I must be doing my job, because readers often send me angry e-mails. They usually fall into two camps—those who accuse me of being antimale, and those who accuse me of not being [properly] supportive of the sisterhood (click here and here).
But recently I got a new complaint—that I'm too hostile about the legal profession, particularly Big Law:
I am curious why you write a blog about law? You seem to hate being a lawyer so much. . . I can't help but notice that nearly every day there's a crack about how awful Big Law is, or today, it was generalized to all of law as being "not what it's cracked up to be."
It seems strange that you would put yourself out as a commentator on a field that you didn't like and didn't stay in.
Me? I've just finished my first year as partner in big law. I'm a mom . . . I have a wonderful husband. . . . It's a tough tough career to be sure, but I can't imagine anything else I'd rather do.
This reader goes on to say that my "snipey comments about Big Law" are "unprofessional." She adds, "They make me think you might not be well-situated to be commenting on it since you didn't succeed at it."
Ouch.
I was bemused by the letter. Moreover, it made me think about what it means to have a satisfying legal career. I wasn't very inspired by my work as an associate, but I'm always intrigued by those who seem to like being a lawyer. To me, they're rather exotic.
Just a few days ago, I came across a New York Times profile of a lawyer who loves his work—maybe too much: Allen Beldock, a 92-year-old judge in New York, who works as a judicial hearing officer without pay. He started working in his current position after retiring from his judgeship more than 20 years ago. Even after budget cuts eliminated his $300-per-day position about a year ago, he keeps showing up at the office.
"If I were not a judge, I wouldn’t be doing anything,” he tells The New York Times. “What would I be doing if I were not a judge? What am I even qualified to do? I’ve been a judge for 44 years. My father was a butcher. I’m not trained to be a butcher.”
So maybe this is the ultimate test for how you truly feel about your job: Assuming that making a living is not an issue, would you still show up at work in the morning? My hunch is that most lawyers—even ones who profess to like their jobs—would dash out the door. I have a hard time believing that most folks would want to draft and redraft documents, attend meetings, negotiate deal points, and all the daily grind of lawyering without the economic kick. Yes, law can be intellectually satisfying to some, but, hey, is it poetry?
In the end, I'm not quite sure what to make of the good judge—is he blessed that he's found so much meaning in his profession, or cursed that he seems incapable of deriving pleasure from life's myriad distractions? Is he truly passionate about his job, or is this the only identity he has left?
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Dear Frank,
Do you really want to read a blog from a cheerleader of the profession? If so, may I suggest law firm press releases?
VC
Posted by: V. Chen | February 29, 2012 at 09:56 AM
Vivian, you never answered the writer's question: "I am curious why you write a blog about law? You seem to hate being a lawyer so much."
Posted by: Frank | February 29, 2012 at 09:11 AM
When I practiced law, I loved it. While I loved the game of litigation and was good at it, early on I saw that it didn't meet the long term needs of my clients. Over time, I designed a practice that fit my purpose, values and lifestyle. It was a peacemaking practice in a small town. It gave me the space to raise a big family, set my own schedule, earn a living, and make the difference I wanted to make in the world.
When I moved to a place where I wasn't licensed, I stepped back to see what I had learned and started a website and coaching practice. As time rolled on, I periodically went back to law practice. It is a good laboratory for what I do and I still love the work with clients.
Now, I'm kind of a missionary for lawyers making a difference, earning a living and having a life that they love. I know a lot of lawyers who love what they do. Most have designed their own success rather than buying an external vision of success.
I read your posts as a barometer of what is going on out there in the profession. There is still a huge gap between the everyday practice, especially in Big Law, and happiness.
Posted by: J Kim Wright | February 25, 2012 at 11:48 AM
I worked in what I guess you would call Mid-Law for 20 years. I made partner at my firm after only 4 years so I doubt anyone could genuinely make an argument that I wasn't successful. However, I can tell you that I did in fact hate every single day of it. I left to do something totally different for a while. Now I'm back practicing law as an in-house counsel for a small company. I now love going to work every day. I was on the corporate side of private practice. It was never the work I hated. It was the environment and most of the people I worked with that I hated. What a difference the right environment makes. So much of enjoying work depends upon working with people who share your values and with whom you share common interests. I would display my name but that would violate the agreement I signed when I left my firm. Good luck to those struggling.
Posted by: LawBroad | February 25, 2012 at 08:06 AM
The unsourced quotation below came to me in an email from Steve Cohen, the amazing ChamberMagic magician at the Waldorf -Astoria Towers in New York. He says it's his favorite quotation, and I think it defines the judge in question.
"A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always seems to be doing both."
Posted by: Lynn Hecht Schafran | February 25, 2012 at 07:48 AM
I think the disconnect between your analysis of legal careers and the judge lies in the difference between transactional work and litigation (I would consider judging to be a part of the litigation career family). I work at a big law firm in nyc, as a fairly junior litigator and I not only like my job but most of the people I work with are also passionate about their work. I don't know many corporate associates who would say the same.
Posted by: Linda | February 25, 2012 at 07:25 AM
Yes, it's true, there is a lot of negative industry chatter out there right now. Kinda always has been.
I've practiced for a quarter century; my first 5 at a Big Law firm in Detroit, and the last 10 as a general practice lawyer.
There is nothing more challenging than those fields; and for different reasons. Big Law is, well, Big Law. It's tough and competitive, and not for the faint of heart. Despite it's drawbacks (super long hours; layered supervision; pressure to bill ever more hours) I found it very fulfilling.
Now, running my own practice with 5 employees and an associate, it's a different set of challenges (i.e. marketing, getting paid on the bills; maintaining client satisfaction directly). Also fulfilling.
Like the reader you cited in this post, I just can't imagine doing anything else. I enjoy the challenge; I love having a work day completely different from the one before.
I read your industry commentary with an eye toward what's really going on out there. Of course, your readers are well advised to take it all in stride.
Posted by: Timothy P. Flynn, Esq. | February 25, 2012 at 04:42 AM