Do we ever stop seeking more? More information in this age of technology, more clients, more contacts. Who do we have to see? Where do we have to be? And then add on top of that, the realization that we want to take our practice to the next level, consider a new approach, go in a different direction altogether, or even just get that first job, or retire and slow-down from the last one. These ideas and changes bring about their own stress and challenges in any professional career. And the uneasiness never disappears, but the approach to obstacles and opportunities can make a real difference in a career. There are positive steps to take that will make any of these transitions easier.
Remember learning about “IRAC” in legal writing classes - issue, rule, application, and conclusion. Here is a new version of “IRAC” for those seeking steps for transition. Initiate, apply, research, and continue.
The first step is to initiate a discussion with yourself and those closest to you about what it is you are looking to change. Whether it is a job or a new practice area, how does it involve others, if it does at all, and what practical or impractical effect will this change have on your career, your family, and your time. What resources will you need? In this discussion with yourself, reflect on your career, your goals, and your motivation for the future. Are you looking to have a flexible schedule? What are your personal needs and what is it that you like to do? Being honest with yourself and reflecting on your future course, will give you a plan and some peace of mind as you move forward.
Next, research the ways you can obtain the change you are looking for by keeping a journal or record of people you contact, and build a network of relationships to help guide you as you embark upon your transition. Engaging the help of a small business consultant to help you establish what you would need to do from a business perspective is a wise move. Coordinate a list of objectives and a time-frame for getting them done. Will you open a sole proprietorship or LLC? Have a tax number and malpractice insurance? What are the financial obligations? Do you have a business plan – a living, breathing document that you review and change regularly? Acquiring a new partner or another associate? Determine how that will affect your bottom-line with other professionals. Having a plan and reviewing the numbers from a business perspective will help you undertake the proper analysis to make the decision for the change.
The third step is to apply yourself and invest in YOU. Are you starting to take cases in a new practice area? Take a CLE course to gain a better understanding in your new practice area or hone your current skills. Speak with other experienced lawyers in the practice area and read as much as you can about it. Whether it’s your first job out of law school as an associate in a litigation firm, mediation courses for an attorney considering retirement, or a membership in a new section at the NJSBA, take specific action to reach your goals. These are assertive actions you can take to help yourself get to where you want to go. Sometimes just coming to a bar meeting and meeting others who are similarly situated or undergoing a similar transition, can help you explore another avenue to get you where you want to go. You must commit to taking action. Have lunch at least once a week with someone new and develop that relationship. Do not just think about what they can do for you, but what you can do for them. Engage in a weekly business network to create other professional contacts. Remember other professionals can refer you cases.
Thinking about retirement? How do you learn to stop the active pace you have been keeping for so many years? With so much experience, a lawyer considering retirement has so many opportunities to give back and stay active within the profession. You have the contacts, but how do you wind it down? These are important questions for retiring lawyers.
And finally, continue with the prior steps. As you enter the work force for the first time, start a new practice, or transition back into the profession after family leave or a long hiatus, whatever your transition, continue to consider the prior steps. As we all know, careers change, paths change, business changes, we are constantly, on a journey of transition and knowing the positive steps to take will make for a more efficient transition.
Consider coming to the next event sponsored by the Committee on Lawyers in Transition and the Solo Small Firm Section, “Transitioning Your Practice: the Mind, the Money, and the Rules” from 6 to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, September 16 – The Mansion, Voorhees
Wednesday, September 17 – The Law Center, New Brunswick
Thursday, September 18 – NJ Sharing Network, New Providence