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# Former Lawyer LLC: Values-First Career Coaching for Lawyers Ready to Leave the Law

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## Posts
- [How Lawyers Can Rethink Their Skills for Business with Alex Su [TFLP314]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/06/29/lawyers-can-rethink-their-skills-alex-su/): In legal practice, it is easy to start measuring yourself by whether you can cover every detail, do everything perfectly, and keep grinding through whatever is in front of you. If that is not the way you are wired, it can feel like there is something wrong with you, instead of recognizing that the job is rewarding a narrow set of behaviors.
- [Leaving the Law When You’re Already Burned Out [TFLP313]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/06/15/leaving-the-law-when-youre-burned-out/): Leaving the law when you’re already burned out can feel impossible, because the job you need energy to escape is the same job draining all of your energy. You may understand that you need to figure out what comes next, but when you are scraping by energetically, even one more task can feel like too much.
- [Making a Career Change When You’re Afraid of Getting It Wrong with Kelcey Baker [TFLP312]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/06/08/making-a-career-change-when-youre-afraid-of-getting-it-wrong-kelcey-baker/): Going to law school felt like the right call. For some lawyers it felt like the obvious call, backed up by experience, by personality, by everything they knew about themselves at the time. So when practicing law turns out to be a bad fit, the harder part is that the decision felt so right going in. If they were wrong about something they were that sure about, how can they trust themselves to choose anything else?
- [The Shame Lawyers Feel About Wanting to Leave Law [TFLP311]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/06/01/shame-lawyers-feel-about-wanting-to-leave-law/): Sarah Cottrell: Yeah, you know and I know I said this to you off mic, but I think one of the things that can be a little bit surprising to people, especially if one of the reasons that they're wanting to leave law is because they don't like the billable hour model, which that is true for many of us, right? Like, you know, I know for me personally, one of the reasons that law was not for me was that the billable hour model does not reward efficiency. So if working efficiently is something that you're good at, then that's not a great model to be working under. But I think the flip side is that even if you're someone who's like, I don't like the billable hour model, I don't want to do that anymore, that creates various kinds of stress. There is a way in which I think those of us who have become lawyers have been… like there is a comfort in knowing, well, if I just work really hard, or like work a lot of hours then I'm like doing something quote-unquote right. And switching from that mindset to like, is there an ROI here? And sometimes I have to do things without knowing what the ROI is yet, because I have to experiment and figure out what has the best ROI. It's just a very different way of thinking. And I think there's a degree to which it feels like the outcomes are less in your control, which can be difficult for people who have been trained as lawyers.
- [From Commercial Litigator to Personal Trainer and Business Owner with Zach Reisch [TFLP310]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/05/25/commercial-litigator-to-personal-trainer-business-owner-zach-reisch/): Lawyers who know they want to leave often get stuck in the same place. Not because they don't want to move, but because they're waiting to feel certain about what comes next. Sarah Cottrell sees lawyers who won't make a move until they have a new 20-year plan with an absolute guarantee, and while they're waiting for that, nothing changes.
- [Translating Legal Skills for a Non-Legal Job Doesn’t Start With Your Resume [TFLP309]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/05/18/translating-legal-skills-for-a-non-legal-job-doesnt-start-with-your-resume/): When lawyers start thinking about doing something else, the first thing they reach for is almost always the resume. It feels like real progress. It produces something tangible. And for lawyers who are used to having clear work product, that matters a lot.
- [Leaving Biglaw to Become a Sex and Relationship Coach with Amy Terwilleger [TFLP308]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/05/11/leaving-biglaw-to-become-a-sex-and-relationship-coach-amy-terwilliger/): 25:38 - The reactions Amy got from colleagues, friends, and family when leaving Biglaw
- [Trying to Justify Leaving Law Is What’s Keeping You There [TFLP307]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/05/04/justify-leaving-law-is-whats-keeping-you-there/): If you're thinking about leaving the law, there's a good chance you've asked yourself some version of this question. Am I justified in doing this? You already know the environment isn't good for you. You already know something needs to change. But there's a sense that you need some kind of external sign-off before you can actually go, and until that shows up, you keep waiting.
- [Tolerating Your Lawyer Job While You’re Preparing to Leave [TFLP306]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/04/27/tolerating-your-lawyer-job-while-preparing-to-leave-the-law/): There are two very different situations a lawyer can be in when they start thinking about leaving the law. One is a job that is actively damaging their mental, physical, and emotional health. The other is a job that is just not the long-term answer. What you do to tolerate either one while you're preparing to leave the law is going to look pretty different.
- [How to Break Into Legal Tech and AI as a Lawyer with Ben Chiriboga [TFLP305]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/04/20/break-into-legal-tech-ai-as-a-lawyer-ben-chiriboga/): Legal tech comes up constantly when lawyers are thinking about leaving practice. It's legal adjacent, the field is growing, and there seem to be a lot of jobs. But when lawyers actually try to make a move, they usually don't know where to start. The roles aren't standardized, the titles don't mean the same thing across companies, and it's hard to know where a legal background even fits in.
- [How an Overdeveloped Sense of Responsibility Keeps Lawyers Stuck [TFLP304]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/04/13/overdeveloped-sense-of-responsibility-keeps-lawyers-stuck/): 5:07 - What an overdeveloped sense of responsibility actually means
- [What Doing Your Best Is Costing You as a Lawyer [TFLP303]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/04/06/doing-your-best-is-costing-you/): In this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah Cottrell talks about what doing your best is costing you as a lawyer who wants to make a change and why doing B-minus work might be worth considering.
- [You Don’t Have to Quit Your Job to Start Leaving Law [TFLP302]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/03/30/dont-have-to-quit-job-to-start-leaving-law/): Lawyers thinking about leaving often get stuck on a question that feels practical but actually keeps them waiting longer than they need to. Do I need to quit my job before I start figuring out what I want to do instead? It sounds responsible, but for most people, it's part of what keeps them in a holding pattern.
- [Why Lawyers Think Feelings Are Optional and What It Costs Them [TFLP301]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/03/23/feelings-optional-lawyer-burnout/): Lawyers who are unhappy at work often tell themselves they'll feel things later. When they retire, maybe. The sense is that feeling the full weight of what's happening would make it impossible to keep functioning, so the feelings get pushed down and the grinding continues.
- [Why High-Achieving Lawyers Stay in Jobs That Are Hurting Them [TFLP300]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/03/16/high-achieving-lawyers-stay-in-jobs-that-are-hurting-them/): Being good at your job and being in the right job are not the same thing. For lawyers who are high achievers, that distinction can be almost impossible to see when every external signal, strong reviews, steady advancement, a reputation for getting things done, is telling you that you must be in the right place.
- [The Perfectionist Trap That Makes It Hard to Leave Law [TFLP299]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/03/09/perfectionist-trap-makes-it-hard-to-leave-law/): Lawyers are, as a group, highly responsible, hard on themselves, and convinced they should be able to handle more than anyone else around them. That combination does not just make for a stressful career. It makes it genuinely difficult to acknowledge that something is wrong, let alone do anything about it.
- [Why Unhappy Lawyers Should Pick Up a Hobby Before They’re Ready to Leave [TFLP298]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/03/02/why-unhappy-lawyers-should-pick-up-a-hobby-before-theyre-ready-to-leave/): In this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah Cottrell walks through why hobbies matter more than most unhappy lawyers would expect, how to think about starting small, and why reconnecting with the things that bring you joy makes it easier to leave when you are ready.
- [What Lawyers Wish They’d Asked Before Going to Law School [TFLP297]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/02/23/what-lawyers-wish-theyd-asked-before-going-to-law-school/): A lot of people end up going to law school without ever really asking themselves whether it's what they want to do.
- [Hard Things Feel Hard Because They Are Hard [TFLP296]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/02/16/hard-things-feel-hard-because-they-are-hard/): The start of 2026 has been genuinely hard. Sarah's father-in-law passed away at the end of last year, which meant travel, grief, and being present for her husband's family. Then came a brutal bout of flu B in January, the kind that knocked a lot of people flat this winter. Then her kids got sick. Then more family travel. Then a snowstorm. Then more sick kids. And underneath all of it, the broader weight of what's happening in the United States right now. The ongoing atrocities, the things that are difficult to watch and impossible to ignore.
- [How Multiple Assessments Help Lawyers Changing Careers [TFLP295]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/01/12/multiple-assessments-help-lawyers-changing-careers/): Lawyers love a good assessment. Sarah has learned this running The Collab. There's something appealing about taking a test that promises clear answers about who you are and what you should do next.
- [Don’t Wait for the World to Stabilize Before You Leave Your Legal Job [TFLP294]](https://formerlawyer.com/2026/01/05/dont-wait-for-the-world-to-stabilize-before-you-leave-your-legal-job/): When the world feels unstable, the idea of introducing more instability into your life by leaving your legal job can feel impossible. But waiting for things to stabilize before you address your career unhappiness might mean waiting forever.
- [The Best First Step When You’re Not Ready to Leave Law Yet [TFLP293]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/12/15/first-step-when-youre-not-ready-to-leave-law-yet/): Maybe you're thinking about leaving the law, but you aren't quite sure you're ready to start working through the process. You're thinking, "I really think this isn't for me, I definitely want to get out eventually, but maybe not at this exact moment." If that sounds like you, there's something you can do.
- [Why Community Support Matters When You’re Leaving the Law [TFLP292]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/12/08/why-community-support-matters-when-youre-leaving-the-law/): When lawyers start thinking about leaving, they focus on the practical steps. What career should I pursue? How do I update my resume? What skills do I need? Those things matter, but Sarah consistently hears from lawyers that they underestimated something else. They didn't realize how much they needed to know they weren't alone.
- [The One Decision Unhappy Lawyers Must Make Before Changing Careers [TFLP291]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/12/01/the-one-decision-unhappy-lawyers-must-make-before-changing-careers/): Most people who are thinking about leaving the law spend a long time in a familiar place. They know their job feels awful, they say it to themselves and to other people, and they imagine how much better things could be somewhere else. But imagining you'd like to leave is not the same thing as deciding that you want to. That shift sounds simple, but it's tied up in identity, prestige, sunk costs, and everything you've been taught about what it means to be successful. It's the first real hurdle for a lot of lawyers, and one that's easy to avoid.
- [You Don’t Have to Earn the Right to Leave the Law with Zi Lin [TFLP290]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/11/17/you-dont-have-to-earn-the-right-to-leave-the-law-zi-lin/): Zi Lin did everything “right.” Philosophy major, law school, great grades, OCI, Biglaw offer, six-figure salary. From the outside, the path looked impressive. From the inside, it felt like being processed through a conveyor belt. No one asked whether the career actually fit. It was just the obvious next step. Parents approved. Professors approved. Colleagues approved. When everyone around you nods along, it’s easy to assume there’s nothing to think about.
- [How Scarcity Keeps Lawyers in Jobs They Don’t Want [TFLP289]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/11/10/how-scarcity-keeps-lawyers-in-jobs-they-dont-want/): A lot of lawyers assume that making more money will make leaving easier. In reality, the opposite often happens. Once you are in a high-paying legal job, it can feel like there is no other path that will work. People outside the profession are usually surprised by this. They assume lawyers have endless options, but many lawyers feel they have to hang on to what they have because there may not be anything else that fits.
- [Your Burnout Started Long Before Your First Legal Job [TFLP288]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/11/03/your-burnout-started-before-your-first-legal-job/): A lot of lawyers believe they shouldn’t feel burned out because they haven’t been practicing very long. But burnout isn’t measured by years in the profession. For many lawyers, it started long before their first legal job. Sarah hears from people who have only been in practice a few years and are already exhausted, overwhelmed, or checked out. They feel embarrassed or confused because they can point to colleagues who have been doing it longer. But measuring burnout by the calendar misses the reality of how it develops—especially for high-achieving perfectionists who have been pushing themselves for years before they ever set foot in a law firm.
- [The Mistake Lawyers Make When They Want to Leave the Law [TFLP287]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/10/27/mistake-lawyers-make-when-they-want-to-leave-the-law/): For years, the idea of leaving the law can sit quietly in the back of your mind. You tell yourself you’ll figure it out eventually, that one day you’ll know it’s time. But months turn into years, and the only thing that changes is how tired you feel saying, “I don’t want to do this forever.” The biggest mistake most lawyers make when they want to leave is assuming it will just happen on its own.
- [Why You Feel Like You Can Never Turn Your Brain Off as a Lawyer [TFLP286]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/10/20/why-you-feel-like-you-can-never-turn-your-brain-off-as-a-lawyer/): Lawyers often describe feeling like they can never fully turn their brains off. Even during downtime, there’s a sense of waiting for the next email, the next call, or the next fire to put out. It’s not simply overthinking. It’s the body staying on alert, a nervous system trained to expect that something could go wrong at any time.
- [What to Expect in Your First Year After Leaving the Law [TFLP285]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/10/13/what-to-expect-in-your-first-year-after-leaving-the-law/): The first year after leaving the law is a strange mix of freedom and fatigue. There is relief in stepping away from billable hours, but the exhaustion runs deeper than expected. Sarah Cottrell hears it constantly from clients. They imagined a clean break. Instead, it feels like living in a body still bracing for impact.
- [How to Break the Outrage-Complacency Cycle and Finally Leave Law [TFLP284]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/10/06/break-the-outrage-complacency-cycle-finally-leave-law/): Lawyers often find themselves in a familiar loop. Work is unbearable and the thought is, I need to get out. Then things calm down. The urgency fades. It suddenly feels manageable. Until the next impossible deadline, the next abusive comment, or the next late night at the office. The whole cycle starts again.
- [It’s Okay to Care What People Think and Still Leave Law [TFLP283]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/09/29/its-okay-to-care-what-people-think-and-still-leave-law/): The instant reaction is often shame. Lawyers tell Sarah it feels like a “bad reason,” that they’ve let their lives be defined by others’ opinions. But she pushes back on that belief. In the legal profession, mistakes are often treated as moral failings, so it’s natural to feel guilt when you see how much approval factored into your choices. The truth is, it’s normal to care what people think. Acknowledging that doesn’t make you wrong.
- [Why Talk Therapy Stops Working for Burned-Out Lawyers [TFLP282]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/09/15/why-talk-therapy-stops-working-for-burned-out-lawyers/): You’ve been in therapy. You’ve talked through your career. You understand, logically, that your boss’s mood isn’t your responsibility, that your worth isn’t measured by productivity, and that burnout doesn’t mean you’re broken. And yet… you’re still panicking every time Outlook pings. You’re still second-guessing every boundary. You’re still bracing for impact.
- [It’s Not Too Late to Leave the Law in 2025 [TFLP281]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/09/01/its-not-too-late-to-leave-the-law/): 2025 is more than halfway through, and if you told yourself this was the year you’d leave practice, this is your check-in. September is basically here, which means four months left in the year. That’s still plenty of time to make progress. And honestly, the start of fall always feels like a reset — school year vibes, even for those of us who haven’t been in school for decades. So if you haven’t taken steps yet, you haven’t missed your chance.
- [Is the Grass Greener When You Leave the Law? (What Former Lawyers Say) [TFLP280]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/08/25/is-the-grass-greener-when-you-leave-the-law-what-former-lawyers-say/): The question comes up constantly - in podcast interviews, on Collab group calls, and in emails from listeners. "What if the grass isn't greener on the other side?"
- [The Partner Who Makes Everyone Quit Isn’t Your Problem to Fix [TFLP279]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/08/18/the-partner-who-makes-everyone-quit-isnt-your-problem-to-fix/): The partner who makes everyone quit isn't your problem to fix. They're the firm's problem to address, and the firm has chosen not to address it. That tells you everything you need to know about what this organization actually values.
- [From Biglaw Impostor Syndrome to Publishing Diverse Children’s Books with Tiffany Obeng [TFLP278]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/07/28/biglaw-impostor-syndrome-tiffany-obeng/): You're a lawyer who's successful on paper but can't shake the feeling that you haven't really "made it" because you're not at a prestigious law firm. Maybe you're in a role that's fulfilling, but there's this nagging voice telling you that you're not living up to your potential. Sound familiar?
- [Escaping Lawyer Burnout for Legal Tech with Ben Chiriboga [TFLP277]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/07/21/escaping-lawyer-burnout-legal-tech-ben-chiriboga/): You're a lawyer who's good at your job but something feels off. You're performing well, making good money, checking all the boxes that are supposed to matter. But there's a growing disconnect between who you are and what you're doing every day. Sound familiar?
- [Why Lawyers Stay Stuck After Taking Career Assessments [TFLP276]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/07/14/lawyers-stay-stuck-after-taking-career-assessments/): You've taken CliftonStrengths. You've done the MBTI. Maybe you've worked through a few other career assessments too. You have pages of results about your strengths, your work style, your preferences. And you're still sitting there thinking, "Okay, but what am I supposed to do with my life?"
- [Legal Recruiter Bryson Malcolm Calls Out Firms That Abandon Diversity [TFLP275]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/07/07/legal-recruiter-bryson-malcolm-calls-out-firms-abandon-diversity/): Sarah recently talked with Bryson Malcolm, a legal recruiter who has unique insight into how these changes are playing out. He owns Mosaic Search Partners, a recruitment firm that focuses on historically underrepresented attorneys in Biglaw. When firms started abandoning their diversity commitments, Bryson had a front-row seat to the consequences.
- [Lawyer Burnout Is Valid Even If You Don’t Have Kids [TFLP274]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/06/30/lawyer-burnout-is-valid-even-if-you-dont-have-kids/): You're single. You don't have kids. You're experiencing lawyer burnout at your firm, maybe even dealing with depression or anxiety. But instead of acknowledging how bad things are, you're telling yourself some version of: "I shouldn't be struggling this much. Other people have it harder than me."
- [Is Making Partner Really Better Than Being an Associate [TFLP273]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/06/23/is-making-partner-really-better-than-being-an-associate/): This is one of the most common questions Sarah hears: is partnership actually better than being an associate? The short answer is that for many lawyers, making partner doesn't fix the problems they hate about their jobs. In fact, it often makes them worse.
- [From Biglaw Misery to a Meaningful Career in Family Law [TFLP272]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/06/16/leaving-biglaw-for-family-law/): Dan's story challenges the narrative that leaving Biglaw for family law means professional failure or financial ruin. It also shows that sometimes the answer isn't leaving law entirely, it's finding a way to practice that actually aligns with your values.
- [Biglaw Leaders are Cowards and the Effects are More Obvious Now than Ever [TFLP271]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/06/09/biglaw-leaders-are-cowards/): Biglaw has a problem—and it’s not just long hours or impossible billing targets. It’s cowardice at the top.
- [Supporting The Legal Accountability Project Because Transparency Shouldn’t Be Controversial [TFLP270]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/06/02/supporting-the-legal-accountability-project/): In this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah shares why she donated to The Legal Accountability Project, a nonprofit co-founded by former podcast guest Aliza Shatzman. It’s an initiative aimed at one thing: giving law students and clerks access to the information they need to protect themselves from abusive or traumatic workplace experiences.
- [Reddit and Fishbowl Are Great—Except When They’re Not [TFLP269]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/05/26/fishbowl-and-reddit-for-lawyers/): Reddit and Fishbowl might not seem like central characters in the story of leaving the law. But they’ve become unexpected mirrors for what’s broken inside the profession.
- [Five Years of Helping Lawyers Leave the Law inside The Former Lawyer Collaborative [TFLP268]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/05/19/helping-lawyers-leave-the-law-inside-the-former-lawyer-collaborative/): Five years ago, Sarah Cottrell launched The Former Lawyer Collab to help lawyers who knew they wanted out of practicing law but had no idea what to do next. Since then, the program has grown tremendously, supporting over 350 lawyers in their journey toward a more fulfilling career and life.
- [Understanding Executive Functions in an ADHD Brain with Annie Little [TFLP267]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/05/12/understanding-executive-functions-in-an-adhd-brain-annie-little/): In this episode, Sarah sits down with returning guest Annie Little, a lawyer-turned-career coach and now a certified ADHD coach. They explore how executive function works in the ADHD brain—particularly for lawyers—and why so many high-achieving professionals struggle silently with things like time, organization, and burnout without realizing what’s really going on.
- [Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity are not the Problem in Biglaw [TFLP266]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/05/05/diversity-equity-inclusivity-are-not-the-problem-in-biglaw/): There’s a dangerous narrative gaining traction, that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are to blame for what’s broken in Biglaw. For anyone who’s actually worked in that environment, the idea that there’s too much DEI is not just inaccurate, it’s laughable.
- [When Tragedy Leads to Career Changes and Better Balance with Laura Markham [TFLP265]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/04/28/tragedy-leads-to-career-changes-better-balance-laura-markham/): In this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah is joined by Laura Markham, a member of the Collab and Collab Plus. Laura’s story is one of resilience, reevaluation, and ultimately, reimagining what a sustainable, values-aligned career looks like after unimaginable loss.
- [It’s Okay If You’re Just Surviving Right Now [TFLP264]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/04/21/its-okay-if-youre-just-surviving-right-now/): If 2025 has already felt like a lot, you’re not alone. In this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah Cottrell offers a short but important reminder, if you’re just getting by right now, that’s okay.
- [What If You Don’t Want to Be a Lawyer Anymore? [TFLP263]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/04/14/dont-want-to-be-a-lawyer-anymore/): Have you ever found yourself wondering if being a lawyer is still the right path for you, but felt guilty or afraid to admit it? In this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah Cottrell tackles a topic that might sound obvious but is surprisingly difficult for many lawyers to accept: you’re allowed to change your mind.
- [What to Do If You’re Sick of Complaining About Your Job [TFLP262]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/04/07/youre-sick-of-complaining-about-your-job/): If you feel like all you do is complain about your job, you’re not alone. Many lawyers reach a point where they’re exhausted, not just by their work, but by how much they talk about how miserable it makes them.
- [The Best Advice to Get a Job in Tech after Law with Ed Cottrell [TFLP261]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/03/31/advice-to-get-a-job-in-tech-after-law/): On today’s podcast, Sarah is chatting with a familiar guest who has been on the podcast several times. It’s her husband, Ed Cottrell. They met in law school and graduated at the same time. Ed’s path took a different route than Sarah’s, and he now works in the tech field after leaving law. Today's conversation explores the common interest of many lawyers Sarah speaks with to explore jobs in tech. If you’ve been curious about getting a tech job or want to learn more about Ed’s journey, let’s dive in.
- [Leaving the Law Is Simple but It’s Not Easy [TFLP260]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/03/24/leaving-the-law-is-simple-but-its-not-easy/): Many lawyers contemplating leaving the profession assume the process is complicated. The reality? Leaving the law is simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.
- [You Don’t Need Permission to Leave the Law and Here’s Why [TFLP259]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/03/17/you-dont-need-permission-to-leave-the-law/): But the only permission to leave the law you need is your own.
- [Why Amisha DeYoung-Dominguez Left the Law for Public Service [TFLP258]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/03/10/amisha-deyoung-dominguez-left-the-law-for-public-service/): This episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast features a conversation with Amisha DeYoung-Dominguez, a staff member for a member of Congress. She is still licensed as an attorney, but is not currently practicing. She chats with Sarah about her lawyer journey and the advice she has for others facing a similar conundrum. She also talks about her experience in The Former Lawyer Collab.
- [Why Stay-at-Home Parents Who Left Law Have More Career Options Than They Think [TFLP257]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/03/03/stay-at-home-parents-who-left-law-have-more-career-options/): Many former lawyers who stepped away from their careers to be stay-at-home parents eventually find themselves wondering how to re-enter the workforce, without going back to practicing law. On this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah Cottrell addresses this exact challenge, breaking down the key steps for making the transition while avoiding the pressure to return to legal practice.
- [Navigating the Millennial Success Trap [TFLP256]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/02/03/navigating-the-millennial-success-trap/): Millennials are often described as the generation caught between two worlds. On one side, we’re influenced by the economic expectations of our parents' generation. On the other, we’re grappling with systemic economic challenges that have fundamentally reshaped what success looks like.
- [Can the Corporate World Solve My Work-Life Balance Problems? [TFLP255]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/01/27/corporate-world-solve-work-life-balance-problems/): You are not doomed. A better work-life balance is possible, and the first step is understanding what you want from your career.
- [Why You Don’t Need to IRAC Your Way Out of the Law [TFLP254]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/01/20/dont-need-to-irac-your-way-out-of-the-law/): Lawyers are familiar with IRAC, a legal analysis methodology that stands for Issue, Rule, Application, and Conclusion. Today’s podcast episode is about why you do not have to IRAC your response to a question about why you are choosing to leave law. Explaining the choice to others is one of the parts of leaving law that causes the most anxiety, even if the person is confident about their decision.
- [Why Your Values Are the First Step to Leaving the Law [TFLP253]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/01/13/values-are-the-first-step-to-leaving-the-law/): In today’s episode, Sarah discusses why starting with a deep dive into your values is the critical first step for any lawyer considering an alternative career. For those who know their current job isn’t the right fit, understanding your values is essential to finding a better path. This step is at the core of Sarah’s work in the Former Lawyer Collab.
- [A Clear Path to Leaving the Law This Year [TFLP252]](https://formerlawyer.com/2025/01/06/a-clear-path-to-leaving-the-law-this-year/): The new year is often a time to reflect on where you are and where you want to go. If you’ve been thinking, “I’m still at this law firm, and I really don’t want to be here next year at this time,” this episode is for you. Sarah shares a clear path to leaving the law and outlines the two ways you can work with her in 2025 to make that change happen.
- [I’m Not Here to Convince You to Leave the Law [TFLP251]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/12/09/convince-you-to-leave-the-law/): Sometimes people ask Sarah, "Do all the lawyers you work with end up leaving law?" She gets the sense they think she's trying to convince people to abandon their legal careers, like she's running some kind of exit campaign.
- [From Law School to Literary Agent with Lilly Ghahremani [TFLP250]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/12/02/law-school-to-literary-agent-with-lilly-ghahremani/): Lilly Ghahremani knew on day one of law school that it wasn't the right fit. She called her mom from a pay phone and said she'd made a mistake. Her mom convinced her to finish the semester, then the year, then the whole degree. Lilly graduated from UCLA Law in 2002 and stumbled into a job with a small practitioner who worked in publishing. That random job listing became the foundation for a 20-plus year career as a literary agent.
- [When “I Invested Too Much to Leave the Law” Becomes the Reason You Stay Stuck [TFLP249]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/11/25/sunk-cost-fallacy-lawyers-stuck-in-law/): There comes a point where the math you’ve been doing in your head stops adding up. You spent years in school. You passed the bar. You took on the loans. You built the career you were told would make it all worth it. Now you’re tired, anxious, or checked out, but the idea of leaving makes your stomach drop. It feels like walking away means none of it mattered.
- [Escaping the Legal Grind to Build a Balanced Life with Dan Branagan [TFLP248]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/11/18/escape-the-legal-grind-build-a-balanced-life/): 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 in history and political science, law school seemed like the next logical step that promised both prestige and a high salary. It wasn't until he was working through the self-examination process in the Collab that he realized how passive he had been in his own career path.
- [How Toxic Workplaces Make You Doubt Yourself—And Why Leaving Law Can Help [TFLP247]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/11/11/toxic-workplaces-make-you-doubt-yourself/): 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 explore this more.
- [How a Misalignment of Values and Career Helped a Lawyer Become a Therapist with David Sazant [TFLP246]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/11/04/values-helped-a-lawyer-become-a-therapist/): 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 right.
- [How Law Firms Mismanage Billable Hours and Create Anxiety for Associates [TFLP245]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/10/28/law-firms-mismanage-billable-hours/): 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 hours. But the reality in those scenarios is that the work isn’t there, and junior lawyers aren’t responsible for generating more work.
- [Why Your Law Firm Isn’t a Meritocracy (And How It’s Holding You Back) [TFLP244]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/10/14/law-firm-a-meritocracy/): 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.
- [It’s Not You, It’s Burnout: How Your Environment Has a Big Impact [TFLP243]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/09/30/its-not-you-its-burnout/): 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 familiar, you are not alone. It's not you, it's burnout.
- [How to Prepare a Law Practice for Sale with Victoria Collier [TFLP242]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/09/23/prepare-a-law-practice-for-sale/): Today’s podcast episode features a conversation with Victoria Collier. She is the founder of Quid Pro Quo Law. Together, they discuss how to prepare a law practice for sale, and what lawyers ready to leave the law behind can do now to get the most out of their sale.
- [The Former Lawyer Framework 2.0: Streamlining Your Exit Strategy [TFLP241]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/09/16/former-lawyer-framework-exit-strategy/): 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.
- [The Importance of Asking Yourself What Can Go Right with Liza Hanks [TFLP240]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/09/09/what-can-go-right-liza-hanks/): 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 assistance in the process. The Collab has undergone some fantastic updates recently, and it’s a perfect time to join. Read on to learn how it helped Liza ask the right questions.
- [Do You Need a Bridge Job? Key Questions for Lawyers in Transition [TFLP239]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/07/15/do-you-need-a-bridge-job/): One of the most common questions lawyers ask when they're thinking about leaving is whether they need a bridge job. It's a fair question, but before Sarah can answer it, she needs to know which type of bridge job you're talking about.
- [The Abusive Corporate Lifestyle is Not Designed to Help You Thrive with Tiffany Rogers [TFLP238]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/07/08/abusive-corporate-lifestyle-is-not-designed-to-help-you-thrive/): Today’s podcast episode features a conversation between Sarah and someone who is not actually a former lawyer. Tiffany Rogers is a therapist based in Chicago. She specializes in working with women in the corporate world, specifically Black women. With so much discussion about therapy on many podcast episodes, it’s great to feature a conversation with someone in that field. 
- [The Most Challenging Part of Leaving Law is the Emotional Work [TFLP237]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/07/01/the-most-challenging-part-of-leaving-law/): In today’s podcast episode, Sarah shares the hardest thing about leaving the law. She’s talked to many clients, peers, podcast guests, and people in her life; everyone encounters their own unique obstacles. However, the biggest thing keeping people from making a change is the practical reality. 
- [Lawyers Hoping To Be Hit By A Bus Isn’t Normal, but Not Uncommon Either with Kelcey Baker [TFLP236]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/06/24/lawyers-hoping-to-be-hit-by-a-bus-isnt-normal-but-not-uncommon-either/): In today’s podcast episode, Sarah is chatting with Kelcey Baker, a returning guest. Their conversation reviews why it isn’t normal to want a break from work so bad that you think about getting hit by a bus. Yes, that’s a common expression within lawyer networks. There is a trigger warning because the conversation dives into narcissism, abuse, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. It’s an important discussion if you’ve ever had thoughts like this flash through your mind.
- [How to Explore Your Career Options After Law with Patience and a Plan [TFLP235]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/06/17/explore-your-career-options-after-law/): When Sarah looks back at her time in practice, she can see a pattern that shows up for almost every lawyer who thinks about leaving the law. She would have a kernel of interest in a career path outside of the law, but her brain would immediately start telling her why it was a bad fit. It became an instant cycle of negativity.
- [Navigating Commercial Real Estate After Gaining Experience in Biglaw with Andre Ferrari [TFLP234]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/06/10/commercial-real-estate-after-biglaw/): Today’s podcast episode features a conversation between Sarah and Andre Ferrari. He practiced law for a few years before becoming a real estate developer. He shares his career path and how he got to where he is today. It’s interesting to see how interested he’s always been in real estate and how that’s helped him transition between multiple roles. Let’s dive into Andre’s story and advice.
- [How Many Vacations Will Be Lost Before You Make a Change [TFLP233]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/06/03/lawyers-struggle-to-take-vacations/): Summer has arrived! On today’s podcast, Sarah asks listeners the question, “How many vacations does your job have to ruin, cancel, impinge upon, or maybe make you not even plan before you decide enough is enough?” Many lawyers struggle to take vacations, and when they do, it’s a challenge to shut off work and enjoy themselves. 
- [CBT vs. DBT: Which Type Of Therapy Is Better For Lawyers? [TFLP232]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/05/27/cbt-vs-dbt-type-of-therapy-is-better-for-lawyers/): Today’s podcast episode features another conversation with previous guest Annie Little. Sarah is chatting with her about thoughts and advice around which type of therapy is better for lawyers. They discuss the differences between Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and share their experiences and observations. If you have been thinking about seeking out a therapist or have experienced this process, this conversation will be helpful.
- [Know It’s the Right Time to Leave the Law with Two Questions [TFLP231]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/05/20/right-time-to-leave-the-law/): In today’s podcast, Sarah discusses how to know it’s the right time to leave the law. Many people listening are grappling with this question, and often, when they ask it, they are looking for an external answer. There is no external answer. You are the only person that can decide when the time is right.
- [How Law Firms Avoid All Responsibility for Toxic Environments with Kelcey Baker [TFLP230]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/05/13/toxic-environments-in-law-firms/): Today’s podcast episode features a returning guest, Kelcey Baker, talking to Sarah. There is a content warning because they are discussing a recent story about a junior Biglaw partner in the UK passing away during an acute mental health episode. They discuss mental health issues and suicide. The story is important because it highlights some of the issues seen within the legal profession and helps others feel seen, so let’s dive in.
- [Nothing is Worth Sacrificing Yourself – A Reminder for All Lawyers [TFLP229]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/05/06/nothing-is-worth-sacrificing-yourself/): Today’s podcast episode is an important reminder every lawyer needs to hear. Sarah reminds listeners that nothing about your job is as important as you and your emotional, mental, and physical health. For lawyers, it’s easy to feel their value as human beings is basically in job performance. 
- [Why Entertainment Law Isn’t the Escape You Might Think with Jordan Nahmias [TFLP228]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/04/29/entertainment-law-isnt-the-escape-you-think-jordan-nahmias/): Today’s podcast episode features a conversation between Sarah and Jordan Nahmias. Jordan used to practice law as an entertainment lawyer and is now a coach and strategist in Toronto, Canada. He talks about his experience and his path out of law. Many people consider exploring this area when thinking about leaving the law.
- [How to Decide if Now is the Right Time to Leave Law [TFLP227]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/04/22/how-to-decide-if-now-is-the-right-time-to-leave-law/): In today’s podcast episode, Sarah addresses a question that many people start asking themselves when the economy is unstable: Is now really the right time to consider leaving the law? Layoffs and challenging circumstances can add an added layer of stress and concern when it comes to changing industries and leaving your job. Sarah shares some thoughts and advice about these concerns and questions. 
- [Separating Your Identity From Your Legal Career [TFLP226]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/04/15/separating-your-identity-from-your-legal-career/): In today’s podcast episode, Sarah chats with one of her one-on-one clients, Ann Marie Cowdrey. She has had a lot of experience working for regional and international law firms throughout her career. She hit a rough patch and thought it was time for a chance, so she started working with Sarah. Today, she’s sharing her experience in law and how she flipped things around.
- [Understanding Burnout Versus Depression In Lawyers And How To Get Support [TFLP225]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/04/08/understanding-burnout-versus-depression-in-lawyers/): Many lawyers find themselves asking, “Am I depressed, or am I burnt out?” This comes up when they are thinking about leaving the law, and it’s not a new topic on the podcast. In the episode where Sarah spoke to Ilona Salmons, they did a deep dive into burnout and what it is. Mental health is a common topic brought up in the Former Lawyer community, and many lawyers deal with misery by intellectualizing things. Today, Sarah is revisiting this topic and sharing a few important thoughts.
- [Finding an Empowering Path Back to Creative Work from Law with Lynley Ogilvie [TFLP224]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/04/01/empowering-path-back-to-creative-work-from-law/): On today’s podcast episode, Sarah chats with Lynley Ogilvie about her career pivot. She found her way back to creative work after she left her job as a lawyer to become a landscape designer. The conversation was exciting, and her path was unique compared to other guests on the podcast. Lynley lives just outside of Washington, DC, and she has her own landscape design firm. So, let’s dive in and learn more about her background.
- [Why You Shouldn’t Feel Guilty if You Hate Being a Lawyer [TFLP223]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/03/25/feel-guilty-if-you-hate-being-a-lawyer/): Today’s podcast topic was sparked by a recent call for the Guided Track Sarah is facilitating this spring. This program is designed to assist lawyers in navigating their career paths and offers a safe space for self-reflection. It helps individuals determine if leaving the law is the right choice for them and guides them toward their next steps. The program fosters a close-knit community where participants can share their experiences, exchange ideas, and support each other through the process, providing a sense of camaraderie and accountability. 
- [Navigating Lawyering and New Career Paths with Chronic Health Conditions with Emily Whelden [TFLP222]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/03/18/lawyering-new-career-path-with-chronic-health-conditions/): Today’s podcast episode focuses on what it’s like to work in law with chronic illnesses. Emily Whelden is a former lawyer who now works at Dixon Life Coaching. Most of her clients have ADHD and other chronic illnesses. She is chatting with Sarah about her experience after leaving the law to find a new character path with chorionic health conditions. Many podcast listeners have requested this conversation, so let’s dive in. 
- [An Existential Crisis When Leaving the Law Isn’t a Sign of Failure [TFLP221]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/03/11/leaving-the-law-isnt-a-sign-of-failure/): Lawyers expect to follow a perfectly laid-out path. It’s natural. When the next step in any journey isn’t clear, it feels like something is wrong. In today’s podcast episode, Sarah talks about moments when you feel like you’re having an existential crisis, but that doesn’t mean you are doing anything wrong. 
- [Shifting from Lawyer to Professional Development and Legal Recruiting with Adriana Paris [TFLP220]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/03/04/professional-development-and-legal-recruiting/): On today’s podcast, Sarah is chatting with Adriana Paris. Adriana stopped practicing law after ten years and moved into a new role at a law firm. She is the director of professional development and legal recruiting for a regional law firm with about 100 lawyers. In addition, she has a coaching business on the side where she helps lawyers with personal productivity, which helps them create time and space for themselves. 
- [Empowering Change: Updates from the Legal Accountability Project with Aliza Shatzman [TFLP219]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/02/26/updates-the-legal-accountability-project-aliza-shatzman/): Today’s podcast episode brings back a previous guest to update listeners. Aliza Shatzman previously appeared to talk with Sarah about The Legal Accountability Project. She co-founded this project based on a nightmare clerkship scenario she faced and wanted to help lawyers find recourse if they find themselves in this situation. She is sharing where things are today and the initiatives they’ve made progress on in the last year.
- [How to Shift Professionally From Lawyer to Chief Marketing Officer with Ashley Carlisle [TFLP218]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/02/19/lawyer-to-chief-marketing-officer/): After leaving law, former lawyers follow many career paths depending on their interests and skills. Today’s podcast episode features a conversation with Ashley Carlisle, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of HyperDraft. If you are considering marketing as an option, this podcast has some great information for you.
- [Unraveling the Startling Parallels Between Narcissism in Family Units and Law Firms [TFLP217]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/02/12/narcissism-in-law-firms-family-units/): Narcissism is a word that is often associated with lawyers for many reasons. On today’s podcast episode, Sarah is chatting with Kelcey Baker about the fact that many lawyers have relationships with narcissists. Narcissism is a topic that more people are discussing now, and part of the reason is that there is more awareness and understanding of what it is. This episode includes a conversation about those who have grown up in a narcissistic daily or had a romantic or platonic relationship with a narcissist and how that might set them up for a later experience of functioning in a narcissistic system, like a law firm.
- [Validation: An Incredible Tool for Unhappy Lawyers with Kelcey Baker [TFLP216]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/02/05/validation-tool-for-unhappy-lawyers-kelcey-baker/): Sarah Cottrell: Hi, and welcome to The Former Lawyer Podcast. I'm your host, Sarah Cottrell. I've practiced law for 10 years and now I help unhappy lawyers ditch their soul-sucking jobs. On this show, I share advice and strategies for aspiring former lawyers and interviews with former lawyers who have left the law behind to find careers and lives that they love. Hi, Alex. Welcome back to The Former Lawyer Podcast.
- [What I Wish I Knew: One Simple and Essential Piece of Advice to Leave the Law [TFLP215]](https://formerlawyer.com/2024/01/29/essential-piece-of-advice-to-leave-the-law/): The theme of today’s podcast episode is the idea that just because you can doesn’t mean you should. This simple piece of advice to leave the law was a central point to a recent keynote talk Sarah did at The Authentic Lawyer Summit, and it’s important for anyone leaving the law, but also lawyers who want to stay in law forever. Sarah shared more about her background and how this advice applied to her life and has brought the topic to the podcast to share more with the listeners. Let’s dive in.

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