© 2018. Published in Experience Magazine, Vol. 28 No. 1 January/February 2018 by the American Bar Association. Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. This information or any portion thereof may not be copied or disseminated in any form or by any means or stored in an electronic database or retrieval system without the express written consent of the American Bar Association or the copyright holder.
Are you passionate about your work as an attorney? Does your sense of satisfaction come from outside your law practice? Cheryl Rich Heisler, President and Founder of the Chicago-based Lawternatives, and current member of the ABA Career Center board, explores the ways in which lawyers can chase down opportunities in personally meaningful industries while still making money.
“Do what you love, and the money will follow” is more than just an old adage and the title of a self-help career book from the 1980s.
There’s something liberating about the concept, especially when considering your options after winding down your legal career. As retirement age creeps up, many lawyers aren’t ready to give up a daily routine, a steady income, and the opportunity to stay mentally active.
If continuing to practice law on some reduced-time or reduced-stress basis isn’t a good option, how do you begin to figure out your next move? Start with some self-reflection.