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Bar News - February 18, 2005 Does Your Law Practice Suit You or Are You Fed Up? By: Betsy Black Editor's Note: Betsy Black, a former lawyer and member of the Bar, is a "life coach." In the first of a series of articles on helping lawyers find greater satisfaction with their personal and professional lives, Betsy offers thoughts on beginning a process of self-examination. In any pursuit, awareness precedes action. This series of articles will offer attorneys not completely satisfied with their careers an opportunity to reflect on and assess where they are in their careers, and contemplate changes to enhance their satisfaction. Changes may involve minor modifications, re-orientation of the practice, switching to another area of law and a new job, or leaving the practice of law to pursue another career. If you're not perfectly happy as a lawyer, you're not alone. The legal profession is demanding, including long hours, a multitude of priorities, worries about clients and the stresses inherent in an adversarial system. Also, the practice of law has changed significantly over the last 20 years. Deborah Arron notes in her book, Running from the Law, "From 1970 to 1987, a period in which the U.S. population increased by less than 20 percent, the number of lawyers more than doubled," thus significantly increasing competition. Arron observes that "the incidence of stress-related disorders in the lawyer population is among the highest of any professional group. For example, studies have shown that an unusually high percentage of practicing lawyers suffer from depression, and that the rate of alcohol abuse and dependency is twice the national average." The good news is that there is an enormous variety of work within the profession, including private practice in firms large or small, flying solo, or working in government, administrative, judicial, in-house counsel or other settings. Other professions welcome the skills, experience and background offered by an attorney. You don't have to look far to find many other career options that lawyers pursue. Governor John Lynch has a J.D., as do many elected officials. Last year Jon Chorlian gave up his law practice at Orr & Reno to buy and renovate properties, starting with a beautiful home on Centre Street in Concord. "I liked lawyering, but I didn't love it," he reported to the Concord Monitor. Lawyers start businesses related (or unrelated) to their legal skills, work in the nonprofit sector, become counselors/therapists, teach, do human resources work, banking, and pursue many other avenues. The analytical, negotiation, advocacy and other skills honed in law school and practice are extremely valuable in a variety of settings. Throughout this piece and the articles to follow, there will be questions for you to consider about your own practice and life. I recommend that you read through the article and consider one or two questions at a time, writing your responses down, then return to the article for further questions. The discipline of writing makes your observations more concrete and specific. Also, adjacent to this article you will find a Lawyer Satisfaction Self Assessment that you may want to start with. Let's start at the beginning. Do you remember when you first decided to become a lawyer? People take up careers for a variety of reasons, including family tradition, guidance from a mentor, compensation, popular culture, topical interest (such as estate planning or helping the underserved), natural affinity for legal thinking, or other. What was your motivation for getting into the field? The practice of law isn't always well understood before lawyers enter the practice. What did you see yourself doing as a lawyer and how does this compare to what you do today? Today, it's common for lawyers, like the working population at large, to have several jobs (or careers) over the span of their working lives. Few lawyers today will finish at the same job they started out of law school. How did your legal career start and where has it taken you? Are there particular jobs or areas that you particularly like or dislike, or that are rewarding or unfulfilling for you? When considering your satisfaction or dissatisfaction, be comprehensive and honest with yourself about the factors that matter to you. For example, some attorneys bypass the higher income and predictability of working for a large firm in exchange for the flexibility offered at a smaller firm or in their own firm, giving them the freedom to coach their child's sports team, or to pursue a hobby or to be available for child care. Others like the setting of a large firm and the ability to specialize within a larger organization. There may be latitude within your current situation to make changes that will enhance your satisfaction and performance. What does a week look like at your job? Take a moment to consider an ideal week of work - which pieces of your job would you like to keep and which would you prefer not to do. Be honest about what you like and what bothers you. It may be things large or small. Taking time to assess your career, your journey as an attorney, your likes and dislikes, and your preferred work are ways you can assess your legal career. These are critical first steps in the process to make your work and your personal time more enjoyable and productive. Next time: Changing your practice to achieve greater satisfaction. Betsy Black, J.D., is a life and business coach who helps lawyers achieve greater career satisfaction and life balance. She also teaches yoga, stress management and counsels nonprofit organizations. Direct your comments to betsy@betsyblackconsulting.com.
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