Comments on: Being A Lawyer Sucked http://momgrind.com/2008/07/25/being-a-lawyer-was-sucking-the-life-out-of-me/ Sat, 05 May 2012 12:03:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Give Me Strength http://momgrind.com/2008/07/25/being-a-lawyer-was-sucking-the-life-out-of-me/#comment-27913 Give Me Strength Thu, 02 Jun 2011 05:27:27 +0000 http://momgrind.com/2008/07/25/being-a-lawyer-was-sucking-the-life-out-of-me/#comment-27913 Great article! It's a relief that there are others out there since openly sharing this would only subject me to being attacked by older attorneys as being a whiner and a wimp. After doing in house insurance defense for 5 years, I'm probably certifiably insane. I had a pretty decent law school experience and most people seemed somewhat normal but since practicing, I have yet to go through a day without a psychotic interaction with opposing counsel or client or judge/court staff. I think this is a perfect profession for those who cannot interact civilly towards other human beings. There was no hinting in law school that while in practice, you will be treated like a faceless machine who is expected to crank out work at an unreasonable rate and make no errors. If they tire of you, they will continue to overload you until you quit or get fired and then replace you with a newbie who is eager to do twice the work for the half the pay. I really wish I knew the reality of this so I hope anyone out there who is seriously considering law school to know that the cost of it can be more than money: your time and your sanity. Everyone who has contributed to this thread definitely gives me hope but now I just need the courage to walk away. Life is too short to be spent in anxiety, hate and frustration. Good luck to everyone! Never give up! Great article! It’s a relief that there are others out there since openly sharing this would only subject me to being attacked by older attorneys as being a whiner and a wimp. After doing in house insurance defense for 5 years, I’m probably certifiably insane.

I had a pretty decent law school experience and most people seemed somewhat normal but since practicing, I have yet to go through a day without a psychotic interaction with opposing counsel or client or judge/court staff. I think this is a perfect profession for those who cannot interact civilly towards other human beings.

There was no hinting in law school that while in practice, you will be treated like a faceless machine who is expected to crank out work at an unreasonable rate and make no errors. If they tire of you, they will continue to overload you until you quit or get fired and then replace you with a newbie who is eager to do twice the work for the half the pay.

I really wish I knew the reality of this so I hope anyone out there who is seriously considering law school to know that the cost of it can be more than money: your time and your sanity. Everyone who has contributed to this thread definitely gives me hope but now I just need the courage to walk away. Life is too short to be spent in anxiety, hate and frustration. Good luck to everyone! Never give up!

]]> By: AH http://momgrind.com/2008/07/25/being-a-lawyer-was-sucking-the-life-out-of-me/#comment-27875 AH Tue, 24 May 2011 15:04:23 +0000 http://momgrind.com/2008/07/25/being-a-lawyer-was-sucking-the-life-out-of-me/#comment-27875 I, too, found this after googling "hate practicing family law" or something like that. I've only been in practice for 9 months now, having made a mid-life career switch from working as a therapist. I hate every minute of the litigated process. Although I have a thick skin, I seem to be a breath away from crying most of the time. I do love mediation, though, as well as collaborative law, and am going to be working toward making the switch to practicing exclusively out-of-court law within the next few months. I would recommend anyone who enjoys working with their clients and assisting in the resolution of problems to explore collaborative law and mediation. I, too, found this after googling “hate practicing family law” or something like that. I’ve only been in practice for 9 months now, having made a mid-life career switch from working as a therapist. I hate every minute of the litigated process. Although I have a thick skin, I seem to be a breath away from crying most of the time. I do love mediation, though, as well as collaborative law, and am going to be working toward making the switch to practicing exclusively out-of-court law within the next few months. I would recommend anyone who enjoys working with their clients and assisting in the resolution of problems to explore collaborative law and mediation.

]]> By: FinallyQuit http://momgrind.com/2008/07/25/being-a-lawyer-was-sucking-the-life-out-of-me/#comment-27796 FinallyQuit Wed, 11 May 2011 21:20:43 +0000 http://momgrind.com/2008/07/25/being-a-lawyer-was-sucking-the-life-out-of-me/#comment-27796 Wow...I thought I was the only one. I was extremely unhappy as a family law attorney and criminal defense attorney. The only job I had while an attorney that I remotely enjoyed was being an assistant district attorney. Unfortunately that job paid next to nothing and I was forced to seek higher paying jobs. I'll tell you, I was sick of fighting with other attorneys, judges, and especially clients who never appreciated what it was they were paying for. I finally decided that I was through and despite having kids and a wife, I quit. Walked away. It was probably one of the hardest decisions I have ever made because of many of the reasons addresssed on this site. You feel like you're throwing away this education or somehow letting someone down. Or you may even think you're a failure. But I've learned none of those things are true. They are only true if you believe them. What everyone else thinks is irrelevent. I'm with a lot of you, I tell people every day to think long and hard about this career because it is not worth it. I've finally gotten away from it and it was the best decision I ever made. Good luck to those of you contemplating leaving "the law." I can tell you that it will be both the scariest day of your life and also the most satisfying. Wow…I thought I was the only one. I was extremely unhappy as a family law attorney and criminal defense attorney. The only job I had while an attorney that I remotely enjoyed was being an assistant district attorney. Unfortunately that job paid next to nothing and I was forced to seek higher paying jobs. I’ll tell you, I was sick of fighting with other attorneys, judges, and especially clients who never appreciated what it was they were paying for.

I finally decided that I was through and despite having kids and a wife, I quit. Walked away. It was probably one of the hardest decisions I have ever made because of many of the reasons addresssed on this site. You feel like you’re throwing away this education or somehow letting someone down. Or you may even think you’re a failure. But I’ve learned none of those things are true. They are only true if you believe them. What everyone else thinks is irrelevent. I’m with a lot of you, I tell people every day to think long and hard about this career because it is not worth it. I’ve finally gotten away from it and it was the best decision I ever made. Good luck to those of you contemplating leaving “the law.” I can tell you that it will be both the scariest day of your life and also the most satisfying.

]]> By: tabulyogang http://momgrind.com/2008/07/25/being-a-lawyer-was-sucking-the-life-out-of-me/#comment-27358 tabulyogang Mon, 02 May 2011 20:28:03 +0000 http://momgrind.com/2008/07/25/being-a-lawyer-was-sucking-the-life-out-of-me/#comment-27358 Im an engineer and I have plans to pursue law. But reading your post just now makes me really think if do i really want to be a lawyer. hahaha. Life is really short, yes i love learning new things but adding more stress would be unbearable already. Thanks! - Sheena Im an engineer and I have plans to pursue law. But reading your post just now makes me really think if do i really want to be a lawyer. hahaha. Life is really short, yes i love learning new things but adding more stress would be unbearable already. Thanks!
- Sheena

]]> By: JB http://momgrind.com/2008/07/25/being-a-lawyer-was-sucking-the-life-out-of-me/#comment-27250 JB Sat, 30 Apr 2011 01:34:03 +0000 http://momgrind.com/2008/07/25/being-a-lawyer-was-sucking-the-life-out-of-me/#comment-27250 I am a young associate at what is honestly, a wonderful small firm with attorneys that couldn't be nicer. I absolutely hate it, I haven't felt happy since working there at all. I googled "people who quit being lawyers" and found this thread. I'm not sure what my next step will be, but I've resolved that I will wait-tables until I can find it (and I really hate waiting tables) Good to know I'm not alone in this. I am a young associate at what is honestly, a wonderful small firm with attorneys that couldn’t be nicer. I absolutely hate it, I haven’t felt happy since working there at all. I googled “people who quit being lawyers” and found this thread. I’m not sure what my next step will be, but I’ve resolved that I will wait-tables until I can find it (and I really hate waiting tables) Good to know I’m not alone in this.

]]> By: niki http://momgrind.com/2008/07/25/being-a-lawyer-was-sucking-the-life-out-of-me/#comment-27143 niki Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:02:52 +0000 http://momgrind.com/2008/07/25/being-a-lawyer-was-sucking-the-life-out-of-me/#comment-27143 See parents don't know what they are talking about when they say grow up to be a lawyer,doctor,etc all those common stereotype jobs.! See parents don’t know what they are talking about when they say grow up to be a lawyer,doctor,etc all those common stereotype jobs.!

]]> By: maggie kelly http://momgrind.com/2008/07/25/being-a-lawyer-was-sucking-the-life-out-of-me/#comment-27104 maggie kelly Sat, 09 Apr 2011 07:48:02 +0000 http://momgrind.com/2008/07/25/being-a-lawyer-was-sucking-the-life-out-of-me/#comment-27104 There are some great posts on here, really enjoyed reading I am not alone. I am an in house lawyer in the uk, 7 years qualified. I have hated every bit of my career so far, right since training but I have stuck at it because I met some nice people. I also enjoyed the actual studying bit of law and the fact I got to use my education. But I can't do it anymore, the incessant confrontation, the pressure, the niggles. Everyone I meet outside can't believe its what I do as its so wrong for my personality. I want to work in something where i can empathise with people and use my skills and interests in the arts, holistic living and family without negotiating pointless things all day. Any ideas??? There are some great posts on here, really enjoyed reading I am not alone. I am an in house lawyer in the uk, 7 years qualified. I have hated every bit of my career so far, right since training but I have stuck at it because I met some nice people. I also enjoyed the actual studying bit of law and the fact I got to use my education. But I can’t do it anymore, the incessant confrontation, the pressure, the niggles. Everyone I meet outside can’t believe its what I do as its so wrong for my personality. I want to work in something where i can empathise with people and use my skills and interests in the arts, holistic living and family without negotiating pointless things all day. Any ideas???

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