Leaving the practice of law!

You’ve put your time in and now you want to retire!

You still like the practice, you just want more time for yourself.

You are burned out and just want out!

Challenges

Although the three attorneys above all have different reasons for minimizing, or leaving the practice of law, they will all face similar challenges. “Once you’re in you’ll never get out,” is a cliché line about the mob. While it does not directly relate to the practice of law…it’s close. As lawyers, we’ve spent a good deal of our life working towards being the best. The best in college, the best in law school, the best attorney we can be. Our identities can easily be swallowed up by this desire to be “the best.” To suddenly leave this behind can be a shock to the system. It doesn’t need to be. A lawyer coach can aid you in creating an action plan to get out and move forward with your life.

In planning your exit, a few things you need to determine:

• Money (do you have enough, will you need to supplement, controlling spending)
• What do you want to do? (minimize practice area, volunteer, travel, an encore career)
• What support system do you have in place? (family, friends, religious and non-religious organizations)

Accountability

A lawyer coach co-collaborates with you to create an action plan to help you move forward and achieve your goals. In addition, a lawyer coach talks with you on a weekly basis to help you move forward in completing your action plan.

A lawyer coach:

• Helps you adopt precise and realistic goals
• Meets with you weekly to focus on your goals
• Holds you accountable to achieving your goals
• Provides techniques to manage short term and long-term goals