Leave the Law Behind? Here is My Advice
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
Leave the Law Behind? Here’s My Take
So you think it’s time to leave the law behind and find a new career?
You’re not alone.
I still maintain my law licenses (TN and GA) but as far as practicing goes, that’s now a part of my history.
If you think it’s time to leave the law behind, here’s what I have to tell you:
If you really truly believe it’s the right move for you, then DO IT. Stop making excuses. FIND A WAY AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Leave the Law Behind? My Advice
Ever seen these little do-hickeys before?
I used to work in the Washington Square building in downtown Nashville. I had my own office. Occasionally I’d see one of the associates from a nearby firm, from down the hall. Nice people.
Really.
Actually, I never had to deal with them. So that’s why I think they were nice, right? LOL.
Anyway, I saw him one day–we’ll call him Phil–I saw him in the men’s room. I was drying my hands and he had just walked in. We spoke, and I asked him, I said “Hey Phil–so what do you think?”
“About what?” he calmly asked.
“I mean, the practice of law,” I said. “Would you do it again, given the chance?”
Phil’s reply is one I’m sure you’ve heard many times before.
“No way. These student loans are insane. I was happier teaching. I’d probably become a university professor if I could do it over again.”
Phil’s response is common among my attorney friends and colleagues who secretly want to leave the law and do something new.
Leave the Law (Easier Said Than Done)
Of course it’s tough to do when you have student loans, or a mortgage, or a car note (that sleek BMW looks great pulled up to the valet stand at The Private Club, does it not?), or children, or a spouse who expects you to continue to light up the social charts with your prestige, power and financial pull.
To just up and say “I want to leave the law” sounds ridiculous to someone who doesn’t make the kind of money you do, and is especially tough to understand for those who are actually proud of your accomplishments in becoming an attorney.
Then again, don’t they have a point? For you to even have a law license is a rare fortune for most people in our world.
Who can afford to attend law school anyway these days, at least a good one?
Oh that’s right. The golden cuffs thing…thank you Fanny Mae/Freddie Mac/Bankruptcy Courts, looking good babe!
It seems obvious to me that the ONLY way you can get any real peace once you decide to leave the law is to become successful at whatever it is you decide to do after you leave the law.
Because if you leave the law and falter and fall flat on your face, people will point.
People will laugh.
You know what? You just might fall flat on your face if you decide to do something of any real substance once you leave the law.
Can you get back up and fight? Can you get back up and try harder and smarter?
Can you get back up and win?
You’re not a prisoner of your career any more than you’re a prisoner of your own decisions.
Make a new decision.
Forget what people have to say about you.
Am I mistaken or did they contribute ZERO dollar$ to your student loan payments?
Go ahead. Leave the law.
Leave the law and live your life.
Leave the Law Behind: Bonus Coverage
Ok, here’s a bonus note for those annoying people who, upon learning that you have decided to leave the law, insist on interrogating you with the following bit of wisdom from the Heavens:
“That’s a lot of time and money spent to get a law degree, only to do something else…”
My reply?
“It’s actually common for attorneys to practice for a while, then leave the law. We go on to do other things, like become President of the U.S.”
Now if you don’t like Obama, fine, but that usually shuts ‘em up.
You can also insert the following:
…become a peace activist like Ghandi
…become a world leader like Nelson Mandela
…become Commissioner of the NBA like David Stern
…do TV and media like Jerry Springer, Geraldo Rivera or NFL great Steve Young.
Steve Young is well known as a Republican, for those who don’t like President Obama. Hey, Fidel Castro is a lawyer, if you happen to be a Communist, LOL.
So tell people who question your decision to leave the law to take a hike and mind their business.
This is YOUR life. Live it the way you want.
So what am I doing after my momentous decisions to leave the law?
Here’s a hint.
Much respect.
Jay
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