Leverage For Lawyers

Posted by Elizabeth Zelinka

If you are one of the many talented, educated, capable, dedicated and otherwise high-achieving lawyers who has been laid off from a big law firm, there is good news. You have just been forced to take the exhilarating leap that you may never have taken on your own. Let us be honest—and I am speaking from personal experience—many of us who pursued big law firm careers discovered quickly that trading every waking hour we have for a big paycheck did not amount to the dream we had originally imagined.

I am the first to respect and admire lawyers who can thrive in a big law firm. Big law firms are my clients, my industry and my expertise. They contain amazingly intelligent people, and they handle exciting and often groundbreaking work. None of that means that I still want to work in one, and frankly, ten years was more than enough for me. I took the leap five years ago on my own volition, and I wish I had then had the insight to employ a transition coach as I embraced my new life.

Working in big law firms is excellent training when it comes to thinking on one’s feet, handling stress, multi-tasking, building confidence and otherwise testing one’s mettle within a structured and defined environment. It does not train one, however, for stepping into the unknown, finding one’s independent self-worth, valuing time more than money or cultivating talents not required for the execution of legal assignments. In fact, I found that the experience tends to indoctrinate lawyers with the idea that there is no worthy goal to pursue beyond success inside of the big firm paradigm. Without some perspective, walking away (or being pushed out the door) can create feelings of self-doubt, failure, fear, insecurity, confusion and resentment.

This is where the coach comes in. A good coach can quickly get you past the negative emotions I just described and into forward motion and genuine excitement. How? It is all about a new perspective and expanding possibilities. When was the last time you:

· Controlled your own time?

· Thought about what really makes you happy?

· Profiled the ideal position for you?

· Entertained entrepreneurial ideas?

· Connected with people outside of the legal profession?

· Collaborated on a project that was not about earning money for someone else?

Undoubtedly, there are some who have been laid off who are an excellent fit for big law firms and who want another opportunity to work in one. Those lawyers will find another opportunity. If you are not one of those lawyers, then don’t try to go it alone. Invest in a good coach to partner with you in taking your next steps. You are standing on the brink of an opportunity of a lifetime. Make the most of it.

Elizabeth Zelinka is a Strategic Growth Consultant and Career Coach with Zelinka & Prince Search Partners. She can be reached through her website at www.zpsearchpartners.com.

Similar Posts:

• Why Lawyers Need a Coach in Times of Transition

Tweet This Post