Leaving the Law
Hi All,
This episode is a follow up to a previous episode - A Decade in Practice. In that episode we reached out to our listeners on our social media to find out what question you all have for us. We received many questions on a variety of topics - but one question really stood out - how do you leave the law?
Given the popularity of this subject, this week’s episode will likely the the first of many episodes focused on various issues related to attorney burn-out and all of the things that lead someone to want to leave a career that cost them tens of thousands of dollars (or more), three or more years beyond undergrad, and a bar exam to achieve.
For now we are discussing a few of the reasons why attorneys start to ponder leaving the law - lack of control, pressure, and a general dissatisfaction.
Lack of control is not unique to law or any specific practice area. However, within each practice areas the level of control you have and the areas over which you have control vary. In the episode, Haley discussed the way in which in manifests in her litigation practice.
If this struggle rings true in your life, we have some considerations for you before deciding to leave all together. Have you garnered enough experience to hand off some tasks to more junior attorneys? Maybe the way in which your practice leaves you feeling out of control cannot be managed anymore but maybe another practice area would be a better fit at this stage of your career?
Pressure is such a common feeling amongst attorneys - especially as you gain experience and more responsibilities. There are so many reasons why a law practice is pressure fulled we could devote an entire series of episodes to just that topic. One major source of pressure comes from your client and their expectations. In order to alleviate some of this pressure, take time to consider how you manage your clients’ expectations and whether you can improve on this skill.
Another pressure point is a classic - the billable hour. Your ability to alleviate this pressure point varies amongst practice areas - but when was the last time you seriously evaluated your billable hour? When was the last time you had a rate increase? Where is your billable rate in comparison to your peers? If you charge for any flat fee services, does your flat fee fairly compensate you for the work slotted to that flat fee?
Like two peas in a pod - the pressure to bill goes hand in hand with the pressure to bring new clients into your firm. One of the more effective ways to work on continuously refreshing your firm with new clients is through networking.
Finally, some attorneys may feel a general dissatisfaction with the practice of law. There are so many different niches under the umbrella of “law” that maybe all you need is a practice area change and not a total reboot outside of practice. Take some time with yourself and think about what you do and do not enjoy about your current practice. Talk to colleagues and friends - do some research. Perhaps your discontent arrises more from your law firm culture and not the area of law you practice in.
Most importantly, whatever you are feeling, now is the time to SAY IT OUT LOUD! We would love to hear from you! You can email us at info@lawyerswholaunch.com or reach out to us on Instagram @lawyerswholaunch.
Thank you!
Haley & Amy
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