Scroll down to read along with the imperfect transcript
In this insightful episode, we delve into the crucial decision-making process lawyers face when transitioning careers. Drawing from real stories and expert advice, I bring you a strategic guide to not just survive but to thrive beyond the confines of traditional legal paths. As a seasoned legal professional, I share invaluable insights to help you navigate uncertainties and make intentional career choices.
Key Takeaways from the Episode
Strategic Transition: Learn the art of transitioning strategically, avoiding the pitfalls of hasty career moves.
Financial Freedom: Challenge the belief that high earnings are exclusive to traditional legal roles and explore a life of abundance beyond litigation.
Purposeful Decision-Making: Uncover the key questions to align your career with your passions and values.
Overcoming Burnout: Strategies to overcome burnout, especially in the face of pandemic challenges.
Legal Odyssey Stories: Explore real-life stories, like my Client’s pendulum swing we discussed in Episode 5, illustrating the journey from toxic work environments to fulfilling careers.
Select Quotes from the Episode
“We are all born holding one bucket of shit. Our job in life is to not carry two.” – Professor Bill Quigley, Loyola New Orleans Law
“You can make 6 figures and have a wonderful life, if you want it, not litigating. The skills you have now will take you places you can’t even imagine.”
“Let’s make those answers match what matters to you so your future can be the one you imagine and daydream about.”
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Imperfect Transcript from this Episode
Alright, so let’s talk about what we came here to talk about: making the decision to transition into something new.
Stay in the situation you’re in now where there’s mostly discomfort, or go into a new situation that you don’t know and feel excitement and discomfort.
When lawyers are coming to me for help, it’s usually because they’re having difficulty identifying a career where they’re best suited, while simultaneously being able to manage their financial responsibilities. When they’re looking for a new job, they’re just looking for ANY job with ANY company, and they’re not being strategic about it. They jumped from job to job, firm to firm, and finding that all of them fail to meet their hopes and expectations. At the end of the day, they’re simply not happy with their current job or location or status. And honestly, what I hear most of all is that if they didn’t have bills to pay, they wouldn’t go to work. I hear that a lot. But, this is the capitalist society that we live in; so there are two options – make more to cover what exists now or intentionally have less so there’s less to pay for.
I’ll share with you one of the most pivotal things I’ve ever been told. And it was by a Professor in law school, Professor Quigley – an incredible man and excellent human rights lawyer – who told us that we are all born holding one bucket of shit. Our job in life is to not carry two.
And I toook that to mean that when we are holding two buckets of shit, we have no free hands ot reach out for help or to help ourselves. He said that when we graduated, don’t get married, odn’t have kids, don’t buy a car, don’t buy a house. Just work for a couple of years, and if you still like it and still want to do it, then by all means, start layering things in. Otherwise, don’t take on more until you know you want it long-term. I wish every single law student knew that advice. Because this is how lawyers get stuck. Not because they can’t leave, but because they immediately went out and took on a ton of debt because they were making a ton of money. And when they do that, it doesn’t feel like there’s a way out.
And here’s the other thing: most lawyers think they can only make that kind of money in the law, and that is absolutely not true. So let me dissuade you of that belief now, if you have it. You can make 6 figures and have a wonderful life, if you want it, not litigating. The skills you have now will take you places you can’t even imagine. But I don’t want you to be just anywhere – I want you to have the right projects, the right people, the right pay.
When they’re just starting out working with me, a lot of my clients tell me that it’s hard for them to want or to be excited about going to work in the morning. Most are currently looking for a new job, and have gotten stuck, especially since things have been harder during the pandemic. There aren’t as many job postings, and for those who can’t find something easily, or what they see doesn’t fit, it’s often because they feel like they’re at a disadvantage being a minority, graduating in the bottom half of their law school class, or being a government attorney and needing to shift. They’re not 100% sure what their next step is, and more often than not, when they’re trying to leave, it’s difficult because they’re burned out and covering all kinds of practice areas, including ones they’re not interested in, but due to turnover had been doing.
You’ll remember NICOLE’S story from Episode 5, about the pendulum swing – of toxic to less toxic …
There’s so much uncertainty with transition – no matter what it is, to full time private practice and expanding services or in-house or another firm.
So, the moral of the story is this: you’re not alone in making hard decisions. Not only are you surrounded by a profession of lawyers who struggle with the same question, and it’s absolutely normal, but you have ME to help you. So let me leave you with three questions. Grab your paper:
First, if you won 37 million dollars tomorrow and never HAD to work another day in your life, what would you do with your time? Not the money, we know what you’d do with the money. But your time: how would you spend your days and evenings?
Answer that … and if you want to pause to write it out, go ahead. *PAUSE*
Second, why did you get into the law in the first place? Whose idea was it? When did you decide to go into law? Do you remember the exact moment? *PAUSE*
And third, last question – who do you serve now, who do you help? And once you answer that question, I want you to consider whether that matches your second answer. My experience has been that it won’t … if you’re listening to this podcast, it’s because you want something more in your career.
I’m here for you.
Let’s make those answers match what matters to you so your future can be the one you imagine and daydream about.