Q for lawyers: Would you take this job if it fell in your lap?
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Anonymous
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My DH (age 40) is employed as a lawyer (approx $150,000/year) but at a firm where the future is uncertain because all are trying mightily to compete in the over-saturated world of lawyers.
DH recently had a job offer fall in his lap that is not strictly legal, but that is interesting, somewhat more stable, and family-friendly. It would pay $145,000/year. This job does not have the potential for large raises over the years, but would probably remain relatively flat. He is concered about leaving the practice of law. He figures perhaps he could make more than $145,000/year if he were to hustle and get out there to drum up business, rather than taking the non-legal job. At the same time, the job offer appeals to him and he realistically does not like to spend all of his evenings and weekends at work (and in this sense is probably not entirely willing to do what it takes to make more than $150,000/year.) To me, the new job opportunity seems like a good option, especially in this economy (and especially with so many law grads looking for work). Any thoughts? Thank you. |
Anonymous
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What's your mortgage?
Do you work, and if so, what is your salary and future earnings expectation? |
Anonymous
| It depends what his and your priorities are. For me, I'd encourage my DH to take it - also a lawyer but transactional and not the 'hustling' type. If stability and family-friendliness are his priority, then he should take it. If money and prestige are, which it seems like they're not, then he shouldn't. I'm thinking yes. |
Anonymous
Yes, I'd do it. Sounds interesting and different. And, while not intended to sound insulting, if your DH is a lawyer and is only making $150K/year at a private firm at 40, it's not obvoius that he's really at the top of that game, in a way that would make it possible for him to drum up enough legal business to impress others. It's a tough market now. |
Anonymous
| Does he want to continue practicing law? If so, he should not take this job. |
Anonymous
| "Not strictly legal?" That sounds problematic... |
Anonymous
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The biggest negative I see here is that if he takes it and wants to practice law again, and he wants to do so in a state where he is not currently barred, he'll have to take the bar elsewhere as opposed to paying money and waiving in. That's tough.
Not to mention that he won't have been practicing, and that will be obvious. And not to mention that if he wishes to maintain his current bar membership(s) he'll pay his own way. |
Anonymous
| Never mind -- totally misunderstood -- not legal as in not strictly a lawyer job, right? it sounds promising, but if your husband enjoys practicing law and wants to continue, he should definitely carefully weight the pros and cons. Then again, as you say, the legal profession is oversaturated and competitive, and if your husband doesn't want to be part of the rat race anymore, this option sounds good... |
Anonymous
| Agree with PPs that depends on whether he wants to continue practicing law or not. I'd personally be thrilled to move in a non-legal direction, especially without the pressure of being at a firm and generating business. But if he thinks he wants to practice law in the traditional sense again at some point in the future, it might not be a good idea. |
Anonymous
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OP here. Thank you so much for the honest input, and for stating it in such a nice way.
For the PP who asked, I do work at a job that makes also about $145,000/year (depending on the bonus situation from year to year). It's not totally stable (as no job is really 100 percent stable unless you work for yourself), but it's decent and I have back-up plan ideas in case I ever needed to find a new job. We have 2 kids, and a mortgage of $2000/month. We try to be frugal, but are not as disciplined as many of the top-notch savers who post on this forum. To me, if we could have a HHI of $300K for the next 10-15 years (God willing), and just save and save, I think we'd be in decent shape. DH has a lot of hobbies that he likes to do with the kids, which argues for taking the new job. Although he recognizes the need to hustle to drum up business, he is not especially fond of the prospect of pitching himself for work. (His brother is in the sales field and is very successful, but my DH is more introverted.) Question for all: $145,000 still seems like a decent income, no? |
Anonymous
| Yes, it is. And there's a great psychological value in not having to bill your time! But I agree that the important question here is whether he wants to continue practicing law. That's the part that's hard to go back to. |
Anonymous
| I think it sounds great. If DH wants to do it, I would push him to go for it. |
Anonymous
That seems like the key "if" here. Surely if your DH's sole reason for being hesitant to make the move is that he might be able to hustle for slightly more money, he should take this job. But I wonder if your post is simplifying his reservations a bit. |
Anonymous
| Yes, $300k income with a $2000/mo mortgage - sign me up!!! You could easily handle that mortgage on one salary. |
Anonymous
| I assume by "family friendly" you mean decent hours. Have you done the math for the per hour pay for both jobs. If he works on evenings and weekends for his $150k job and won't have to for his 145k job, I'd say the answer is clear. |