The End Of The Race: Lessons Learned (Part II)

After writing 250 articles over the last four-and-a-half years about job searches and small law practice, I learned and remembered a lot of things. Here are a few lessons I learned that have helped me persevere through my job search and the development of my solo practice.

Is the grass greener on the other side?

For many young lawyers, and even some seasoned ones, a major career goal is to work for a large law firm. The reasons are the money, the prestige, the presumption of exemplary competence, and better exit options to well-known boutique firms and in-house positions. I’ll admit, I would join one too if given the opportunity.

So when I do my daily walk around the park at 8:30 a.m., or work at a secluded hill with my laptop while watching the sunset, I sometimes I feel self-conscious and wonder whether I would have had a happier life working at a firm. I know several Biglaw attorneys and they all seem happy with their jobs.

But it’s common knowledge that many Biglaw attorneys are miserable. They can’t stand the long hours, their demanding clients, and the cutthroat office politics. Some of the partners are on their second or third marriages. And others are abusing drugs or alcohol. But they can’t leave because they can’t cut back on their lavish lifestyle expenses. Others will be unemployable and might be forced to leave law practice altogether.

But ultimately, every job has its advantages and disadvantages. Some of us will never work for a highly reputable law firm so we’ll never know what it’s like and whether we will be happy or miserable there. So it’s better to avoid dwelling on it too long and making the most of the job you currently have.

Stereotypes will continue to exist.

When employers look at your résumé, they will stereotype you based on your education and your work history (or lack of it.) At a job interview, the interviewer will judge you not just based on how you answer their questions, but also your choice of clothing, your figure, and your racial and ethnic background.

Why? It’s just easier and less expensive. And we do it with other aspects of our lives. Take jury selection, for example. If a potential juror is wearing a MAGA hat and T-shirt, many would quickly think he would not be impartial in a racial discrimination case and would dismiss him without even asking a question. By the way, I would not recommend doing this to get out of jury duty.

If you can’t join them, then beat them.

If the firms of your choice are not interested in you, you’ll have to find another way to get their attention. I found that the most effective and most painful way to do it is to tap into their client base and threaten their revenue stream. This does not mean doing anything unethical or immoral. It just means doing a good job consistently and marketing yourself to the right people. With perseverance and luck, you will establish a strong reputation and have a solid book of business.

Perhaps one day, if your book is big enough and reputation is strong, employers will approach you and will offer all kinds of perks and benefits to convince you to quit your current job or your practice. But when you get to the point where you have your own successful practice, do you really want to leave?

Don’t compare yourself to others.

You’ve probably heard this line many times. But lawyers are known for having high depression rates and I think it is mostly because they compare themselves to others, sometimes unconsciously. And social media has only made it worse. We see our friends’ photos of their exotic vacations, their new cars, or read about their latest verdict, and we might think their life is perfect or at least better than ours.

But our friends rarely share their problems, particularly those involving finances. A lot of people may look rich, but they may also have a lot of debt. Household debt in America has hit a record high. So has student loan debt.

And what about the classmate who is driving the same Honda he drove in law school? His practice might not be successful. Or he might be doing well but doesn’t see the need to purchase an expensive car when his current one works fine.

Don’t worry about what your friends and peers are doing. One day, they may suddenly stop posting on Facebook or delete their account altogether and sooner or later we might find out why. Just do your own thing.

Don’t blame anyone.

Life does not go the way you want it to a lot of times. We don’t get the job we want or sign up every client who calls us. Not every person we have a crush on will reciprocate. Marriages have a 50 percent chance of failing. When things do go wrong, we need someone to blame. Usually, it is easy. But sometimes, things are complicated and assigning blame is not easy.

When I’m not picked for a job, I don’t blame the employer or the recruiter. I am not entitled to a job and I believe that employers should be allowed to hire whoever they want. Employers (particularly smaller firms with limited budgets) are not going to hire people to meet some arbitrary diversity requirement. Employers acting rationally will want to choose people who will help the business stay profitable. If they can find a member of a minority race who can help do that, even better.

I also don’t think ill of the potential client if he or she does not hire me. Not every paying client is a good match. A bad client can cause all kinds of headaches. If a client does not hire me, chances are very likely I avoided a headache.

Finally, I don’t blame myself. There are some out there who think that if you did not get what you want in life, it is your fault. This is very condescending and false. Sometimes life happens and I can’t apply for every available job or sign up every single potential client. And I won’t apply for a job where every associate gives negative reviews about the work environment. Also, if my solo practice is grossing $15,000 per month, I’m not going to accept a position that pays minimum wage unless there was something else that makes up for the pay differential.

In the final analysis, you have to do what’s best for you. One of your peers may have the “dream job” that you wanted. Another may brag about their most recent seven-figure verdict. But they may also be unhappy and up to their eyeballs in debt. Maybe an employer is not evaluating every applicant fairly and relies on outdated stereotypes and machines to screen candidates. But that same firm might be hiring every three months and getting bad reviews on Glassdoor or similar sites. You only need one job that will bring out the best in you. And you only need those clients who you can help, who will cooperate and will pay you timely.

---

Shannon Achimalbe was a former solo practitioner for five years before deciding to sell out and get back on the corporate ladder. Shannon can be reached by email at [email protected] and via Twitter: @ShanonAchimalbe.