Thinking about returning to the legal world after a long break? You’re not alone—and you’re not starting from scratch. Relaunching your legal career isn’t just about brushing up on old skills; it’s about rebuilding with intention. A strong legal career relaunch strategy includes reflecting on your journey, identifying your strengths, and building momentum step by step.
That’s exactly what Mindy Berkower, Chief Client Officer and General Counsel at iRelaunch, has done. Her story proves that time away from the workforce doesn’t weaken your value—it can actually deepen your perspective and set the stage for something even better.
Watch the full conversation with Mindy S. Berkower here:
How Early Experiences Strengthen Your Legal Career Relaunch Strategy
Mindy began her legal career at a large firm in New York City, where she found herself unexpectedly working in admiralty law. It wasn’t something she chose, but it turned out to be formative. This early detour highlights an important truth for anyone considering a career relaunch: your path doesn’t have to be linear to be valuable. Every experience builds transferable skills—even the ones that seem off course at the time.
Using a Career Break to Fuel Your Legal Career Relaunch Strategy
Mindy took an 18-year career break to focus on raising her children. While she didn’t have a clear plan for returning, she remained engaged through volunteer work, community leadership, and school involvement. These weren’t filler activities—they were opportunities to lead, problem-solve, and connect. One of the key pillars of a strong legal career relaunch strategy is realizing that professional development can happen outside traditional office walls.
Strategic Volunteering as a Launchpad
What helped Mindy the most was what she calls “strategic volunteering.” She chose opportunities that aligned with her professional goals, like leading school PTA committees and organizing community initiatives. These roles helped her refine leadership and communication skills and expand her network—key elements in relaunching any legal career.
Rebuilding Confidence and Professional Identity
After years away, one of the biggest challenges wasn’t legal knowledge—it was self-perception. Mindy emphasizes how important it is to reconnect with your professional identity. That might mean updating your résumé, practicing interviews, or simply talking to former colleagues to remind yourself of the value you bring. A smart legal career relaunch strategy includes time to reflect, recalibrate, and regain your footing.
Reentering with Flexibility and Focus
Mindy’s re-entry wasn’t a return to a traditional legal role. She began in marketing and publicity at iRelaunch, which helped her ease back into the workforce and rebuild her confidence. As the company’s needs evolved, she transitioned back into legal work—eventually stepping into the dual role she holds today. Her story reminds us that returning doesn’t always mean returning to the same thing. Sometimes, it means building something new on top of what you already know.
Redefining Success Through a Personalized Legal Career Relaunch Strategy
Now, as both Chief Client Officer and General Counsel, Mindy blends relationship-building with legal leadership. She views every client interaction as a chance to build trust, streamline legal processes, and create long-term value. Her path shows that a successful legal career relaunch strategy isn’t just about getting back to work—it’s about reimagining how your skills can create impact in new, meaningful ways.
Your Break Doesn’t Define You—Your Next Step Does
Mindy’s journey proves that it’s never too late to restart. Whether you’ve been out of the workforce for a few years or a few decades, what matters is what you do next. A thoughtful legal career relaunch strategy focuses on leveraging what you’ve done, being open to what’s next, and giving yourself credit for every step forward.
Watch the full conversation here: Notes to My (Legal) Self: Season 4, Episode 17 (ft.Mindy S. Berkower)
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