Passion or Profit ( via a BIG Firm Salary) is a big consideration for lawyers who are in search of a fulfilling career. This consideration is ever more relevant as law firms like Williams & Connelly are again raising outrageously high associate salaries from $160,000 to $180,000! And I thought my first year salary raise from $93K to $125K was a big deal … lol
So … what’s an unhappy and unfulfilled lawyer to do?
Here are a few ideas to keep you grounded and steady on your journey to designing and enjoying a fulfilling career during this time of big firm salary wars.
1. Get really clear about what keeps you up at night and causes extreme anxiety and stress.
2. Once you are clear about the source of your pain, determine how important your ability to be at peace is to your health and well-being. Now, determine what changes and sacrifices you are willing to make to have more peace in your life.
3. If you determine that profit is more valuable than passion (and you work at a law firm) …. get really clear about what you want to accomplish at your firm. What experiences do you want to have? What expertise/ skills do you want to gain? What expenses do you want to pay off? How much money do you need as a “cushion”? What contributions to you want to make to clients and the firm culture?
4. If you determine that passion + profit + fulfillment = Law Firm, use the questions above to help you accelerate your performance and success at your firm.
5. Now that you have more clarity about what matters most to you, determine how you will know when you have learned enough, experienced enough or made enough money to walk away from a career that is not fulfilling. Use this information to create milestones.
6. Once you are clear about your purpose and have established milestones, take time and work with a professional to create a personal development plan and professional action plan to help you stay on track to reaching your milestones.
7. Once you reach your milestones, be confident that you are ready to move on and that you are not “missing out” or “giving up” anything. Believe that preparation + action + faith = successful transitions!
Until next time … Take GREAT Care!
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