As a working mother it can be challenging to juggle everything, and having taken some time away from the workplace, I found it difficult to figure out how to get back to work.

My family commitments meant that I wasn't available to work full-time, or even on a rigid part-time basis, so I was delighted when I heard about PeopleBridge by William Fry. It represents a different option and introduced me to a range of interesting opportunities.

PeopleBridge is extremely well suited to legal professionals looking for flexibility in their working life. They listened when I outlined my availability and identified solutions to meet my preferences and those of their clients and offered me positions I would probably not have applied for myself, which enabled me to return to work on terms that suit my family needs.

PeopleBridge listened when I explained my preferences as a working mother. They communicated my availability to prospective clients at the outset, so that I didn't have to have any awkward conversations around that. They never contact me outside of my working hours and are very respectful of my work/life balance.

In my experience, the PeopleBridge team are very inclusive and welcoming, and the support available through the PeopleBridge connection to William Fry's extensive resources is extremely valuable. I feel supported and part of the team.

I would highly recommend PeopleBridge to other parents working in the legal space looking for flexibility in their working life. Our experience during Covid has shown that it is possible to work as part of a dynamic team operating at the highest level while working remotely, even on a part-time basis. PeopleBridge by William Fry brings together all of those opportunities in a very practical way.

The PeopleBridge model facilitates timely direct access to specialist expertise for a fixed period of time. A PeopleBridge placement can enable a business to relieve pressure on an in-house legal team on a temporary basis, and if the arrangement works, it allows for strategic recruitment outside of a conventional hiring cycle.

I feel very lucky to work with flexible and supportive employers doing work I enjoy.

Nóirín O'Connor is a consultant solicitor with PeopleBridge by William Fry, who joined the scheme after taking some time away from work due to family commitments.

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