You’ve got the title, the paycheque, and the crisply defined path of a law professional mapped out in front of you. It’s steady, comfortable. But is it enough? If this is the point it should all be clicking into place, why does it feel like something is missing?
I can’t get no satisfaction
A sense of unfulfillment at work isn’t unusual among legal professionals, so you’re not alone. Law is a tough career and whatever stage you’re at – a law student, a fledgling trainee or a career lawyer – you’ve worked pretty freaking hard. Maybe you’ve already smashed all the goals you set out for yourself, or maybe you’re looking at the goals ahead of you and thinking… is this it? Whether it’s the overwhelming workload, your pain-in-the-arse clients, tedious colleagues or a cut-throat culture that’s getting you down, symptoms of career dissatisfaction can range from total burn-out to utter boredom, and neither are good for your overall wellbeing.
Isn’t this what I signed up for?
Actually, it doesn’t have to be – or at least not the be-all and end-all. The world of work is changing, and along with it, the way we work in the world of law. Big Law as we know it is under threat from smaller, more agile law firms as demand for legal services shrinks. The drive to rethink the way we live and work as lawyers is evident in the rise of organisations like Beyond Billables, which consults with small legal businesses with the aim to help lawyers ‘live better lives’. Alongside this, the growing gig economy is becoming a more recognised and accessible model for all kinds of professions, and more than 1,000 lawyers in the UK alone now work in a remote capacity. Platforms like Lawyers on Demand and Axiom enable contract and freelance lawyers to choose their own clients, set their own boundaries and live life on their own terms.
So what does this have to do with ‘meaning’?
One of the key ways to overcome feelings of dissatisfaction in any career is to find work with purpose. This is becoming increasingly important in a world where we’re super connected and informed, and where social media gives us all a platform and a voice. We want our work to have an impact too; we need to feel valuable. For some lucky lawyers it’s landing a job at a non-profit or social enterprise, with positive outcomes that are tangible. Some lawyers find freelance work lets them live more purposefully, with the autonomy to choose ethical clients, flexibility for working parents, and the freedom to spend time with the family or volunteering. The rise of the side-hustle has seen many people, including lawyers, find purpose through a project outside of their main work. Other lawyers have left the profession altogether, choosing to make a fulfilling career change that builds on the skills they’ve developed and the knowledge they’ve gained in their years as a lawyer.
Being a lawyer for good
Sometimes it’s not realistic to throw in the towel and chase vaguely defined dreams of ‘doing good’. There are bills to pay. The stability of working for an established firm can be just as important for maintaining a healthy state of mind. Freelancing isn’t for everyone – the camaraderie of being part of a team and the thrill of a high-stakes account are energising. And the traditional law model still dominates. Engaging with workplace CSR initiatives can answer a certain need to do good things for the world, but can fall short of making a real impact. Seeking out pro bono work that fits around work demands can be tricky, but it’s out there – and incredibly fulfilling to see the results of your input first-hand. If you have the desire, the need, to be of value, to live with purpose, and to make a positive impact on the world – whatever path you are on, wherever you are in your career – there are ways to make it happen. Whether you’re ripping up the rule book and taking on the work that works for you, or diversifying what you already do with a more rounded, interesting and rewarding workload, the growing number of choices available to a lawyer today is truly exciting.