New York Lawyer
December 19, 2002

Q:
I am a third-year law student and I work part-time at a small firm that is not doing well.

The area of practice of the firm is not what I went to law school for and because of the economy I have not been able to find another job.

I really would like to become a public interest lawyer but have no idea where to start. Should I quit my current job now? Or wait until I pass the bar?

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A:

I'm presuming that you're a young person in your 20's, because you are a third-year law student, and because of the nature of your questions. You have the luxury at this stage to take a hard look at what you want to do in your life and mold your actions accordingly.

I can't tell you how many people I've talked with who, at various ages (in their 20's, at mid-career, even late in life) have confessed, "I hate what I'm doing," or "I really wanted to pursue another career but I never made the switch." It's shocking how often people drift into areas they don't like. In mid-life these ill-conceived choices can lead to much soul searching and angst, but at that point there's often little that can be done. Keep in mind that the reason many middle-aged people look with envy at younger people who are at the beginning of their careers is they see people who have real options, who haven't made critically important choices that reverberate through the years, and who aren't boxed in due to mortgages and loans and obligations.

Thus following your passion is an important criterion for long-term career satisfaction. It makes the difference between a job that is a pleasure, something you'll look forward to every day, versus something that seems like a chore and an onerous burden. The law often requires long hours, and spending much of your life doing something you don't care about is enervating. If you can only find a job in an area you're not interested in, make every effort to read up on the side in areas you are interested in, cultivate contacts, and go to bar association gatherings so that you can cross paths with people who are in the area you like. You can lay the groundwork for a switch even while you are employed in a job that is not exactly your preference. And these days, it probably is wise to stay put (certainly to wait until you pass the bar) rather than to leave without the prospect of a permanent job.

Therefore you need to appraise your needs in life. For instance, are you very materialistic? Do you see yourself as a main or sole breadwinner in a family, supporting a spouse, providing for kids who will need to go to college, etc.? What motivates you - is it money and prestige, power and influence, or mission and outcome? If you visualize a future where you need to earn lots of money, that reality will limit what you can do, or at least make it much harder to choose a low-income endeavor such as public interest law. If you prefer to have a mission, something where you feel like you are doing some good in the world (whatever your definition of "good" might be), that will guide you in different directions than if you see a job as a vehicle more for material wealth.

So your question isn't an idle one. The way you resolve your options early in your career can be vitally important to your long-term happiness and health. Many people (often mom and dad) will try to talk you out of passionate endeavors that are low income. But it's vital to maintain some independence on this point, to think deeply about what you enjoy, why you enjoy it, what your needs will be, and if at all possible to follow your passion. That process, pursued successfully, will provide fuel for the long journey through life.

Sincerely,
Holly English
Principal Consultant, Values at Work