective no matter what your current circumstances are. This episode of Parents at Work interviews two lawyer dads, Justin Johnson and Kenny Kraft, who are currently navigating how to be successful both in their careers and as parents. 

In this episode, Justin and Kenny share their experiences transitioning back into the office after paternity leave, how to effectively communicate and collaborate with your partner, and how to make time for other valuable aspects of life. For more insight on how to navigate work life and parenthood join Tom Spiggle and co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin in today’s interview. 

Show Highlights: 

• What Kenny’s and Justin’s working parent situations looks like 
• Whether or not parenthood was a factor in deciding on a career 
• The transition to becoming a lawyer and parent 
• What it’s like to be a dad in the legal industry 
• Communicating with your spouse and navigating parenthood together 
• Workplace support systems that have been the most effective transitioning back into work 
• Making work a support system for the more important aspects of life 
• Workplace benefits that were anticipated to be helpful but ended up being unnecessary 
• Benefits within firms that are especially effective for working parents
• Changes that would be advantageous for working dads 
• The pros and cons of technological growth and how telecommuting is improving 
• The struggle of finding affordable and flexible childcare 
• Trusting yourself and collaborating with your partner 
• The importance of not sacrificing your self-care 
• Getting creative to implement what you need into your schedule 
• Limiting and balancing technology use with your children 

Links: 

Contact Lori: 

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Contact Tom: 

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

Books mentioned: 

Digital Minimalism 

I Like Myself

The Self Driven Child

Juggling parenthood as a working mom can be a challenge, especially as a lawyer. Today, Tom Spiggle and Co-host Lori Mihalich-Levin interview two moms who work within the legal field, Anjali Patel and Katy Robinette. 

Both mothers currently have two children ranging from the ages of 15 months to 4 years., They discuss their experience as working parents in the private and public sectors, how they found a system that works for them, and the most important things they’ve learned throughout their time as a working parent. 

For more insight on what it looks like to succeed in life as a mom and lawyer, tune into this episode of Parents at Work. 

Show Highlights: 

• Katy’s experience transitioning into a judicial clerkship as a mom 
• Anjali’s experience having children as a mid-level associate at a large firm
• Preparing to be a working mom and aligning your career with parenthood
• Looking at jobs with benefits and flexibility for families 
• Asking firms about their parental policies and finding a firm that offers what you need 
• Macro and micro perspectives about what it’s like to be a mom and a lawyer 
• Skills that parenthood provides within the workplace 
• The push and pull parents feel trying to balance parenthood and a career 
• Support systems that were effective returning to the office from maternity leave 
• Changes that are happening in law that are impacting parents 
• Advice for navigating parenthood in the workplace 
• The importance of advocating for yourself and asking hard questions 
• Learning to communicate about your needs as a working parent

Links: 

 Contact Lori: lori@mindfulreturn.com

https://www.mindfulreturn.com

Contact Tom: 

https://www.spigglelaw.com/podcasts/parents-at-work/

Books mentioned: 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17383921-all-joy-and-no-fun

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/769016.How_to_Talk_So_Kids_Will_Listen_Listen_So_Kids_Will_Talk