Spin off: Lawyers do you have a passion for your line of work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Employment lawyer here. I'm 10+ years out and still really like it. It's a field that's constantly expanding (and often salacious!).

I used to be an employment lawyer and agree the fact patterns and dynamics are interesting. I decided to go back to school to become a psychologist because the interpersonal issues fascinated me more than the legal issues!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Employment lawyer here. I'm 10+ years out and still really like it. It's a field that's constantly expanding (and often salacious!).

I used to be an employment lawyer and agree the fact patterns and dynamics are interesting. I decided to go back to school to become a psychologist because the interpersonal issues fascinated me more than the legal issues!

I'm going to school to become a nurse because the empathy that was a liability as an attorney is a strength in a nurse.

I hate this field.

[Anonymous]

Nope no passion at all. I am very good at what I do (top law school, top firm, top clerkship), but I couldn't care less about the law.

I actually love legal practice itself, but the personalities in this field are just god awful and they ruin everything. I cannot emphasize enough to people who are thinking of entering the profession how much harm can be done by miserable, mean spirited people. It doesn't matter how interesting the work is. If the people you are surrounded by are unhappy and selfish, it will bring your love of your work down in flames. I am just in it for the money at this point.

[Anonymous]

I should also add that the law tends to involve a sad dichotomy between meaningful work and decent hours, but terrible pay versus meaningless work, awful hours, but excellent pay. There are very few options in the law to enjoy a good work/life balance while making enough to live on.

Most people I know who have work/life balance are able to hold down such legal jobs because they have spouses who carry them financially. Every once in a while, one of these types will get divorced and it will be just catastrophic because their 60k nonprofit job cannot meet their basic expenses as parents and home owners, talk less of permit savings and luxuries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Employment lawyer here. I'm 10+ years out and still really like it. It's a field that's constantly expanding (and often salacious!).

I used to be an employment lawyer and agree the fact patterns and dynamics are interesting. I decided to go back to school to become a psychologist because the interpersonal issues fascinated me more than the legal issues!

I'm going to school to become a nurse because the empathy that was a liability as an attorney is a strength in a nurse.

I hate this field.

I'm the PP quoted above and I hear you! I just fit so much better in a "helping professional" role. Empathy is a great thing to have -- might as well put it to good use! Best of luck to you in your new path.

[Anonymous]

PP who works for a nonprofit and earns 70K here. My wife, not a lawyer, earns 90K. We find that 160K is enough to live on around here. Sure we don't live in Chevy Chase or drive an Audi, but who needs that. It all depends on your expectations. I work 40 hours a week and have plenty of time to be involved in the PTO, etc.

What makes it possible for me is my T3 law school's generous loan repayment policy for folks who go to work in nonprofits. I am eight years out of law school, and have not paid a single dollar towards my loans. Two more years at the nonprofit and I'll be debt-free on student loans.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 10 years out and doing tax law, and i qiute like it but wouldn't say i'm passionate about it. But i don't think i would ever be "passionate" about work. I like having a job (I spent a couple years part time working from home after DS was born and was not satisfied), i like the intellectual stimulation, I like the money it affords me to enjoy the rest of my life and not lose sleep about finances. Tax lawyers often have good hours - I currently work part time, and negotiated that schedule on changing jobs. It is niche enough that I had good bargaining power, which I like. I did non-legal jobs before law school, where i made peanuts doing typical DC feel good jobs. I disliked my day to day, even if my job made for good cocktail party conversation. I was dead broke. I also felt like 90% of those jobs and/or organizations accomplish nothing in the big picture. Like, i worked for a think tank - so it's not like i was changing the world. i think a lot of my friends who are "passionate" about their jobs and brag about the difference they make in the world, don't actrually make any difference in the world. The reality is that most people i know aren't passionate though, legal or not. What i think matters more is how happy you are with the big picture of your life. I am very happy with the big picture.

I also think the myth of "you need to be passionate about your work" is harmful to women, who particularly buy into the myth and choose lower paying careers, which they quickly find unsatisfying - and drop out of the workforce as soon as they have kids.

I find what you've written interesting. Personally, I'm one of those people who just needs to love their work and feel as if they are making a difference. Otherwise, there's no point for me. I do think I make a difference, although I have no illusion that I'm changing the world or anything. I hated the soul-deadening law field and am so glad I realized what I needed to be happy. But I don't think everyone is like me. I have friends that think the way you do, OP. They like law okay enough to hang in for the money and stability it provides, and then they find their bliss elsewhere. This is a legitimate way to go, in my view. I think you just need to know yourself and what you need for life satisfaction.

[Anonymous]

I have no passion for my area of law. I don't dislike it, at most I'd say I'm neutral. When I graduated, I wanted to practice in a different area that I *did* have a passion for, but the job market wasn't great and so I took a job in my current area of the law at a federal agency. The area of law I ended up in is very narrow, which makes transitioning to something else kind of hard.

My job is boring and repetitive. But, I'm very good at it so I don't have any problems with my supervisor. I work 40 hours a week most weeks (sometimes a little longer), have lots of leave, and am happy with my salary. I can spend time with DH and DC, take vacations, and have very little job-related stress. My quality of life outside of work is great. So, I'm in it for the paycheck and not much else.