Law is a depressing profession, but I'd love to hear stories of positive things that came out of your legal career. It can be cheesy like meeting your spouse as well ☺️

I don’t find law depressing at all. It’s better than the many jobs I had before law school and it gave me the means to raise my two boys in one of the most expensive cities in the world on my own. It later gave me the funds needed to sue my ex for child support. 🥰

Ok, here’s my answer: I’ve been practicing over 20 yrs., starting in private practice and now in-house, raising kids, and pretty consistently involved in committee work within my firm or dept. I’m not GC at this point, but I’ve accomplished professional milestones I never dreamed of when I started. The law is demanding, it’s infuriating and I’ve always worked very long hours (yes, in-house). It has taken a lot out of me. Sometimes I want to quit, take months off to reset and figure out what’s next for me professionally. However, most days I come away satisfied, with a job that makes me learn new things, think long and hard to solve puzzles, and navigate legal, people and/or business challenges. I’ve gotten deep satisfaction from the success of major projects. I work with really great, smart (and kind) colleagues. I really value working with smart people I can learn from, partner with. Say what you will about the EQ capabilities of attorneys, but the law does demand a minimum standard of smarts. This career has developed me into a smarter, more practical, saavy and strategic person. I call on my skills every day in my personal life. This career has also given me incredible insight into the workings of the world, making me a more informed citizen. My goal is and has been to feel like I am stretching myself, growing, and this does that. I also love that my kids have seen me fully realizing the person I can be (which for me will always involve intellectual challenges).

I’m so sorry to hear you are finding it depressing. You worked really hard to get here, but if it’s making you miserable, then you deserve to make a change. That could be a change to your employer, the type of practice (e.g., inhouse? Firm? Gov? No -profit?), the subject matter or the people. Whatever it is, I wish you the very best and a career that overall feels worthwhile. You really do deserve it.

I pulled my family out of poverty with this career. My colleagues and peers today are people I never would have crossed paths with - certainly not in a workplace and probably not even in public. It’s a wildly different life than what my life should have/would have been. There are days when I’m tired, overwhelmed, and frustrated. But I’m still forever grateful.

Financial stability to travel, great friends who’ve helped me grow as a person, and the gratitude from helping clients who’d lost faith. I feel privileged to practice law and get to help people. The law is an inspiring profession for me.

I’m in-house now, but at my first law firm job, I handled a pro bono green card application case for someone who was applying under the Violence Against Women Act. Handing her the green card (which was sent to me instead of her to protect it from being stolen from her mailbox by the ex husband) was one of the highlights of my career to this day. Aside from that, it’s a point of pride to be an expert that people call upon when they need clarity and direction.

One time, I got a civil theft claim dismissed with prejudice on the papers.

Here to say my husband (also a lawyer) and I often lament how burnt out we are in this field, both 16 years in, but it allows us to give our kids a lot of great experiences and opportunities, immensely more than I had. And I’ve had a few deals hit the WSJ and the like. That feels meaningful. I do mostly try to focus on the opportunities, however— the ability to provide for our family, travel, experience things I never thought that I could, and hopefully, retire early if I desire to do so.

Met spouse. Both lawyers. 2 kids. Married 18 years. Our firstborn got a college scholarship today. 🙂

Why is it depressing?

I feel really grateful that I get to do interesting work that I find meaningful with people I mostly really like, so don’t find it all that depressing most of the time.

My favorite positive thing was finally winning a case for a small class of janitors who had been separated in violation of a workers’ retention law, and getting to distribute about $30k each to them.

I met my husband (also a lawyer), at the first firm I ever worked at. We get to travel around the world, multiple times a year and have two houses. While it is stressful, I consider myself very lucky and fortunate.

Met my fiancé in law school - we both are still in private practice but also both agree that meeting each other was the singular benefit of choosing this path, which is otherwise miserable lol

Looking forward to some answers. I feel the same way.

Hi hi, how’s this for a positive reason: it gives me the option to be full time breadwinner as a women in a hetero relationship. Love that ability flip gender roles norms 🙌

Yes! And wear away at them so both our sons and daughters can live free of the unhealthy constraints that accompany them, free to live into their potential.