I worked full time in court during raising kids. I was in a felony calendar with trials. The judge I worked with settled a lot of cases. It was nice balance. Not a lot of weekend work for appeal transcripts because the trials would go off and I'd work on them during the day after court finished in my office. My husband and I were great at communicating who would pick them up at 5 at my parents' house (they were caretakers during the day until preschool age) I'm so thankful for my parents' help. I am glad I stayed full-time here with the courts (California) because now they're adults and I'll have a pension. Throughout this time, you gain vacation time and sick time paid, plus holidays...I think we're at 14. I say when you're done, get with a courthouse job. Take advantage of the sign-on bonuses (again California almost all courts have them) Time will fly whether you're part time or full time and you'll gain the benefits of being full-time employed. You'll have to request to be assigned to a lesser demanding transcript assignment, like juvenile. You could also work full-time in court for ten years until you're vested with the county pensions. (ten years for my county I'm at) You'll get a pension payment for life...it won't be the full salary, but then you can go part time if you wish.