The 10-Year Gap: How One Lawyer Returned to Her Career

Schroeder, now 57, spent her decade away from the office managing intensive therapy schedules, chairing a governing body for a specialist school, and pursuing diplomas in psychology and English. She maintains that the analytical skills required in legal practice remained sharp throughout her time as a full-time caregiver. When she decided to re-enter the workforce in 2013, she leveraged a professional network that provided crucial support, including updated reading lists on legal precedents established during her absence.

Securing a role at a media organization required a quick turnaround, but her confidence during the interview process proved decisive. When asked if she would struggle to transition back, Schroeder argued that the core of legal work—sound judgment—is an innate ability rather than a perishable skill. She successfully returned to the industry in 2014 and has since held positions at a UK news channel and Discovery, currently serving as a general counsel for a newspaper group. Her experience underscores the value of approaching a career gap as a period of active development rather than a professional deficit.