Do you hate working as a lawyer?

Do you hate working as a lawyer? Are you an unhappy lawyer who wants to leave the law, but isn’t sure what to do next? Do your family and friends think you’re crazy for wanting to leave the law, or are you too afraid to tell them you don’t want to be a lawyer? The Former Lawyer Podcast is for you! Each week, host Sarah Cottrell interviews a different former lawyer who has left the law behind. Hear inspiring stories about how these former lawyers are thriving and found their way to careers and lives they love.

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28 Oct

How Law Firms Mismanage Billable Hours and Create Anxiety for Associates [TFLP245]

On today’s podcast episode, Sarah discusses something that seems just plain ridiculous yet permeates so many law firms: the idea of billables and going out to get work. She has talked about her thoughts on how law firms mismanage billable hours before because they are often used to criticize associates. Law firms are constantly pushing associates to get more billable…

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14 Oct

Why Your Law Firm Isn’t a Meritocracy (And How It’s Holding You Back) [TFLP244]

Your law firm is probably not a meritocracy. There seems to be a sense in a law firm filled with responsible and high-functioning individuals that promotion decisions are based on objective criteria. That just isn’t true, so let’s dive in. Lawyers are Naturally High Performers Lawyers are typically responsible and committed to doing their best work. They consistently produce high-quality…

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30 Sep

It’s Not You, It’s Burnout: How Your Environment Has a Big Impact [TFLP243]

Today’s podcast episode is all about a topic that Sarah has found herself talking to her clients about often recently. When thinking about leaving law, many lawyers worry that they have these thoughts and feelings because they just don’t want to work. Nothing sounds appealing to them, and their current job is terrible for their mental health. If that sounds…

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16 Sep

The Former Lawyer Framework 2.0: Streamlining Your Exit Strategy [TFLP241]

The Former Lawyer framework has recently received a glow-up, and this podcast episode covers all the fun updates. Sarah has a few things that stuck out to her and would be the most helpful to anyone considering becoming a former lawyer. She covers those items in this episode to highlight them for all the podcast listeners considering joining. What is…

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9 Sep

The Importance of Asking Yourself What Can Go Right with Liza Hanks [TFLP240]

Today’s podcast episode features a conversation between Sarah and a member of the Collab, Liza Hanks. Liza made a career transition out of practicing law after 22 years, and they discussed how the Collab played a role in her transition and decision-making process. This conversation is helpful for anyone considering making their transition out of law and looking for some…

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