Micro Retirement – A Career Sabbatical In Disguise?

What is Micro-Retirement?

In the UK, the idea of micro-retirement has gained traction among those who don’t want to wait until their 60s or 70s to take a significant break from the traditional work-life treadmill. In simple terms, it refers to a planned period of time away from full-time employment – often months rather than years – during one’s active career. Older people used to call it ‘a career sabbatical’ but seemingly new generations (Millenial and Gen Z) are renaming lots of things including career sabbaticals! Micro retirement sounds a lot more tempting than a mere sabbatical..

So why should legal professionals – and in particular locum solicitors – care? Because the flexibility, autonomy and project-based nature of locum work make this kind of lifestyle increasingly plausible.

Obviously this article is not relevant for the lucky souls who still have a thing called a ‘full pension’ that enables them to fully retire and become ‘pensioners’. I strongly suspect there will be a museum about these artifacts one day..

Locum Solicitors – New Definition Needed?

First, let’s define what we mean by “locum solicitors” in the context of UK law. A locum solicitor is a qualified solicitor who works on a temporary or interim basis – filling short-term gaps, covering leave, or providing support for periods of high workload. However in addition to this, a locum solicitor is also the job title used where a solicitor provides ongoing self-employed consultancy services to law firms and in house departments; usually on an ad hoc basis. Consultant solicitor roles are the new way of working and increasingly popular amongst tech firms and consultancy platform law firms.

How Micro-Retirement Can Work for locum solicitors

1. Work Hard, Play Hard (and for longer)

Because locum solicitors are often brought in for defined periods, the very nature of the role fits with taking planned time-off or pauses.

Full 9-5 career intensity over decades is something that makes your hair turn white and your stress levels to increase forever. However if you provide cover intensively for a six month assignment, you then take three months out to travel, write or rest, and then return for a bit more! Sounds great if you can get the timings to work.

2. Financial Planning Important

Taking a micro-retirement does require a bit of thinking. Reports show that those who take a time out early may postpone retirement slightly later to compensate, but can still end up with a larger pension pot. Not quite sure how this works, so speak to your pension advisers if you have them.

For locum solicitors: you’ll want to ensure:

• sufficient money in the bank to sustain the break;
• you are covered for SRA registration and CPD;
• communication with us and/or clients for future assignments.

3. Timing Important

Micro-retirements probably work best when timed to match career peaks or transitions. For a locum solicitor this will probably mean after a demanding project or lengthy fixed term contract. I suspect the best way of looking at them is to be as flexible as possible and perhaps take one at very short notice.

4. Re-Entry into Locum World

One of the key attractions of the locum route is that re-entry is relatively straightforward: law firms and organisations regularly need interim support. However.. if you have too much of a gap on your CV between locum assignments, you will find it harder to get work.

Practical tips for locum solicitors considering micro-retirement

• Define clear goals for the break: Don’t just leave for the sake of it. Whether it’s travel, writing a book, caring for family or exploring new legal markets, clarity will help you return with intention. Articles highlight that micro-retirements work better when you come back refreshed and motivated. (The Pension Planner)
• Keep professional credentials alive: Maintain your CPD, indemnity and memberships. Even if you’re off-assignment you want to stay on radar for future roles.
• Stay in contact with locum agencies: Communicate your plan with recruitment partners so they know when you’ll be available again; this helps your re-entry.
• Review your finances: Use modelling to check the effect on pension, savings and tax. One UK source noted that while a break at 30 might reduce the pot slightly, working longer compensates. (standardlife.co.uk)
• Treat micro-retirement like a project: Set timelines, budgets and keep documentation. You can frame it as a “planned career-break” within your overall locum portfolio rather than a gap.
• Use the break to expand your skill-set: For instance legal technology, a new jurisdiction, or niche practice area. This increases the value you bring when you return and may open new locum opportunities.

From the law firm’s perspective, the dramatic rise of flexible working and demand for interim lawyers mean that locum solicitors are increasingly key. Recruitment agencies like Interim Lawyers (https://www.interimlawyers.co.uk) are very used to locums popping in and out of the market.

Micro-Retirement in Practice: A Hypothetical Example

Sarah is a mid-career solicitor aged 40 who has been working in a commercial law firm. She decides she wants to take nine months out to travel the world, learn to surf, live in a campervan and write a legal-tech blog to drum up future consultancy work. She hands in her notice in her permanent job and registers with us as a locum. On her return, she takes on a locum assignment via Interim Lawyers, covering maternity leave for a corporate legal team, for six months. She uses that experience to pivot into interim work focusing on legal-tech projects. Sarah puts plans in place for further breaks.

This illustrates how micro-retirement isn’t about dropping out, but rather re-structuring your career path to fit your lifestyle. What about the financial security? There isn’t any. This is the gamble you always take with locum and consultancy work.

The Broader Benefit for the UK Legal Profession

Micro-retirement signals a shift in how UK lawyers think about career longevity, wellbeing and flexibility. The traditional model of decades of unbroken full-time work is definitely evolving – we see this happening on a daily basis. For locum solicitors in particular, the combination of flexibility, project-based work and professional mobility means they are well placed to lead this change. From a firm’s perspective, accommodating professionals (whether salaried or locum) who pattern their work around micro-retirements may improve retention and reduce burnout.

What a load of old nonsense, I hear a good number of more senior solicitors saying as they read this article. We worked 70 hour weeks, why can’t the next generation? Very true, but the next generation don’t need to work out of an office for 70 hours a week, so unfortunately a lot are choosing not to.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a solicitor in the UK who is tempted by the idea of stepping away (temporarily) but staying professionally active, then micro-retirement and the locum solicitor path may offer an excellent marriage of lifestyle and career ambition. Interim Lawyers are always happy to help (see https://www.interimlawyers.co.uk and https://www.interimlawyers.co.uk/about) you can find assignments that suit your availability.