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.
When lawyers look back at why they entered the profession, they often find the answer is less about a lifelong passion and more about a lack of other plans. Dan Branagan, a former bankruptcy associate turned data analyst, describes his journey into law as a classic example of the “conveyor belt” metaphor. As a liberal arts major with an interest…
Becoming a lawyer is a giant accomplishment that requires a lot of hard work and brain power, yet many lawyers still experience feelings that they aren’t good enough or smart enough. Sarah discusses these feelings in the podcast episode today and why it’s a problem with the legal profession. If you’ve had these thoughts, you are not alone. So, let’s…
You went to law school because it seemed like the right next step. Maybe you told yourself that if you just worked hard enough, studied enough, put in enough hours, everything would click into place. But instead of feeling more confident as time goes on, you’re dealing with imposter syndrome. The work doesn’t feel natural, and worse, it doesn’t feel…
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…
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…
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…
