Many of us attended
law school with stars in our eyes from watching too many Perry Mason
and Matlock reruns. There will, however, always be a certain
percentage of lawyers who will graduate to dislike the actual job, or
perhaps just a traditional or large firm setting, for personal or other
reasons. Some lawyers may even find themselves in a position where they
remain at a job that makes them miserable because they feel like they
have “wasted” their law school education, or that a career
change will make them less of a “success.” There is good news
for this group of lawyers. Many people have downsized their practices
or even made the transition out of the law and are very happy and productive
in their subsequent careers.
Lise Hamilton Hall
worked with large and small firms in New York and Pennsylvania before
opting for full-time motherhood and a part-time law guardian practice.
This satisfying balance affords her both an outlet for her legal skills
and sanity-preserving interaction with adults. She is retaining work
skills and maintaining a seamless résumé should she choose
to go back to full-time practice. She also finds her law degree valuable
in her volunteer work on various boards of directors, thereby helping
her with the real psychological and sociological stumbling blocks of
feeling like she is not using her degree.
If you are unhappy in the practice, put together a list of factors outlining
the costs and benefits of your current job. Your list should include
all the factors associated with your employment and even consider such
intangibles as your social environment and the amount of pressure that
billing or marketing creates for you. Quality of life issues such as
your commute and family time should also be considered.
Hamilton Hall suggests
that if you have made your list and are still considering a leap, then
the first step out of a traditional or larger firm would be to scale
back your lifestyle. Make a financial plan for getting out of the practice.
Set a realistic budget. Meet with a financial planner if you have to.
For a cheaper solution, you might look for a community education course
on budgeting for a household as well.
Don’t forget
another potential option. Being of counsel or even working out a space
sharing arrangement might be worth exploring before you make a final
decision to leave your current situation, particularly if your dissatisfaction
primarily involves stress over partnership. Evan Loeffler of Seattle,
Washington (and an editor of GPSolo) happily exercised the latter
option to start a thriving solo practice, and would highly recommend
exploring it.
Hamilton Hall also
notes that your choices now, or as you begin your law firm life, will
limit your range of choices in five years. Going into your firm with
a financial exit plan is appropriate even if you don’t currently
dislike your job. She observes that for your firm, your employment is
a business arrangement. Thus, for you it needs to be a business deal
as well. Reassess as necessary every six months. Ask yourself frequently
if your current situation is meeting your goals.
Lastly, don’t
forget the resources of your law school’s placement office. They
have experienced many people transitioning in and out of the practice
and can assist you or just cheer you on.
Happy lawyering
. . . and perhaps beyond!
Gretchen Otto,
Esq, is a lawyer and freelance writer living in Northern Virginia.
