What it is, why it might (and might not) suit you and how to go about making the change The consultancy model for lawyers is one that has been growing rapidly over the past decade. Fundamentally, it means acting as a self-employed lawyer either as an individual or via a wholly-owned service company. You might…

Why this often-overlooked role can be a great fit for disillusioned lawyers The role of Professional Support Lawyer was an alternative career path first developed by City firms in the 1990s. PSLs (also known variously as Professional Development Lawyers, Knowledge Management Lawyers, and many other variations on the theme) were used to create and update…

Are you a lawyer climbing a career ladder against the wrong wall? If so, you’re far from alone. There are many other outwardly “successful” lawyers who are unhappy with – and unfulfilled by – their chosen career. This causes a lot of head-scratching, soul-searching and anguish because you should be feeling very good about things,…

How the pursuit of ‘passions’ and ‘dreams’ actually stops lawyers from successfully changing careers. “Find your passion and you’ll never work a day in your life” or some variation on the theme is responsible for far more unhappiness than success. Talk of following desires, of passions, of dream jobs, is often well-meant, but it’s just…

And some advice on what to do if any of them sound familiar to you In over a decade as a career coach to lawyers, I’ve met only a handful of clients whose circumstances were so specific that they really were prevented from leaving the law at that point in time. Yet, almost every other…

What is a portfolio career, and why might it be a great solution for jaded lawyers thinking about a career transition? There’s no doubt the world of work has changed for almost everyone since the global COVID-19 pandemic. Not being tied to the daily commute to the office, working from home, and using technology to…

Why how you think is just as important as what you think Many lawyers who feel unfulfilled – or even unhappy – in their career end up doing something ridiculous: nothing. As someone who was in the same boat, I know that we often justify this lack of action by reference to external factors. Money,…

In this article, I share some of my favourite advice from the late Steve Jobs. As well as being generally inspiring, it is relevant to lawyers contemplating any form of career change. It’s about believing that things will work out for you in the future even if the future path is not yet clear to…