Switch Gears - Within the Legal Profession
Life is short and workdays are long, so it only makes sense to spend those days doing something that makes you happy.
If you're not happy with your current job situation, change is an option. According to Jeanne Meister in an August 2012 article on the Forbes.com site, "Job Hopping Is the 'New Normal' for Millennials: Three Ways to Prevent a Human Resource Nightmare," 4.4 years is the average amount of time workers stick with a job, but the projected tenure for Millennials (who, obviously, account for more and more of the workforce) is not even three years at each job.
A survey, noted Meister, showed that Millennials focus on "happiness and fulfillment in their work lives." Certainly, passionate, contented, and happy attorneys perform better, deliver higher quality legal services, and get better results for their clients. In general, they feel better about themselves and their careers.
Those attorneys who are not happy need to look elsewhere - but not necessarily outside the field of law. Unhappy attorneys should have confidence in their abilities to learn a new field of law or to focus on new legal issues and earn a living at it.
If you're considering making a move – either to a new area of the law or as a lateral hire to a new firm – spend time researching the new arena, take continuing legal education classes, read all the articles and treatises you can get your hands on, and associate with acknowledged experts in the field.
Make sure, however, that you do not discontinue your current business cold turkey. Move away from your current activity gradually as your new business grows. For example, if you're a personal injury attorney who's tired of the expanding legislative restrictions on fees and who sees opportunities in labor law, research and market for clients in the new area, but don't refuse new personal injury cases while doing so.
Happiness IS within your reach.
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Happy Father's Day.
