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

Forum Index » Jobs and Careers

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

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I'm 10 years out and doing tax law, and i qiute like it but wouldn't say i'm passionate about it. But[b] i don't think i would ever be "passionate" about work[/b]. 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. [b] 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.[/b] 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.

[b]I also think the myth of "you need to be passionate about your work" is harmful to women,[/b] 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.  [/quote]

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.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics