The Law Partner Sabbatical you Keep Meaning to Take. And how to get round to it.

There’s a theme that comes up in almost every first conversation I have with a law firm partner.

Not “where shall we go?”… that’s the enjoyable part, and we get there eventually. But first, almost always, there’s a version of the same question: “Is this actually a sensible thing to do?”

It’s a fair question. Partners at law firms have built careers over decades. They have clients who depend on them, teams who look to them, and a professional identity that doesn’t easily switch off. Taking three months, six months, or a year out is not a trivial thing to contemplate.

However, none of the concerns is insurmountable. By identifying the right time in advance, committing to it with family and work, and getting the ball rolling early enough, the path to the time of your life can be relatively stress-free.

When is the right time to take a sabbatical?

Once you hit eligibility, the best time to take a sabbatical is when it best fits with the generations of your family. A year when the children have no significant exams, or a summer holiday when they’re not studying for them. A time when ageing parents don’t need your help to downsize or when they are cared for and comfortable. A moment when your spouse can also get the time off work, or can create the flexibility to make a break happen. The convergence of these points in time hits the sweet spot for when to take a sabbatical.

It’s a good idea to work out when this time might be, or how these circumstances can be created, before you even hit eligibility within your law firm. Ahead of accruing the requisite number of years’ continuous service, as Partner or other, consider which year / summer period / kids’ school term your time away would best fall into.

The next step is to make that target official. Having the conversation with HR early can, firstly, lock in the slot for you before it’s allocated to someone else. Secondly, it gives you a goal to work towards, personally and professionally.

While the timing more often than not depends on aligning calendars across generations of your family, getting ahead on the planning will make sure you identify the right time, plan for it, and prep those around you.

How long does it take to plan a legal sabbatical?

A year is likely to be the minimum to put the wheels in motion from the firm’s perspective. Many law firms require HR to be informed a year or so in advance, partly to plan cover and also to ensure sabbaticals don’t overlap within departments.

In terms of planning your travel, it’s advisable to work with an experienced sabbatical designer. Start the planning process with them 6-12 months ahead of departure. Part of this time is for locking the itinerary. Once they know your interests, and those of your family, a good trip designer will recommend destinations, accommodation and experiences that you may not have thought of. Allowing time to consider the options as your trip takes shape will result in a more considered and highly personalised itinerary. Then, once it’s set, your trip planner can lock it all in place.

Having enough advance notice will not only benefit you directly. If applicable, your spouse’s company will be more likely to accommodate the request. Your children’s school will offer greater flexibility with better warning. They may even waive a term’s fees (we’ve seen this happen). And your family will be better prepared to step in should anything be needed on the home front.

Sabbatical planning: how to decide what to do on sabbatical

Often, everyone in the family will have an idea for where to go and what to do. Even with 2-3 months off, it can be hard to fit it all in. And it’s inadvisable to try to. Squeezing the entire wish list into one trip will leave you needing another sabbatical.

The best place to start is by working out what you want to get out of the sabbatical. Learn a new skill? Get closer to nature? Introduce the children to new cultures? Picture yourself at the end of your sabbatical – what do you want to be able to say about it?

In terms of destinations, focusing on one part of the world and seeing the contrasts within that region works really well. A trip across Central America, from Panama to Belize, will showcase 6 countries in one trip while keeping the distances manageable and the landscapes and cultures ever changing. Alternatively, immerse yourself in one country, for example seeing Japan in depth from the tropical southern archipelagoes of Okinawa to the volcanic mountains of the northern Hokkaido.

Wherever you end up, the most important elements are contrast and pace, and experiences that keep all the family happy.

Starting the conversation

If you’re contemplating a sabbatical, the best place to start is to have a conversation with someone who’s done it. Find someone in your firm who’s been away and speak to them. Inspire yourself with itineraries – there are plenty under our destinations here: Discover Bespoke Travel Destinations | LiNGER Travel.

To kick start your planning, or simply to vocalise your ideas with someone who understands and can advise, get in touch a seasoned professional sabbatical planner. At LiNGER, we’ve planned over 70 sabbaticals, mainly for law firm partners. A conversation with no obligation or expectation will help to frame whether the time is right, what the shape of your trip might be and the kind of budget you’d be looking at.

If you’ve had a sabbatical clause sitting unused for a while, or if eligibility is an upcoming milestone, it’s worth considering what that time off could look like. Drop me a line to start thinking about yours.