New York Lawyer
March 25, 2004

Q:
I'm torn and feel I've made some past career mistakes that might come back to haunt me. I currently work as an in-house government staff attorney in a Southern state for a mid-size local government. I'd like to transition to private practice, and my husband and I both want to move to New York (Long Island or Manhattan, near his family and where he grew up).

Obviously this means a new bar exam (my state has no reciprocity), with which I have no problems.

How do I make this transition with less-than-stellar grades (although I was top third) from a less-than-top-ranked law school? Is it hopeless for me? Should I just resign myself to finding whatever pleasure I can out of this job and keep my family where it is? Or do you think I can make this work?

Other advice columns have left me in a fair amount of despair over my credentials!

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A:

For very specific advice information you need to ask people more attuned to the vagaries of switching careers according to geographical concerns, taking into account your background and so forth. But your question struck a chord with me because it poses a fundamental question about life choices, not just the minutiae of career planning.

You can have a vision of what you want to do and go for it. If you and your husband are determined to live in the New York area, and put all your energies to succeeding, I have no doubt you can do so. Remember that life is not just about career. It�s also about family (being near your respective families, raising any children you have or might have with the support of other family members, and so forth), cultural factors (living in an area of the country where you feel comfortable), hobbies and interests, and so forth.

Being committed to a particular geographic location tends to help other factors fall into place. You will know that you will live in the New York area for a long period of time, you�ll be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to really make a go of it, etc. So there are many positive things that go along with living where you actually want to be.

And while credentials are obviously important in getting a job, so are relationships and other factors. One of the tactics in your game plan can be getting to know people in the area you move to, in order to gain employment through �who you know� as much as what you know.

In sum, there�s a lot to be said for putting the basic building blocks for happiness in place first, and then letting other things take care of themselves. Firmly assume that what your family needs is to move back home, and then promise yourself you�ll make it work for all the other criteria. Very few things are "hopeless." Your determination can ensure that this move works.

Sincerely,
Holly English
Principal Consultant, Values at Work