The Secrets to a Lengthy Career in Law

Erin H. Durant*

One significantly underutilized resource by struggling licensees are retired lawyers and very senior lawyers in the twilight of their careers. Some have left their firms due to mandatory partner retirement ages and others retire on their own accord. I think that we can be a bit too quick to encourage those individuals to move on and that we underestimate the value that they bring to a legal workplace. While their legal knowledge, experience and relationships with clients are obviously important, they can also be very useful in mentoring other professionals in a variety of areas.

I have started asking senior and retired legal professionals about their careers in recent years. I start from the premise that a career in law is a challenging, exhausting and emotional endeavor that is difficult for everyone. I wish to gain an understanding of how some people manage to have a long, full and mostly happy career. I like to ask: “How have you managed to work in this profession for so long? What are your secrets?” The responses that I get are fascinating and, often, can be replicated. Below I share some of those secrets.

Like Your Work Environment and the People You Work With

I have heard this one frequently. Practicing law is hard enough when you are dealing with difficult clients, opposing counsel and judges – all of which you have little ability to control. Your work environment and your team needs to be a place that supports, values and helps you navigate the challenges of a difficult career. When I feel happy and well supported in my work environment, I do well. When I do not, that is when I tend to be in crisis.

Do What Interests You

I had a lengthy and unplanned chat with another law firm owner after we finished discussing a file one day. I was having a particularly difficult time leading up to that call. When I asked her how she has been able to manage her career for so long the advice that I received was that she makes sure to create time to work on matters that are important to her and that spark joy – even if they do not pay her. Others have told me about the joy they get out of volunteer work in the community.

Obviously we all need to make money to pay our business expenses and feed our families, but taking on some work for free in areas of particular interest has been helpful to me since I adopted her advice. It has also allowed me to explore some less profitable areas of practice that I find enjoyable and meaningful. Many of us got into the legal profession to “help people”. Not all of us work in careers that allow us to help individuals with their challenges regularly. I have found making time to do just that helps to fill my cup.  

Learn How to Relax

I can have significant difficulty disconnecting from work and have had to work pretty hard at it over the last few years. One challenge that I have is that I continue to think about my work at all hours of the day and night, even if I am supposed to be off work. I have received various pieces of advice about this and have experimented with various techniques. Some work well for me and others do not. Here is a short list:

a)    You could try ending each day by making a quick list of things that you wish to deal with tomorrow. For some people, this helps them leave the work behind and allows them to shift into non-work mode.  

b)    For people who ruminate at night, some find keeping a notepad beside their bed helpful to write down whatever it is they are concerned about in the moment. Again, this can be helpful in getting it out of your head and allowing you to move on from it.

c)    Find an activity that occupies your mind. A lot of very senior litigators ride motorcycles, which I have always found to be an odd coincidence. When I’ve asked some of them about the hobby, some have said that they ride as a way to disconnect and live in the moment away from their thoughts related to their practice. I used to get that experience when I played competitive softball. It was the one activity that I could do that would keep work and any other troubles out of my mind. I have since replaced that pastime with photographing birds and, honestly, it helps.

d)    You can try scheduling your worrying time. I heard this one both from a therapist and from an individual who embraces this routine. It can be helpful for some people to literally schedule a time during the week or during the day for “worrying”.  I have done this occasionally when I am having a particularly challenging time. It can help me re-focus by making a note of the issue and popping it into my calendar to consider during a set time period. The funny thing about this practice for me has been that often when I get to the scheduled worrying time, I am no longer worried at all and have nothing to be concerned about!  

Find Someone to Talk to About Your Challenges

I largely did not talk about challenges/issues with anyone at all until it was “too late” and I had already broken down and spent time away from my practice. We tend not to discuss our challenges and, instead, prefer to be viewed by others as invincible. I have discovered that asking other lawyers for advice is not usually seen by them as an additional burden. It is an opportunity to share knowledge and be helpful. I like the way I feel after I give advice or lend a sympathetic ear to someone going through a hard time. The hardest part of those conversations is often convincing yourself to have the conversation at all. I wish I had approached others for guidance far sooner than I did.

I am sure that there are far more secrets to a long and happy legal career out there. Next time you have a file with a senior counsel, take a moment to ask them how they have managed their career.  

*Erin Durant is the founder of Durant Barristers a litigation, investigation and sport law firm. She is also the author of “It Burned Me All Down” which is a book about her experience with mental illness as a practicing lawyer. The book also makes recommendations for legal workplaces to improve their work environments. She also has experience representing lawyers in both malpractice and disciplinary hearings. She can be reached at edurant@durantbarristers.com