Making Time To Take Time

What types of exciting things can an attorney do during a 'mini-retirement' from the practice of law?

When I was just a baby lawyer, a more tenured colleague told me, “Lawyers are always stressed. They are stressed when they have too much work and have no time for anything other than work.” My colleague continued, “But they are also stressed when work is slow, because they feel either real or imaginary pressure to look for work.” At the time, I wasn’t sure what my colleague meant. But now, as a “grown-up” lawyer in my own right, I have seen this pressure in action both in a law firm, where the pressure to bill is real, and in-house, where the pain of being a “cost center” is real.

This constant pressure to find work has been a given in my life for the past 12 years. So, when the company where I served as a general counsel for almost three years was acquired, and my role became redundant, I chose to take time off. I choose to see it as a “mini-retirement” — a welcome break from over a decade of work-related pressure!

In the first 15 days of my mini-retirement, I did things I haven’t done in a while. I volunteered at my daughters’ school, something they have been asking me to do for years. My mini-retirement fell right before the holidays, so my adventures in elementary school included singing holiday carols, exchanging gifts, reading stories, and making snowmen out of socks. My girls proudly introduced me to all their friends and made me promise to come more often. I got a sneaking suspicion that my daughters wanted their friends to know they’re not motherless after all!

On the days that I didn’t volunteer, I drove around the Bay Area to reconnect with my friends for breakfasts, coffees, lunches, hikes, and dinners. To say that I had a blast is an understatement. It is amazing how friends, good food, and the outdoors can feel life changing. Then again, we certainly weren’t built to sit indoors all day, slouching alone in front of the computer.

At night I painted, took online classes, watched movies with my family, cooked, organized a TEDx in my community, and enjoyed other activities that didn’t involve typing on my device or intensely staring at my computer. I even had time to read entire books, ones that don’t mention laws, risk, compliance, and damage mitigation. Who knew that without meetings, commuting, and office politics, I would have plenty of time to live and still go to bed by 9?

Before my mini-retirement, I heard that life is amazing. And now that I actually have a life outside of the law, I am happy to confirm this well-known rumor is true. Life is amazing! In fact, I am still enjoying every minute of it.

However, I am aware that a mini-retirement isn’t a typical choice. I certainly never anticipated making it! Whenever I mention my mini-retirement, I’ve been asked the same few common questions. I believe they’re worth addressing here.

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Q: Why did you give up law?

A: I didn’t actually give up practicing law! My mini-retirement is an opportunity to take care of myself, enjoy life, evaluate my options, and ultimately make intentional choices consistent with my values, goals, and needs. Self-care is important and as a profession we must encourage each other to do it regularly. When I return to practicing law, I am confident that this mini-retirement will have made me an even better lawyer.

Q: I can’t believe you are taking time off. It would drive me nuts to do nothing all day!

A: You and I both! I used to tell my friends that I would one day — “soon,” I said — take time off. But I realize very few of them, myself included, actually believed me. I suppose I am a typical lawyer in this way. However, I have yet to regret this choice and something tells me that I never will. After all, I am not doing nothing all day! My days are full, inspiring, and meaningful. And I have many other plans!

Q: Aren’t you worried that you won’t find a job?

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A: The short answer is, “No, I am not worried at all!” In fact, I worry more about professionals who never take time off, always work during their vacations, and go from job to job without taking any meaningful time off.

Q: Will you continue to write, speak, and advocate during your mini-retirement?

A: Absolutely! I love all of the above. These activities energize me. In fact, I hope to spend some of my mini-retirement improving my skills and progressing further in writing, speaking, and advocacy.

Q: What’s your dream job?

A: It’s too soon to say! It will materialize when I am ready, I am sure.

I am excited to continue my journey through this minority-retirement. And not to worry — although I’m entering a new chapter, this column isn’t going anywhere. I will share my insights and updates periodically. In the meantime, if you have any mini-retirement tips or stories to share, please let me know. I would love to hear from you!


Olga V. Mack is an award-winning general counsel, operations professional, startup advisor, public speaker, adjunct professor at Berkeley Law, and entrepreneur. Olga founded the Women Serve on Boards movement that advocates for women to serve on corporate boards of Fortune 500 companies. Olga also co-founded SunLaw to prepare women in-house attorneys become general counsel and legal leaders and WISE to help women law firm partners become rainmakers. She embraces the current disruption to the legal profession. Olga loves this change and is dedicated to improving and shaping the future of law. She is convinced that the legal profession will emerge even stronger, more resilient, and inclusive than before. You can email Olga at olga@olgamack.com or follow her on Twitter @olgavmack.