I finally slowed down enough for the past few days to realize I don't have much more law firm life left in me. Trouble is I don't know how I'd rather spend my work time, and it's not looking good for a vacation /retreat anytime soon.
Anyone here successfully discern their next steps while having to meet a billable hour quota? How do I get enough quiet reflection time to chart a new course?

likehelpful
Posting as :
works at
You are currently posting as works at

If you can swing it, I recommend hiring a career coach. It's nice to have dedicated and scheduled blocks of time to process my development and also what I want in my career. Scope can be as near or long term as you want.

likesmart

I second using a career coach to help you decide what you want to do next.

like

Took a sabbatical.

likesmart

The worst they can say is no. Then there are various ways you should be able to take leave and they may not be able to do anything about it. It might be unpaid leave, but at least you’d have health insurance (yay USA) and the job would be there at least for a bit when you got back. If you think you might have to go that route though it might be better not to ask up front since it could make your leave seem like a pretext.

In any event if there is any partner or someone you work closely with or have a good relationship with otherwise I would suggest discussing your concerns with them first. They may have been through the same thing or they may be able to intervene or make other suggestions.

likehelpful

I like all the suggestions here. If you can't afford either, why not be more forceful in your personal boundaries? Block out some time on the weekend for you to meditate or focus on just this question. You'll have to be very disciplined and protect this time from all other distractions, but you can do it.

likesmart

Much appreciated.

Related Posts

I want to switch.

CCTC: 18 LPA (its been 9 months in the company)
YOE: 4 yrs 9 months
Tech: ReactJS, JavaScript etc.

Haven't put down the paper yet (notice period will be 2 months)

What can the expected CTC for a 5 YOE? I want good WLB and growth in a product based company.

Preferred location: Bengaluru (India)

like

Hello guys, I just started my career in performance marketing. How can I build in this career as I don't know much about this field. How should I switch to companies and after how much time

like

I feel like these “incredible” exit opportunities consulting gives you is only applicable to MBB (i.e, companies only value MBB experience vs others). Any successful exits from Big 4 folk?

like

What’s is like going from social strategy to brand strategy? Advice for making that career jump?

like

Hi IBMers
What is role of a senior advisory consultant. Is it similar to solution architect

like

I want to get middle school cert (for ELA) My degree is K-8. My current cert. & EdTPA is K-5. What's the quickest & easiest path to middle school certification?! (I'm in TN, specifically Sumner Co.)

like

For the people who earned the SHRM-CP, did you feel it was worth it? I have an indirect HR position, been applying for more HR focused positions and wondering if this would help. I got the CAPM (certified associate of project management) in December, but that hasn’t really changed things. Would love some opinions before working on another certification!

like

Hello fishes

Is it wise to switch just after 5 months
The work promised before getting into project turned out to be false , it all support work
Team members are giving KT , it just feels bad to resign
Any suggestions ?

Yoe :- 3.2
Tech :- .net

like

Looking to change practice area to employment law - tips?

like

Hello, I’m an associate (almost at the one year mark) at a midsize firm on the EPL team. I did about 2 years of employment law as a clerk during school and know that’s what I want to go into. I’ve asked for more EPL work but keep catching PI cases. I second-chaired an employment trial but don’t see any EPL work for the foreseeable future and wasn’t getting as much EPL exposure as I wanted before the trial. Any advice on a lateral move to a bigger firm with a broader range of EPL work?

like

Is it worth considering a career in Restructuring Consulting in the long term given that their work can be quite cyclical and hinges on the spectrum of the economy.
Or have I misunderstood this? Are the teams always busy with projects?

like

Urgent because I have a job offer and my decision rests on the answer to this question

Is the specialist position in PwC India equivalent to analyst or senior analyst? Is it the junior most hierarchy level in the organisation or is it second last in the succession ladder?

I need everyone’s help😭 Money aside, how did you finalize which idea to pursue? I’m struggling to narrow it down from 4. Focusing is not an issue for me once I’m locked in, but I’m struggling to get there because I haven’t finalized which idea to focus on. Open to any recommendations please (books, personal stories, etc).

like

Let’s say I want to get into pentesting and CEH - where would you advise starting if my experience is minimal? I know my way around things but not much scripting or too heavy network experience. Downloaded Kali on a VM to get some tools, but let’s say you could advise me of a training course/package to start with - what would it be, and from where? My current job is going to let us pick something, and while my answer would be to go to DEFCON 😂 that’s obviously not gonna happen this year.

Just got a job offer with CVS. To say the least I’m super excited to work for an Fortune 5 company. However, the job offer 1k less than my current company, but I thought this will be boost my growth and experience. Was my choices a smart move? Has anyone took a job that the pay was less than your current company ? Also, any insight with CVS and how I can advance my career there will be greatly appreciate.

like
like

First year (ug level hire) and got email from apple recruiter. Would love to exit to FAANG but not sure I'm ready to leave BCG in my first year but maybe after 2-4. What is best practice?

like

What is an IBM principal title equivalent to at a big4?

like

It's time now I guess. Going back to India permanently. Came to Canada for my MBA but couldn't get a job. I have prior IB exp and CFA & CPA. Did a free PE internship for 5 months. Stay safe !

like

I have been looking at the curriculums for Harvard Business School's Master of Business Administration and Harvard Extension School's Master's in Management. They both have the same requirements, generally speaking, including a field immersion course that serves as a capstone in the Master's in Management, which is fairly new. If I am not able to gain admission to Harvard Business School, but wanted a similar educational experience to become a consultant, should I attend Harvard Extension?

like

More Posts

I am considering moving from US to Canada within EY if my visa doesn’t work out. Joined EY TAS- OTS from MBA as a Senior last year with base of 150k. How much salary should I expect in Toronto?

Well TSIA already up 100%. I’ll pass on this one

like

After 2 rounds of interview (1 hour each) , Deloitte usi hr is telling me that due to organisational restructuring the offers are on hold. Got a salary discussion call last Thrusday (no pre hire survey) . Last working day in a week. Any suggestions? Cloud Data engineer CBO unit Deloitte Deloitte USI

like
like

Hey Guys,Can anyone who is a Data Engineer and working with Big Tech Companies share some light on how you guys are preparing for interviews?How are you learning so fast/so much?Can you please share some plan or guide me on what resources you are following?There are too many things. And in my current organization I am not able to learn those.I want to learn fast and more.I see profiles on LinkedIn that are filled with big data techstack.Please guide. Adobe Amazon Walmart Expedia, Inc. American E

like
like

What are the best areas to live in w/ easiest commute to south station/seaport area? I’ll be moving alone so looking for a fun area for 25 y/o to meet people and go out. Will also want to have a car (either on street parking or off is fine)

like

Can anyone tell how much time Accenture takes to give confirmation call or offer letter after all the process. Because my recruitment process was started in January and my last interview was in March 1st week which I cleared. After that they did Background Verification. Now it's been a month there is no communication from their side and they don't even reply to raised tickets. Please help me with this query.

like

Took the NINJA practice exam for REG and got a 72. What is the average difference between the mock and actual?

like

Democratics are going to control the Senate?? Yah!

likeuplifting

So anyone Opting In??

like

I’m leaving my job soon but I’m wondering if I should be truthful when I hand in my letter of resignation. There’s a ton of reasons but it boils down to: I’m worth more than they can pay me and I need to pay off these student loans. What should I say?

like

Do you think house prices in NJ will go down/up? Thinking of buying a house in 9-12 months and saving. What % is a good down payment? (First time home buyer here)

like

Bain & Company Is MBB going to raise comp in the UK too? Just signed the offer recently McKinsey & Company Bain & Company Boston Consulting Group

likefunny

Hello Guys,

Just two simple questions, but need to know the ans!!

How to check eligibility for below questions?

1. Whether Earlier member of Employees provident fund scheme 1952 ?

2. Whether Earlier member of Employees Pension scheme 1995 ?

Working at Capgemini, soon to join Cognizant!!

like
like

Hi folks,

My current project is discontinued by client, so I’m on bench now. Im serving notice period and only 40 days are remaining. I asked HR for early release me but they denied, saying its our policy to complete NP

Is there any possibility to get early release? Whom to I contact?

like
like

Has anyone tried to enforce a European non-compete/non-solicit (both foreign choice of law and venue) in the US? The employee moved with the company to the US 7 years ago and was never provided with an updated agreement. Assume for the sake of argument that the agreement is enforceable in the country of origin.

like

Just how bad would it be to quit without a two week notice? I’ve been bait & switched into a horrible role, overworked to the point of having medical problems, and no amount of diplomatic talks with my manager has improved the day to day. My mental health and my personal relationships have been on a steady decline.

I don’t have another job lined up yet. But I’m danger close to quitting and taking my chances with freelance. Could it be worth it?

like

Additional Posts in Law Exit Opportunities

Giving my notice this week. It’s going to seem very out of the blue as I am a first year associate. I’m leaving to go into a different career path completely. The people are great but I’m just looking for something different. Any advice?

likehelpful

I’ve been practicing in both big law (many yrs ago) and now in-house for over 10 years. Quite often I struggle because I don’t find work fulfilling. I’ve been in industries that allegedly have greater cause (healthcare) but was eventually disappointed by the corporate bureaucracy and went to a cutting-edge tech company for intellectual stimulation. Still I struggle. Should I try public interest? Not that I don’t need the money but it’s hard to work when I am so detached and find it meaningless

like

I have been a practicing (patent prosecution) lawyer in different firms for about 20 years. I would love to do something more creative but still techie (computers, telecom, apps, etc.). I've always been interested in improving the software that practicing lawyers use (whether patent-specific or not). I am also kind of an academic at heart, but I live in a locale where professorial jobs are pretty limited and we're rooted here now. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

like

Any Knowledge Attorneys or Professional Support Attorneys out there? Or know any? Wondering if it would be a good life choice. (I like the sound of it from the little I’ve found.)

likehelpful

Cross-posting: What was your narrative in interviews for wanting to leave biglaw? Presumably you didn't just say I hate working 60+ hours per week in a disgustingly inefficient, top-heavy organization.

likefunny

I work with great people. Really can’t say anything bad about my firm in general either. But…I still dislike the entire premise of law firm life, the billable hour, etc.. I’d love to work in a law school setting as a counselor or something but I can’t afford the pay cut. *sigh* Does anyone feel like being a lawyer is just doing homework all day? First world problems I suppose. I’m very thankful to have a job ❤️

like

What exit opportunities exist for international arbitration? I don’t want to litigate, and am a non-American so government jobs (which seem to be what my colleagues are exiting into) aren’t an option for me. I don’t ever see myself making partner (nor do I want to), and I feel totally stuck.

like

Does anybody work for case text? If so I would love to talk about how you're liking the role and your compensation specifically as an attorney.

like

What is a typical paycut expected for a midlevel in biglaw going to an in-house legal department (NYC corporate)?

like
like

I know this question is asked a lot, but what are some good non-legal fields or jd preferred jobs for lawyers who no longer want to practice? If you left the field of law, how did you know it wasn’t the right career for you?

like

Anyone work in Amazon’s antitrust shop or know anything about it? Heard mixed things.

like

How soon did you know the practice of law was not for you, and when did you start acting on it? Approaching my second year and have felt this in some form since my six month mark.

like

I have been overworked and overwhelmed at my current job for quite a while. This is my first position out of law school, small firm with large caseload, and in my second year of practice. I often think I should look for another opportunity elsewhere but I don't know that any other firms would give me the potential for growth and experience that I am getting here. What are other 2nd year associates doing at other firms? Trying to gauge if I really am getting more opportunities here

like

I am looking to enter big law. I had a clerkship on a state Business Calendar and am a current first year litigation associate where I have prepared for a trial, taken and defended depositions, and have extensive motion writing practice in tech, business, and employment cases. Is it a waste of time to try and make a move to big law with such few years of experience?

likehelpful

3rd year work comp attorney, trying to transition to different non-litigation practice or law exit opportunity. Any ideas?

like

Are there any lawyers that moved to healthcare tech (non-legal related positions)? That would include medical devices, AI, robotics, etc. Would love to learn from your experience.

Parents always wanted me to become a doctor, so did I. However, did not do very well around blood. :))

Thank you!

like

Going into my fourth year of practice and seriously considering becoming a legal recruiter. Does anyone have any insights on this path? Pros? Cons? Advice?

like

Almost 30 years after graduating law school, I am now following my joy. 2022 will be our year to expand our legal resource brokerage nationwide and into the provinces of Canada. If your pivot includes helping underserved communities while maintaining your level of freedom, we should speak.

Post Photo
like

Are there recruiters who specialize in or have opportunities in non practicing attorney or jd preferred roles? I don’t want to litigate anymore but I really need help finding a non practicing role. I wonder if there are recruiters who do this.

like

New to Fishbowl?

Download the Fishbowl app to
unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.
That was just a preview…
Sign Up to see all discussions
  • Discover what it’s like to work at companies from real professionals
  • Get candid advice from people in your field in a safe space
  • Chat and network with other professionals in your field
Sign up in seconds to unlock all discussions on Fishbowl.

Already a user?
Login here

Share

Embed this post

Copy and paste embed code on your site

Preview

Download the
Fishbowl app

See what’s happening in your industry
from the palm of your hand.

A phone with Fishbowl app

Scan your QR code to download
Fishbowl app on your mobile

Download app

Sign up for free to view this conversation on Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

Already have an account? Log in

Sign up for free to continue using Fishbowl

By continuing you agree to Terms of Use(New) and Privacy Policy(New)
Messaging rates may apply

Already have an account? Log in

For account settings, visit Fishbowl on Desktop Browser or

General

Legal