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Many lawyers are shocked to discover, early on in their careers, that the
realities of practice are very unlike the attorney portrayed in television
and movies.
Studies over the last ten years report the number of attorneys expressing
career dissatisfaction has sharply escalated. The reasons are manifest:
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Long work hours filled with repetitive drudgery of motions and depositions
Seven day work weeks
Little or no sense of fulfillment from their work; too much time spent on
things other than constructing effective legal arguments
Stress related to creating billable hours
Fierce competition in the courtroom, as well as in the office
Severe, negative impacts on marriage, parenting and quality of life
Lack of growth potential or security |
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Why do so many attorneys apparently fail to act on their expressed desire to
switch careers? As recognized by a company of professional retention
consultants, “lawyers believe that being dissatisfied with the practice is
just the nature of being a lawyer and that nothing can be done to change it.
There is a level of hopelessness expressed in any possibility of meaningful
change...” |
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What is most daunting is not so much a matter of coming to terms
philosophically with leaving a particular niche in the legal profession, but
the actual process of finding employment outside the legal field.
On paper, most attorneys are academic and professional successes.
In
reality, many are scared to death of failure. They suspect that they have
made an irrevocable choice when they committed to and paid for law school.
They think the investment in time and money is too great to risk a career
change.
Annually, attorneys represent one of the highest percentages of RLS clients.
In fact, an entire division of RLS was created specifically to assist legal
professionals seeking a career change.
Leaving the law means facing an alien environment difficult to understand
and deal with. Attorneys need someone who is able or who is qualified to spend time with them weighing
options, discussing alternatives, and reaching an understanding of what is
right specifically for his or her circumstances.
Increasingly, lawyers are seeking out professional services to help them
make the transition to a different legal environment or to leave the law
entirely. Because every individual attorney’s perspective and story is
unique, a personalized service is a necessity.
If it's time for you to seek career counsel,
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For over 25 years,
R.L. Stevens &
Associates has assisted law professionals
reach their career goals, inside and outside the legal profession.
©
2008 R.L. Stevens & Associates,
Inc. 800 South St., Suite 295, Waltham, MA 02453 |