I’ve somehow lasted in the legal industry despite my ADHD which was diagnosed late. This isn’t second career for me and I can’t seem to spend more than just over a year at any position, whether voluntarily or bc employer finds out I’m not as good as they thought. I’m very good at presenting myself and know just enough to convince but then don’t usually perform. However, the strengths I mentioned have somehow led me to growing a book of business and now in position to lateral from associate….

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…to partner at either a midsize or large firm. I feel like a fraud and that I haven’t earned it. Due to jumping around and mixing two related practice areas, I haven’t been trained up well. Also, this is like a second career for me and while my first was a role doing quasi-legal work in the same niche, I’ve been practicing fewer years than I should to become partner (4-6).

Can anyone relate and have any advice? This doesn’t feel like it’s just imposter syndrome, it’s actually being an imposter. I feel like I will go to next place and be found out and have to move again or clients will stop coming to me (unless I can somehow find great associates to do the work and I just manage from above which would be ideal since I’m terrible at the actual work).

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Well, how have you gotten so far and built a book if you’re terrible at the work? Do more of what you’re good at. Find those associates to do the work. Try to hang on for longer than a year in your next place because eventually the record of moving every year will catch up to you. It sounds like you know all this, though.

Other ideas — try going in house to a role where you are mainly deciding on the issues but managing outside counsel which is doing the actual work? I’m in house and this is not my reality, but I have peers at other companies whose role is like this. I don’t know how to find this type of role, though.

Also, make sure you’re saving your money for a day when you might not be able to land another job, or have an extended search, or where your next role pays substantially less. Hopefully that day never comes.

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Thanks - I really wanted stay to at my current place for a long time and thought I would, particularly after growing a book, but the partner I work for doesn’t seem to want to support me in growing my book since it cuts into what I can do for the team. I am also getting nothing for my originations and there is no sign that I will anytime soon, so I don’t have much of a choice but to leave.

*came back to re-read and correction - “this IS a second career for me”

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