How long into your career did you decide the practice of law wasn’t for you? If you hopped around to different firms before deciding to exit law entirely, what were some signs that it was the field, not the firm?

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Following for insights as well. I’ve been at two biglaw firms and now in-house. Have hated it every step of the way. Thank you, OP, for asking.

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Thank you for the insight, C1. I totally feel you on being leanly staffed and not having resources to turn to. I’m in the same boat. I also hate constantly feeling unsure but if it helps, I hear most in-house lawyers feel this way. I just know it isn’t aligned with my personality and I am tired of it.

As far as the repetitive tasks, I know it sounds boring to most and they’d rather be doing “dynamic and interesting” work, but my anxious personality thrives off of doing something over and over again and just getting really good at it. I want to be able to do my work, do it well, without agonizing over.

I appreciate you sharing your story!

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3 years, with inklings before that. Been 5 years now and I’m still in it.

Signs were me not liking the day to day, essentially. Changed firms, still want out. Looking to go in house in a few years.

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Yes, and I was and still am passionate about the practice area. It’s just the lawyer life I seem to have a problem with. Or, hopefully, just the law firm life.

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I practiced for 4 years. I thought about going in-house, but when I was really honest with myself - I just didn’t enjoy the doing of law. Even if the schedule/stress issues were accounted for (which I’m not convinced going in-house solves per some of the other comments).

Try tracking your energy/engagement during the day to see where you slump and where you feel energized. During work, and outside. What activities/tasks do you enjoy? Hate?

I’m also a big fan of the Sparketype assessment (and it’s free). It helps identify the kind of work where you find flow. If it doesn’t sound like what you’re spending your days as a lawyer doing - that could be a sign.

And finally - trust yourself. I know it’s hard to imagine walking away after all we put into becoming lawyers. But, in a quiet moment - you probably know your truth.

helpfullike

A long and winding path 😂. I initially moved to law school administration, specifically international programs. That was a good fit for a while. But ultimately it got kind of boring and there was no place to grow. I had an even worse existential crisis leaving that career, because I thought I’d figured “it” out.

I somehow gave myself permission to broaden my view of what I could consider. I started an interior design business on the side, which started me down the entrepreneurial path. I also started a podcast just for fun interviewing lawyers who left practice (The Lawyer’s Escape Pod). Long story short - that all came together and now I’m a coach.

Happy to answer any more specific questions if you have any :)

likehelpful

2nd year of law school I realized that I wasn’t nearly as interested as other people. I found certain areas and aspects enjoyable but didn’t have the passion I saw in others. That being said I practiced for a number of years in banking, antitrust, IP, and compliance investigations before transitioning out of law.

I’ve realized that if you enjoy work, then it doesn’t feel like work. Plus if your passionate about something, success soon follows.

helpful

Hiring committee in big law, volunteered to conduct on grounds interviews, then through some twists and turns found my way into hiring in bunches for discovery review. Transitioned into legal recruiting full time after that and worked my way up to now managing a team of legal recruiters while still recruiting myself.

Feel free to DM me to connect and ask any additional questions.

Close to 11 years here, taking the first steps to make the change. I was always drawn to more creative fields but I finally went for a safe job and I regret it immensely. I've been to 2 different firms, one of them smaller and I left because of terrible office drama, and one big firm, where work is endless and with very intense days. I'm lucky if I can have lunch in-between tasks uninterrupted. I know it's the field in my case because I used to work in other professions before (similar amount of hours), and I never had the burnout I've had with law.

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Following.

F.

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