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Your question is more complicated than it seems at first blush I think. I am someone who has worked in a lot of different areas. Started out in house in a big corporation. Was young and got bored. Now I have been around the block I would go back in a heartbeat because the hours were great. Quality of life was great. Moved to big law. Hated the shitty firm culture and politics. Hated working for even shittier extremely wealthy entitled heartless clients. Moved to a boutique practice. Loved it until it went sideways due to two partners trying to depose the the managing partner, and several other issues that would not have rocked a much bigger firm. Then went to government law in a major city. Loved the difference I was making to the community, hated the lack of drive and general apathy of government attorneys. Jumped back to a boutique firm. These partners seem less sociopathic so here’s hoping. So lessons learned are that the people you work for and the work environment is key. If you hate it after a year get the hell out. If they aren’t loyal to you don’t kill yourself trying to do the honorable or right thing for a good mentor or client. Trust me they won’t really jeopardize their position for you. Second, if you are unhappy in one area of law pivot. I even tried crim law as an assistant State attorney for a year. It was fun but exhausting and you have to shoot from the hip way more than my big law training allows me to be ok with. I did family law for a few years. I was passionate about the clients and felt it was really important work as you effect a person’s life for the rest of their life, even more so if children are involved. Plus there are a lot of awful family law attorneys out there clients trust their futures and retainers to. You want to avoid being apathetic in that area of law. You have to be able to leave your client’s issues at the office so you don’t burn out. I wasn’t good at that. I also was not good with boundaries and always let my clients push them. You have to be part social worker but with good boundaries. No experience is ever wasted though. You learn so much even from the shitty jobs or areas of law you think are not relevant the to your ultimate goal. Ok stepping down from my soap box now!
Attorney 2, your response is really helpful and thoughtful — what do you practice now?
I am currently in Court Administration and I don't believe I am learning anything that makes me a marketable attorney so I am looking for a move. I am also fairly early on in my legal career.
What is your practice area and why do you want to leave it?
L&E. Love the area, not my firm. Will be making a change