Why Don’t Unhappy Lawyers Leave?

Careers

Posted Jun 23, 2008, 05:34 pm CDT
By Martha Neil

Many lawyers reportedly are unhappy with their jobs. Only a small percentage actually decide to do something else.

About 3 to 5 percent, in fact, in Monica Parker's experience, writes the Wall Street Journal Law Blog. A Harvard Law School graduate who is now a career counselor for unhappy attorneys, Parker, 37, has written a book on the subject, The (Un)happy Lawyer, which features a business-suited man doing a handstand on the cover.

Earlier in her own career, she worked at Alston & Bird as a "miserable" intellectual property litigator, she says on her Leaving the Law website. Although she energetically read career manuals and took assessment tests, five years later she was still stuck in a job she didn't like. At that point she realized she herself was the roadblock to making a career move, she writes: "I was waiting for something to happen, instead of making something happen."

After that revelation hit, she says, it took her only a few months to exit law practice.

One unusual piece of advice that Parker offers for those thinking about a career change outside the law: don't hang out with other lawyers. “You make friends in law school, and friends at the firm, and then you congregate," she points out. "The problem is that, often, those people are just as miserable as you are and they don’t know how to get out. So it’s like the blind leading the blind.”

Comments

Report Abuse

Posted by Chris - 2 months, 2 weeks, 2 hours, 2 minutes ago

This is news? If you don’t like your job do something else. I think lawyers hear about this type of situation more often because often its a choice between money and happiness whereas in another profession you might be broke and unhappy making it easier to change, if for no other reason than to improve your situation. Good luck to Parker though. I hope she finds what she’s looking for.
Posted by Counsel - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 12 hours, 18 minutes ago

Unhappy lawyers I have spoken with don’t leave because they have too many financial obligations and can’t afford to take the pay cut. Most don’t have a long term plan when accepting lucrative positions with large firms. I worked with a very wise young attorney on a project once who told me that he lived with his parents for the first three years after law school, paid off his student loans, made some investments, bought an affordable home, then quit the firm and took a position with the SEC.
Posted by Michelle - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 9 hours, 37 minutes ago

I also think that some people in life are just not happy people. I saw in an article once that the law profession has a higher success rate for pessimists than other professions. I can understand why that is, considering our livelihoods depend on dealing with problems everyday (especially for a litigator). Some people “get out” and find contentment but other people will never be content no matter where they are. It’s their personality and not the circumstances. For those who can find contentment elsewhere, I can testify that it is worth the hard work it takes to leave (even if some of that hard work involves adjusting your standard of living, which I did as well). Sadly, though, some will never find joy until they are willing to embrace it internally first.
Posted by Jenn Wade - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 9 hours, 7 minutes ago

Some people don’t have any idea what else to do. I’m afraid of making the same mistake with a different career. I don’t want to take the decision to change careers completely as lightly as I took the decision to go to law school.
Posted by Julie Foster - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 8 hours, 51 minutes ago

I believe that this brief article and the comments tend to miss an essential point. (This comment is made without having had the benefit of reading Ms. Parker’s book, although I did read the referenced blog). In any event, unhappy or not, a fundamental question really is, “what else are we trained for?” Moreover, how does one successfully transition to a new field when you are no longer in your twenties and have only practiced law for many years? Can you imagine interviews with companies who wonder why you are leaving (at your age and level of prestige) and what you have done to prepare you for this new field you are attempting to enter? I think back to employment that I had outside of the legal profession and while I cannot say it was limited in quantity, I can say that the jobs I had before law school were limited in terms of long term career potential (waitress / receptionist). I am a sole practitioner in my forties with an undergraduate degree in psychology and I have often considered just what I would / COULD do if not practice law, regardless of the financial concerns.
Posted by Anonymous - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 8 hours, 27 minutes ago

School loans.
Posted by Leaving - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 8 hours, 3 minutes ago

As I’ve read some of the previous posts, I feel that many of us who are unhappy (1) don’t know what else to do and (2) don’t know what we’re qualified for. I’ve been grappling with the decision to leave my firm for over a year and I finally did it recently. I got into a legal career really without thinking it through to the end, i.e. about the work itself was something I would enjoy. The hardest part of leaving is finding out what you enjoy. I talked to a lot of friends and mentors, and they encouraged me to think about what subjects I enjoyed in school and what I would gladly get out of bed for every morning. In my case, I was drawn toward teaching English based on my undergraduate experience in literature classes as well as the enjoyment that I get from writing, which was the best part of being a lawyer for me. Though it is certainly a big jump and not in the least bit easy to leave the financial security of a firm job. I sent out a resumes to a bunch of schools and looked at continuing education, and at the end of the day, school administrators were really excited to talk to me about changing the course of my career into the teaching arena. I think lawyers, whose reading, writing, and preparation skills, are well suited for teaching and, perhaps, the isolation that many lawyers feel can be addressed by the constant contact with students.
Posted by Female attorney - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 7 hours, 53 minutes ago

If you can’t do - teach. I love practicing law at a mid-size firm. My loans are awful, and yeah, that does limit my freedom to just say ‘f-this’ on a tough day, but no one said being a professional is easy. Any professional. I think there are too many law graduates who feel the world owes them a living. I appreciate that law schools do misleed naive undergrads with promises of riches, and hide the fact that for these riches there is a price to pay, but the fact is ‘if you’re unhappy - do something else’ is not exactly insight of the century.
Posted by Happy Lawyer - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 7 hours, 20 minutes ago

I am among the silent few who’s truly happy practicing law; but I’ve counseled lawyers and non-lawyers about career changes and the older you get, the more difficult it is. Change is frightening and the prospect of making less money in today’s economy can also be daunting. The important, but often difficult thing, is to talk to people about your desire for change and to network. Monica Parker suggested “don’t hang out with other lawyers.” Perhaps better advice is “hang out with lawyers who are happy with what they are doing, because they may be happy because of the networks they’ve created with clients .... networks that can help YOU find a non-legal career.”
Posted by Diana - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 7 hours, 12 minutes ago

I did it! I escaped. After 20 years in litigation and hating it for the last 5, I developed a plan. It’s much easier to whine about how much you hate your job than develop an escape route. I now own a yarn and knitting store outside of Philadelphia. My daughter has been quoted at school as saying “the shop is going great because mommy doesn’t come home angry any more.” Find your passion and develop a plan—it only took me two years.
Posted by HT - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 7 hours, 10 minutes ago

Don’t get addicted to money and big lifestyles before you actually earned that level. Change becomes a lot harder when you have a status quo to maintain. More importantly, always be on the look out for ops. I have several clients who were young lawyers and seized business ops (nothing to do with law) and now are multi-millionaires. In the practice of law, pretty much anyone should be making a six figure income and that is at most a comfortable living and nothing to brag about. Very few (but some do) lawyers are going to score huge on the practice of law. If you want to score big, have a very broad perspective and be willing to assume risks. There is limited no return for sure things and working for someone else !
Posted by I'm So Happy I could SCREAM - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 6 hours, 43 minutes ago

Gee, if all these unhappy lawyers would just leave the profession, maybe us happy lawyers could get ahead!
Posted by Susan Cartier Liebel - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 6 hours, 15 minutes ago

While I haven’t read your book...there is a distinction between lawyers who are unhappy with the law whether they practice in a large law firm or small and lawyers who are unhappy with their current positions as an employee but do love practicing law.

There are other options for those who love the practice of law and want to make a difference on their own terms.
Posted by JS - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 6 hours, 3 minutes ago

I was previously an unhappy attorney. The cause of my discontent was the miserable work environment I had. The guy who said that they have a no “jerk” rule was the biggest “jerk” of them all. It took me almost 2 years to leave, however, because I am the primary bread-winner of my family and I could not just walk out during one of the jerk’s tirades. I also had a hard time scheduling interviews because of the close scrutiny all of the associates at that firm received. Now, I have a great working environment and I truly enjoy what I do (most days).

The biggest lesson I learned out of this situation is that having several months (minimum) of monthly expenses saved in an easily-accessible account is a must. You never know when you’ll need to get out of a bad work situation, and a good work situation can become bad (bad defined in a number of ways) very quickly. Do your best to give yourself the biggest parachute you can!
Posted by Happy And Annoyed With Those Who Aren't - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 5 hours, 59 minutes ago

Many of these people are what I call “Law Firm Ameba.” They feed on others and want everything handed to them. They don’t make things happen for anyboy - not themselves, not those around them. They find a good current somewhere in life and ride it until they find some little nook or sesspool in which to park themselves for a little while until someone else comes plugging happily along and develops a current they can latch onto. Others make things happen and carry the real weight, and the ameba simply ride along. Too many get into the profession because it sounded good several years ago, and are now stunned by the fact that they actually have to do more than read about the law - they have to practice law. That takes a lot more than mere intellectual might - it takes hard work. They bring others down because they whine and complain about the work they do have (that would otherwise go to someone who wants to work); they whine about having to develop business; and they whine because they expect to be paid as though they were bringing in the work. If you’re unhappy, do yourself and those who want to practice law a favor and leave already.
Posted by KWD - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 4 hours, 32 minutes ago

#11: “In the practice of law, pretty much anyone should be making a six figure income and that is at most a comfortable living and nothing to brag about.”

Seriously? Is it possible that someone purporting to be a lawyer could believe this statement to be true? I guess if you work at a large firm in a large market and had never met a lawyer who didn’t also work at a large firm you might be able to believe this. Even then it seems like any lawyer would have at least a vague awareness of the existence of public defenders, prosecutors, legal aid attorneys, and private practitioners outside a major metropolitan area. I guess these indigents are not “pretty much anyone”.
Posted by Blissfully happy - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 3 hours, 15 minutes ago

I love to practice law. I went to law school with the intention of practicing law (not being a lawyer—big difference). Even though I have staggering loans like everyone else, I don’t view the world with dollar signs in my eyes. Those who do, deserve their misery from having entered a profession without focus and being motivated by greed.
Posted by rick - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 2 hours, 57 minutes ago

Complaining is easier than taking action.
Posted by Ken - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 2 hours, 18 minutes ago

I want Michelle’s phone number. She has her head together.
Posted by HT - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 2 hours, 17 minutes ago

Hey KWD, your correct I have no associations with those types of lawyers or that area of law and no idea what their economical lifestyle is nor do I really care. In law school I focused on learning and developing a high-end specialty instead of learning grunt law or just being clueless. I have been at a botique law firm in a mid-size market since I graduated (which brings with it high pay and great vacation and billable hour requirments). I am not sure why someone graduating law school would ever take a job that pays sh**. All the lawyers I know my age are successul and make six figures. I guess the other people are the ones with no focus. You are paid based on the uniqueness of what you do and being in one of those government jobs, by what you are telling me, anyone can do them because the pay is so low. Maybe those types of lawyers should all quit and refuse to wrok for such poor pay and then maybe raises will go up. As long as, educated people are willing to accept low pay, those types of employers will be willing to pay it.
Posted by Happy And Annoyed By Those Who Aren't - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 2 hours, 9 minutes ago

HT - you blew an opportunity to show that you were misunderstood, and only underscored KWD’s point. Careful with the disrepect and criticism you show to anyone who is not a slave to the dollar. A low salary does not indicate lack of focus or desire to be successful, nor is it an indication of intelligence. Go easy with the critcism.
Posted by john - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 1 hour, 57 minutes ago

Wow HT, bet your firm doesn’t have a no jerk rule.
Posted by Miranda Hobbes - 2 months, 1 week, 4 days, 1 hour, 39 minutes ago

HT does not sound like a happy person.
Posted by JL - 2 months, 1 week, 3 days, 5 minutes ago

After reading some helpful blogs that some of you wrote, I wanted to ask some of you for advice since I respect your opinions (most of you at least). I am currently a new associate at a smaller firm in a big market. I am getting paid much less than 6 figures but the billables are reasonable, i’m learning, and there aren’t any jerks at my office. I just got an offer from a smaller firm that is willing to pay me $20K more and is actually in an area of the law that I like better. However, I have been told that it is a really bad idea to leave your first attorney job before a year (i’ve only been there 5 months). What you guys think? This other job would pay more, and is closer to my residence, but I heard the guy is a jerk). Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Posted by Small Town Attorney, Small Firm, Big Satisfaction - 2 months, 1 week, 1 day, 6 hours, 56 minutes ago

JL, I went through a similar question a while back. I’ve been out of Law School for four years and was quite shocked to learn (in the last four years) that *in general* (I’ll probably get flamed for this, but in general) what an attorney does in their first five years will define the direction of their career.

So my answer would be look at what you want to do long term in the practice of law, what are you doing now in your firm, and what will you be doing at the new firm. If you would enjoy the subject matter at the new firm more, or it has more long term earning potential (ie. the skillset you will learn is tax, water law, or some other specialized body of law) take a good hard look at moving, it may be worth it to you in the long run.

That being said, there is no amount of money that makes up for having to go to work with someone you can’t stand. Sure, I probably make less in my firm than other associates do else where, but I love the atmosphere in the firm, and enjoy coming to work almost every day (even after four years). No amount of money can really make up for that.

Hope this helps.
Posted by KC - 2 months, 1 week, 23 hours, 9 minutes ago

JL, I wouldn’t worry too much about other’s perception of your choice to leave, as it will be easy to explain if you move to an area of law you would prefer to work in. However, I would worry a lot about working for a jerk--I can personally attest that working for a jerk every day gets old really fast. Is the jerk the only one you would be working for, or could you avoid him and work for others in the firm? Just how jerky is he--does he make personal attacks questioning your ability to practice law, or is he just cranky? All the associates at my firm are trying to get away from our jerk, and several developed drinking problems, or stress-related problems.
Posted by JMB - 2 months, 5 days, 2 hours, 41 minutes ago

I’m one of those lawyers who do NOT make a 6 figure salary. I am the director of a homeless legal assistance program and it’s my dream job. I’ve been practicing for over 26 years and I always wanted to be a lawyer. However, there are many lawyers I do not like. My job is frustrating and rewarding; my clients are people who have no alternative. My biggest frustration is the refusal of large law firms to take on basic pro bono work. I’ve been told they “don’t like poor people, especially the homeless.” As long as I can convince the powers that be to fund the program, I’ll keep doing what I’m doing. Nothing beats a thank you card from someone whose monthly income is less than many lawyers’ hourly rate.

Commenting has expired on this post.

ABA Journal - Law News Now

Careers