In “A Life in the Law,” trial attorney Susan Cohodes shares pearls of wisdom from her long career in small firm practice and her transition to “less-than-full-time” practice. As she enters year two of her revised life, she’s figured out something big.
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Wait a minute, it’s not all about me? How could that be? As I begin my second year practicing less than full time, I am pleased to report that I have finally figured out something big. It isn’t all about me, and it never was.
For many years, I had what I thought was a well-founded concern that if I cut back on my practice, the Earth might stop revolving on its axis. I now understand that was not well-founded — or rational. Spoiler alert: The Earth has continued to revolve (at least so far).
Questions That Nagged at Me
I thought I was worried about who would do all the stuff I did at my small, all-hands-on-deck law office if I wasn’t there. Things like, who would cover hearings and depositions? Who would answer motions? Who would answer burning legal questions? Heck, who would answer the phone?
I now realize that what I was really worried about was me. I was afraid if I lost my daily chance to feel like the smartest, most indispensable person in the world, I would lose me. At the office over the years, I always felt like my being there was crucial, and I got a great deal of satisfaction from that. I feared that nothing else could replace that daily dose of feeling awesome that I got at work! I was afraid I would not have the opportunity to feel smart and needed at the gym, or in the knitting group, or even at home.
I was wrong. It turns out the answer to those questions I had been asking myself was: “Someone other than you will do it, Susan.” One year later, I can say that was exactly the answer I needed to hear.
There’s Still Satisfaction in Less-Than-Full-Time Practice
As it also turns out, even part time I still get a great deal of satisfaction from being a lawyer and representing nice people with good cases. But beyond that, I have daily opportunities to find the same satisfaction outside of the office. I wish I had noticed those opportunities sooner. And nowadays when I talk with young lawyers, I encourage them to seek out such opportunities. Though I caution, don’t do it at first. Early in your career, it’s got to be about the work so that you can set yourself up to let some of that go later on.
I know that when I first started out, it was all about the work. I don’t regret that. I had to learn how to do the job, as did all my friends. Long hours and midnight dinners with colleagues were the norm. However, I could have stepped back and found satisfaction outside work much sooner than I did.
If I’d Step Back Earlier, Would the Beds Have Been Made?
Having kids gave me the first chance to really step back and reset my priorities (with apologies to my husband). But that was more than 10 years into my practice, and I didn’t so much as step back so much as expand my waking hours. I don’t think my kids ever suffered because of how important my work was to me, but I probably did. I was always home for dinner (that most often I cooked) and bedtime reading. I attended games and PTA meetings and even Recorder concerts.
But back in the day when the only way to work late was to go back to the office, I regularly did so once the kids were asleep or the game was over or the PTA meeting ended. Looking back, I kind of wish I hadn’t because I think that the work still would have gotten done. And maybe I would not have been exhausted and maybe the beds would have gotten made. (Who am I kidding, they still wouldn’t have.)
It’s Good to Find More Opportunities to Feel Awesome
I’m quite an experienced knitter and in knitting group I still get to be really smart and, bonus, to create some really beautiful items. Knitting groups have been around forever but I only found the time to discover them when I cut back on my work.
Kids in elementary school have needed reading tutors forever too. Yet it is only since I cut back to part time that I have volunteered to help them where I live. Perhaps I could have done this long ago as well. But that would have been too hard when I thought that the places I worked could not have gotten along without me. As a consequence, I’m sure I missed out on working with a lot of really cool first and second graders. I’m happy I have the opportunity now.
There’s Still More Ahead
Another less-than-full-time bonus: I am not an experienced exerciser, but now that I can go to the gym regularly, I have tiny triumphs at each visit. I’m sure there many more opportunities out there where I can feel like I am crucial to the operation, or the smartest person in the room, or generally awesome that I haven’t even considered. Now that I am a part-time attorney, I have figured out that it’s time to look further — and I can’t wait.
Image © iStockPhoto.com.
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