For some of us millennial lawyers our careers started with gap years, round the world tickets, festivals and teenage dreams of far off beaches, followed by three years of university, the LPC, perhaps a master's degree or other higher education and a good amount of volunteer and paralegal work – in the hope of securing the golden ticket to a training contract.

Whilst our priorities back then were to obtain as much experience as possible (an invaluable investment that will serve us throughout our legal careers), our vision board might look slightly different these days. That's not to say our legal careers are taking a back seat by any means (we might just have different learning objectives) but we might have families that need our care and attention, have dreams of starting up new businesses or taking up high-risk adventure sports, or traveling the globe.

Against that background, whilst there will be some of us that don't feel the tug of war, for those of us that do, how can we balance our desire to pursue our extra-curricular activities with that inherent drive to be the best lawyer we can be, enhance our skills, show our employers that we do have the drive and ability to produce excellent results and enhance efficiency in business and climb up the corporate ladder? Does it have to be a choice?

One of the difficulties we face is that traditionally it has involved working beyond the 9-5, attending networking and client events and drinks, and being available at all times of the day. As valuable as some of those things can be when they are necessary, I'm ever more convinced that they're out-dated ways to get ahead and they do not necessarily result in productivity, efficiency or motivation. Do we really have to choose between a work-life balance and our legal career? I don't think so.

So what opportunities are out there that will allow us to have the work-life balance we want without sacrificing our desire to develop as brilliant lawyers? It sounds too good to be true right? That's what I thought until I started to explore and find out more about the various ways of working now available to us. I was surprised at how creative I could be with my career to the benefit of myself, my family and the firms/companies I was working with. What am I talking about? I'm talking about flexible working. By this I mean (i) flexible working whilst employed (ie hours that challenge the 9 – 5 and remote working); and (ii) legal contracting (working for a fixed period of time and then taking time off). Both of these options, depending on why you want to work flexibly, can give you the space to pursue those extra-curricular activities whilst keeping your legal career intact.

I'll be honest, I was reluctant to ask about flexible working whilst employed. I was afraid if I didn't constantly work late that seniors wouldn't take me seriously. That was not the case. In fact I found that there were a variety of ways of working, such as working different hours and/or working remotely that made my work and home life a whole lot easier and I was able to complete a further master's degree on my days off. The fact that I kept producing excellent work and I was prepared to log back in and do the extra work when necessary and my dedication and commitment to the work and law firm partners I worked for meant I wasn't sacrificing my career prospects. This can be a great option if you want a long weekend to spend with your family or to pursue a weekly hobby whilst retaining your guaranteed income and benefits.

For me, I now want to be able to travel and to have time off to spend with my daughter and I currently work as a legal contractor. Whilst this way of working is not necessarily new, most lawyers I have spoken to have not heard of such ways of working let alone considered them as a viable way of working that can still get them up that ladder. But why not? Perhaps when it comes to flexible working like me, the fear of asking to work differently being met with a big NO or that seniors will think we are not taking our careers seriously or with legal contracting the fear that time away from work and working in different practice areas might be viewed negatively by prospective employers.

However, with technology on our side (let's face it most of us are able to work remotely now with limited difficulty) the possibilities and benefits of flexible working are numerous:

1. Increased productivity – working different hours or having time off after contracting often makes us more efficient during the hours that we do work due to their limited nature – we need to make them count and get the work done and are often refreshed and ready to come back to work when we do!

2. A happier workforce – is there anyone that said they weren't happier having more time to pursue other hobbies and interests or without battling with the 2 hour daily commute?

3. Opportunities to enhance and develop skills - as a legal contractor, opportunities to gain varied experience that enhances and develops skills are in abundance. Working in-house can give us insight into the commercial, legal and regulatory challenges faced by clients as well as into how they operate, what drives them and access to high profile work. As a contractor you can choose which assignments you wish to work on – you can literally design your career. If you choose to take time off to pursue other passions and businesses, these can bring their own unique skills, for example running a business gives you an insight into how businesses work, having a family has enhanced my time management skills. These pursuits can bring value to future workplaces – we shouldn't be afraid to shout about the skills we have gained!

This is all well and good but there are currently five generations of lawyers working in the legal industry and many different views about the value of flexible working. So how can we impress the seniors whilst maintaining our work-life balance? My top tips are:

• Work hard when you do work and focus 100% attention onto what you are doing – give quality consideration.

• If its right for you, don't be afraid to ask if flexible working is an option – I was surprised at what options were actually available. Be prepared that it might be after a prove-yourself period if you're entering a new role.

• Respect the right to work flexibly if it is given – you are being trusted to work the way you want and get the work done. Communicate well and manage your diary, bearing in mind other's time is also important.

• Consider contracting/temporary employment if it's right for you – there are opportunities out there. Don't be afraid to explore them.

Whatever is right for you, we are fortunate in that we are working in times where there is scope for being creative with our careers and lifestyles in a way that can benefit both ourselves and the firms and companies we work with.

Rosemary Hort is a litigation solicitor at Vario from Pinsent Masons