Are you considering moving on from the legal profession?
Perhaps you feel that you are not suited to it or are finding it hard to manage the pressures. Before you make the choice to exit, lets walk through the process and consider your options.
REVIEWING THE SITUATION
Before you make the huge, life-changing decision to change career, ask yourself some questions:
- When did you last take time off? Do you need a good holiday?
- Would you feel differently if you could take routes to reduce stress?
- Are you bored? Would a change in specialism or area of practice help?
- Do you need additional training and support to help you do your job better?
- How would the global pandemic affect your working arrangements?
- If a particular person were to leave your workplace, would you feel differently?
- Does your organisation know that you are unsatisfied? Might they be willing to make changes to keep you?
- Do your skills align with your current career path, and where will that path lead?
- What would a career change require? Could your education and expertise transfer to a new career?
THE THREE LEVELS OF CAREER CHANGE
Job Change:
Doing the same type of work in a different setting, such as a more flexible organisation or even just changing to a different department or specialism.
Career Alteration:
Utilising your legal skills in a different setting – teaching at a law school, or working as an employed barrister, for example.
Career Transition:
Moving to a new career significantly different from the practice of law. This could involve retraining.
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
The grass isn’t always greener elsewhere, as the person mowing the lawn and starting somewhere new may be difficult. Remember that you are a well-educated and highly trained professional, who is worth investing in and employing. If you choose to leave the law altogether, don’t feel that the time you spent training has been wasted: your skills will be valuable elsewhere, and they don’t obligate you to remain in a job you don’t enjoy. And don’t make any drastic career decisions if you are depressed or experiencing another mental health concern.
Go and see your GP and ensure you take steps to feel better before making major decisions about the future.
CAREERS COUNSELLING
Be your own careers counsellor: Give yourself a career “check-up”. Put together a comprehensive and detailed personal history including your professional status, education, employment, professional affiliations, martial and family background and financial needs. Remember to include all of your experiences in practice, including administration, staff relations or finance.
Talk it through with someone, or brainstorm on a blank sheet of paper. Your aim should be to evaluate your career goals, clarify your values and priorities, and develop a concrete and realistic plan any changing job or career. There are career counsellors who can help you identify your skills and strengths.
SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER
- What are your major and secondary skills, interests and capabilities?
- What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Do your own SWOT (Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Threats) analysis
- What part of your work do you enjoy most? What do you dislike about your job?
- How does it feel when you consider that you might be working in the field you’re being trained in for potentially 30 or 40 years, or more?
- What do you do for fun? Could any of these lead to a potential job or career choice?
- Are you prepared to take a pay cut in favour of greater job satisfaction?
- Are you prepared to re-qualify in another career, with all the necessary cost, study and training that will entail?
- Has the time come to go it alone in that business venture you’ve always wanted to try?
- Would you like to relocate and/or have a different lifestyle?
THE THREE LEVELS OF CAREER CHANGE
You may prefer to seek professional help, from a recruitment agency or professional careers counsellor or coach to get your CV up-to-date and as attractive as possible.
You could also explore temporary or contract employment opportunities as a transitional option to get you out of an unhappy situation and to buy you some thinking time.