Or maybe this is the chance to leave the law for a different career altogether.
As a career counselor for the University of Iowa College of Law, I've met many attorneys who have yearned for something else. Some are recent graduates having second thoughts about their careers. Some are on the cusp of becoming partner and want to make sure they know what they're doing. Some are 20-year partners who have simply run out of steam. None of these scenarios are unusual — according to some surveys, up to a third of attorneys would have chosen another profession if they had known what their lives would be like as lawyers.
I talk often with my clients, many times flying to the cities where they live, and most of the time, I find someone who needs only a minor adjustment before resuming a fruitful legal career. Others, though, need more than that.
Of course, I'm not the one who decides whether it's a fine-tuning that's needed or an overhaul. But by talking and listening and asking questions, I help each of my clients figure out what they need. I've found that many people discover what they're after by following the following tips.
Be Honest
Ask for Help
While we have to do this assessment ourselves, we do not have to do it alone. Engage friends, partners, colleagues, or professionals in assessing what is working now, what is missing, and what is needed to thrive in a career. Be prepared to think about work and life in a new way.
Change the Question
We are not our job titles. Unfortunately, we have been raised to answer the question of what we are going to be when we grow up. But that idea is narrow, limiting, and lacks creativity. Instead ask, ''Where will people pay us to do what we do well and to care deeply about changing the world?'' Be prepared to work hard to articulate and organize these professional and personal needs.
Don't be afraid to articulate personal and professional needs. Examine four key areas for career success: skills, issues, people, and environments. Think about what would be perfect by asking, ''Where can I use my favorite skills to address important issues with engaging people in an environment that provides energy?'' Be prepared to actively engage other people in identifying a good career fit.
Say It Out Loud
If we don't say it, we won't get it. These simple but true words make all the difference in moving us from passive observers to active participants in our quest for career satisfaction. Unfortunately, we rarely provide others with clear and specific statements about our careers. Synthesize your needs into a clear, articulate, and concise 10-second statement. Then tell people what you are seeking.
Accept Help
Here is what we know about people: We love to talk about ourselves; we are proud of our work; and we all want to help someone succeed. Our job in assessing careers is to allow people do these three things for us. Simply ask for their time, tell them your story, and, finally, ask them if they know anyone who gets paid to be you. It can be shocking to learn how close or far we may be from true career satisfaction until we ask.
Take Control
Start, stop, and continue. Use this simple technique to create an action plan for change. First, what new things should we start doing to be more satisfied? Second, what old things should we stop doing to be more satisfied? Third, what current things should we continue doing to be satisfied? The key is to create a plan that is simple to create, implement, and observe the outcomes of.
About the Author
Steve Langerud is the associate dean of career services at the University of Iowa College of Law.
