Changing career in the law

Before you make the 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 find a way to reduce the stress?
• Are you bored? Would a change in specialism or area of practice help?
• Do you need additional training or support to help you do your job better?
• If a particular person were to leave your workplace, would you feel differently?
• Does your organisation know that you are unhappy? 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?

• 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.

The grass isn’t always greener elsewhere, and starting somewhere new can be difficult. Remember that you are a well educated and highly trained professional, who is worth 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 the GP and ensure you feel better before making major decisions about the future.

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, marital and family background and financial needs. Remember to include all of your experiences in practice, including administration, staff relations or finance. Talk this 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 for changing job or career. There are careers counsellors who can help you identify your skills and strengths.

• 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?
• 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 does that entail a different lifestyle?

You may prefer to seek expert 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.

If you are approaching retirement it is worth taking the time to think about how you will spend your time once retired, and making a plan. Many high-achievers working hard find it difficult to make the transition.

•           Allow yourself time to think and reassess. Set new objectives and personal goals

•           Take steps to redefine who you are. "Ex Partner" or "ex Head of" shouldn't define you for the next few decades.

•           Be ready for business contacts not to return your calls and emails so readily.

•           Don't be surprised if some of the hobbies you were planning don’t materialise just because you've got more time.

•           Address physical and mental niggles; they might become more than niggles if you leave them.

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