July 17, 2025 In blog

Talk is Cheap. It’s Results that Count.

We give a lot of advice in this bi-weekly missive about how to conduct an effective job search and how to get out of your own way and find a high-paying career that you actually enjoy. But talk is cheap. Does what I teach, preach and impart to clients really work?

Yes, it does. (You expectedme to say that, didn’t you?)

The truth is I am researching how Artificial Intelligence is impacting job search and hiring. I had planned to write about that this week, but I am still neck deep in research. Since I am not ready to write about AI and needed a topic for today’s newsletter, I started looking on my PC for potential topics. Fortunately, I stumbled across these Career Strategies stories and comments from clients.

I am happy to share them with you now.

* Using what he learned from our program, at our insistence a client reached out to a former law firm colleague he didn’t like, didn’t get along with, and had said bad things about when they worked together. The former colleague was actually glad to hear from our fellow! Several weeks later, the colleague called and said he had a client who was looking for someone with our man’s experience. The hiring company did a series of interviews with our client, including flying him overseas to meet with their Board. Our client walked away with a post as US General Counsel at a compensation package nearly six times what he had been earning in a law firm practice!

* Our client was interested in transitioning from litigation to Professional Development. There was a major annual Professional Development conference in Washington, D.C. that we felt could have been a bonanza for our client, but the conference was very expensive. We looked at the numbers with our client, did our ROI estimate, and recommended they spend the bucks.

I then did some networking for my client and called a “graduate” of mine who had transitioned from law firm attorney to professional development executive years before. (BTW, “graduate is a term I use for my clients who successfully obtain new positions. Most of my clients become “graduates.”) Not only did my former client say he would be happy to help my current client, he said he was a featured speakerat the event and in fact, had obtained his first professional development job years prior by following our advice and going to the conference, when he met people that led him directly to a career change.

* This isn’t a success story per se, but attests to the power of what we teach. Our client said he learned that we were right: “If you are going to tell them you can solve their problems, you damn well better know what their problems are before you say you can solve them. What I learned from you is that you have to do your homework before interviewing with a company.”

This seems self-evident, but there’s more to it than meets the eye. When I am putting a marketing campaign together for a client, it is very detailed and thorough. It contains action items, talking points and much more. When clients use a line like “I can help solve your problems,” I make them prove it. I put them through what I call “the interview from hell,” and make them support their claims. I will do this with a client multiple times until they come up with answers that will impress a senior business leader. I will not accept slovenly intellectual thinking, nor will the decision-makers who hire my clients. Part of what we bring to the dance here is that I have run businesses or corporate business units for many years, and understand what it takes to be successful.

* This last client is not a graduate yet – as of today – but has two firm offers and one we feel will be coming in within the next few days. Getting three offers sounds great, but it can be very hard to pick the best one. We help with that very critical process by providing objective, non-emotional evaluation of the options. Here’s part of what my about-to-be graduate told me:

Fiest, I want to thank you. The “cold call” e-mail I sent to the GC/VP of (Company Name Deleted) didn’t initially yield anything until…he called me out of the blue.  He said he saw my communication (a pitch letter and resume we had written for my client) and wanted to know what I wanted. So I told him! We had a good dialogue, but there were no openings.  Then he called this month and said that is about to change. They have decided to go through a reorganization.

Second, you were right.  They don’t advertise these positions.  You have to get on the radar before that.  Your method works – even for lawyers!

Third, I just had my first-round interview with the GC/VP.  I think it went quite well.  He is reorganizing the legal department in 3 weeks, after which the interview process will continue.  He explained he is not the sole decision maker. I will interview with other VPs (marketing, sales, etc.).  He said I should be prepared to speak with non-lawyers from (Location Deleted), who are very smart businesspeople but have no patience for legalese. I told him – who does, other than other lawyers?

“Anyway, I wanted to express my gratitude. Whether or not I land this gig, I am grateful.”

[Editor’s Note: This is the offer that is pending, but the other two offers are in hand.]

Please note that these are actual cases of people who have worked with me. I am not creative enough to make up stuff like this. If I were, I’d be in Hollywood writing screenplays! Nah, not really. I have found my niche and love what I do. I can help you feel the same way.

If you are an attorney and you’ve been thinking about exploring your career options and/or discovering “what else is out there” for you, feel free to contact me. If you are not sure how to even start the job search process, then by all means get in touch with me today for a virtual cup of coffee. You will receive a confidential, no-cost consultation to discuss your situation and goals, and will also get some expert advice on launching your job campaign.

If you would like to continue receiving Beyond the Bar Newsletter every 2 weeks, make sure to hit subscribe to stay up to date. If you have any questions about your career, click here

July 17, 2025 In blog

What It Means to Enjoy Your Job: The Mid-Life Lawyers’ and Executives’ Guide to Job Satisfaction

While some people doubt it, it is possible to enjoy your job. I mean really enjoy your job. I am not here to sprinkle fairy dust and sing kumbaya about finding joy in the your job everyday. Lawyers and executives who have been around long enough to know that “living the dream” usually involves more complex problem-solving than it does sipping margaritas on a beach.

But the truth is that it is possible to enjoy your job and make very good money.

Let’s dive into what enjoying your job really means.

The Value of Liking What You Do.

Liking your job doesn’t mean you have to love every single minute of it. I love my job but there are some days I’d rather phone in sick. Liking your job is about finding those moments that make you feel good about what you are doing. It’s the sense that, at the end of the day, you did something worthwhile and meaningful. It’s a feeling that you are not wasting your intellect and talents on things that don’t matter to you.

The Mid-Life Crisis Cop-Out.

It’s no coincidence that many lawyers and executives start thinking about exploring their options when they hit their 40s. Ah, “ye olde mid-life crisis,” that tumultuous time when some decide the answer to their problems is to buy a Porsche or Bimmer. But here’s a radical thought: instead of blowing your money on a European sports sedan, why not invest in finding joy in your job? Mid-life should be less about superficial thrills and more about finding real, sustainable satisfaction in your work.

Finding Your Niche.

Enjoying your job starts with finding your niche. For lawyers, it might mean spotting issues, doing research, training younger associates, negotiating great deals. What are the parts of your job that you really like and at which you excel? For executives, it may be the sweet spot where your strategic vision clicks into place and you then lead your team toward producing great results. It’s these pockets of time where everything just flows, and you feel good about your day. Identify those elements in your work! What’s your niche?

There are good careers out there that are based on the things you like to do and do well, and which deliver a feeling of accomplishment and meaningfulness.

Work-Life Balance: Not Just a Myth.

Work-life balance is not a unicorn — it exists! But achieving a good balance requires effort and boundaries. Enjoying your job means making sure it doesn’t consume your life. It’s about having the courage to close the laptop and actually leave the office (physically or metaphorically) at a reasonable hour. It’s about making time for the things that matter outside of work – family, hobbies, wives, husbands, golf – you know, the things in life that are important to you. The only ones who will remember how many hours you worked each week are your loved ones … the very people that you didn’t spend enough time with.

The Satisfaction of Mastery – a Two-Edge Sword.

There’s a joy in being good at what you do. For mid-life lawyers and executives, this often means leveraging your years of experience to navigate complex challenges with relative ease. It’s the satisfaction of seeing a project through from inception to completion, knowing that you have nailed it. Mastery is something that can make you feel good, but if the mastery you have doesn’t bring career satisfaction – if the results of your mastery aren’t fulfilling to you — then you need to apply it in a way that does. Identify the areas where you feel you have mastery, then look at other career areas where that skill set is valued.

The Importance of Mentorship.

One often overlooked source of job satisfaction is mentoring others. There’s something incredibly rewarding about sharing your hard-earned wisdom with those just starting out, or who are having problems grasping a legal concept. Watching them grow and succeed because of your guidance can give you a whole new perspective on your career. If helping the professional development of others is important to you, then that skill can be the foundation for a new career.

Conclusion: Joy in the Journey.

So, what does it mean to enjoy your job? It’s about finding those elements that make you feel that what you are doing really matters. It’s about applying your talents toward results that you feel are worthwhile. Most of all, it’s about having time to enjoy your family and your loved ones, and to have a life that is more than your job. For experienced lawyers and executives, it’s not about chasing a fantasy; it’s about embracing the reality of a career well-lived and finding joy in the journey.

If you are an attorney and you’ve been thinking about exploring your career options and or discovering “what else is out there” for you, but are not sure how to even start the process, get in touch with our team today for a virtual cup of coffee. You will receive a confidential, no-cost consultation to discuss your situation and goals, and will also get expert advice on how to launch your job campaign.

If you would like to continue receiving Beyond the Bar Newsletter every 2 weeks, make sure to hit subscribe to stay up to date. If you have any questions about your career, click here

July 17, 2025 In blog

How to Prepare for an Uncertain Job Future

Fear of job loss today is running rampant in the legal profession. The impact of the Trump economic program, the draconian cuts in the civil service and of course, the potential impact of the tariffs, are  causing businesses (including law firms) to take stock of where their businesses are heading and make adjustment accordingly.

Believe it or not, we are also seeing job cuts, especially for younger lawyers, because of Artificial Intelligence – yes, good old technology has advanced enough already that law firms in the US and overseas are turning to AI instead of 1st and 2nd year associates. We’ll have more on this in upcoming editions. Now back to the issue at hand.

I have been writing quite a bit lately on dealing with a real or potential job loss in terms of techniques to employ. This time I want to look at how to prepare yourself emotionally.

Before you allow your mind to race out of control trying to take in all the various options, this simple list of 6 reminders will help keep you on the right path.  Implementing all, or even some, of these pointers, is sure to be helpful.

1) FIND A MENTOR OR COACH.

This sounds self-serving (because it is!), but in fact this is good advice. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There is no shame in consulting with a coach to overcome the hurdles standing in the way of your job search success.

An experienced coach can fill in many of the knowledge gaps that their clients have about “what’s out there” and how to make a transition. Reading self-help books and blogs are fine as supplements, but reading alone is not a substitute for getting mentored by people who know the ropes.

2. GET PREPARED.

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Lawyers conduct research and fact-finding every day. Use that skill when getting ready for a job search or career change. Knowing you are prepared is the best way to fend off  feelings of futility and doubt. Start by taking an inventory of your skills — not just your practice area skills, but the ones that make you good at what you do.

Also, start getting smart about the world of work. Research job functions. Talk to people about their jobs. Contact trade and professional associations involved in fields in which you may be interested. You may find you are qualified for many more positions than you think!

3. DON’T YIELD TO YOUR FEARS.

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Lawyers are not risk-takers by nature, and they like to be on solid ground before they put forth opinions. They tend to come up with reasons why they cannot do something that, in fact, they can do. In this job market, a defeatist or overly cautious attitude can doom a job search and career.

If, while contemplating your next career, you get excited about a certain job category, go for it! Don’t yield to a lawyers’ knee-jerk fear of the unknown. We have helped lawyers transition into entertainment, broadcasting, the arts, public affairs, motivational speaking, sports marketing, entrepreneurship, and many other areas that seemed crazy or impossible.

4. BE A GOOD LISTENER.

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Ask people to share their stories. If you meet someone who has a job in which you may be interested, ask them how they got there. You can learn a great deal from the experiences of others. Connect with people! The more you can relate to and learn from others, the more confident you will become in your ability to make a transition.

5. GET RID OF BACK-UP PLANS.

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Beware of the “doom and gloom” mindset. Focusing on a worst-case scenario will undermine your career development aspirations. One of my favorite quotations, from Henry Ford, is: “If you think you can do something, you are right. If you think you cannot do something, you are also right.”

I am not a pie-in-the-sky type, but I definitely believe that if you think you are going to fail at a task, you will fail, but if you think you will succeed, you will succeed. Focus on making a plan for your success. Avoid back-up plans because they divert your energy. Don’t be sending our resumes for jobs you don’t really want “just in case.” Try to push worry to the side and replace it with positive thinking! You can do this!

6. LOSE YOUR ANGER.

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You only get one shot at this life. If you are filled with anger that you have lost your job for no valid reason, you are looking backwards, and that makes it difficult to move ahead. Give yourself a few days to be bitter and to grieve, but then switch gears, start looking forward, and take action. Any action in your job search, no matter how small, is better than no action at all.

If you are an attorney and you’ve been thinking about exploring your career options and or discovering “what else is out there” for you, but are not sure how to even start the process, get in touch with our team today for a virtual cup of coffee. You will receive a confidential, no-cost consultation to discuss your situation and goals, and will also get expert advice on how to launch your job campaign.

If you would like to continue receiving Beyond the Bar Newsletter every 2 weeks, make sure to hit subscribe to stay up to date. If you have any questions about your career, click here

July 17, 2025 In blog

Determining Your Next Career Move: A Guide for Attorneys and Executives Over 40

Yesterday I spoke with my elder daughter, Lindsay, about her career. She just turned 41 and is having a career re-evaluation. She is right on time: Consistently over the years, the most common age for people to first reach out to Career Strategies for help is, you guessed it, 41.

My daughter has been a UX designer (something to do with websites) and an account executive for a tech company for the last 7 or so years. Before that, she did marketing communications and brochure production for a financial services firm. In college, she made money as an event photographer and as a waitress. She is also an orchestral-quality string bass player and a fine pianist.  She is a talented young woman with very diverse skills.

The tech company recently laid off my daughter and most of its staff. She’s not sure what she wants to do with her career. She could easily get another UX job, but she’d gotten bored and become generally unfulfilled by the work. She is ready for a change, but not sure to what!

Sound familiar?

Like my daughter, you have solved complex problems for your clients. But roteness and boredom may have set in, especially because you have mastered your practice area and for the rest of your life, you know it will be the same thing over and over and over.  Making this realization brings about a period of reflection and the question: “What’s next?”

Lindsay asked me if I could help her figure out her possible career options. I understand the transferrable skills of lawyers and executives, and can help them identify the realistic new career possibilities, but I’m not real swift when it comes to viable career alternatives for techies or musicians.  The best I can do for her is to offer general advice.

You may find this advice helpful, too.

1. Reflect on Your Achievements

Start by listing your career accomplishments. Consider the cases you’ve won, the deals you’ve closed, the projects you’ve led, and the results you have produced for your clients or companies. Don’t take these things for granted. You are solving problems every day at work. Start by listing them.

2. Identify Your Core Skills then Divide Them into Likes and Dislikes

What makes you good at what you do? It’s not your experience – it is the skills you have developed while gaining that experience! Make a list of your skills. Include both hard skills (such as specific legal expertise, negotiation, strategic planning) and soft skills (such as leadership, communication, problem-solving). Next, divide the skills into two columns – skills you enjoy using more and skills you enjoy using less. What skills are you most passionate about? Write them down.

3. Analyze Your Work Preferences

What aspects of your work do you find most fulfilling. Do you enjoy client interactions, courtroom appearances, strategic decision-making, or mentoring junior staff? Conversely, consider the tasks that you find less interesting. Perhaps it’s research or hunting for clients or dealing with personnel issues. Looking at your work function preferences will help you determine the type of work you want to focus on next.

4. Assess Your Values and Motivations

What drives you in your career. Is it the pursuit of justice, financial success, intellectual challenge, or making a positive impact? What makes you feel good about what you do? Understanding your core values and motivations will guide you towards career options that align with your personal principles. What would provide a sense of fulfillment and meaningfulness in your next job? Start making a list.

5. Evaluate Your Work/Life Balance

What do you want for work-life balance? At this stage in your life, you will have different priorities than you did when you first got out of law school or college. Back then, putting in 70 hours per week at the firm wasn’t such a big deal, but when you are 40+ you may want to spend more time with your family and be able to get to your kids’ soccer games and school plays. You may want to have more time to pursue your personal interests. This is an opportunity to ensure your next career aligns with your priorities. I have worked with numerous 40+ attorneys who want to exchange their 2,400 billable hours so they can spend time with their families … or start one!

6. Dare to Explore New Opportunities

Don’t be afraid to explore new opportunities within and outside your current field. Attend industry conferences, trade shows, networking events, and seminars to learn about emerging trends and potential career paths. My lawyer clients have transitioned into legal and non-legal positions in broadcasting, sports, auto racing, Wall Street, academia, motion pictures, fashion and more. They didn’t have experience in these fields, but they brought intellectual agility, issue-spotting, problem-solving, negotiation and many other skills that made them valuable … and employable.

7. Don’t believe in the Myths

There are many myths about career change for professionals. A big one is that you have to go back to the bottom career rung again. Another is that you will make less money. A third is that you can’t compete against people who have experience in the industry or job function that you don’t have. Bull. I say again: Bull. I have been navigating major career transitions for lawyers and senior executives for several decades, and I know these are just myths. You can go in at a high level, make as much money or more than you have been making, and can triumph over candidates with more experience on point than you. Those are facts.

8. Be Prepared. Study and Learn What you Need to Know. Fake the Rest.

At one point in my career, the TV and home video production company that I was with (and to this day still love) was sold to a VC and dismantled. I was out of a job. But, using a create-a-job technique that I now teach my clients, I coaxed an interview with a computer technology company.  I did not know a file server from a process server, but before the interview I learned everything I could about the company, its products, its competitors and its people. When I went in for the interview, I knew almost as much about the company as they did. I got the job, and later became an inside member of its Board. I have a friend, in his early 60s, whose company failed during Covid. He’s a liberal arts – analytical kind of guy, not a techie, but he saw an opportunity in a nearby company in another industry that was looking for an analytical type. The job required knowledge of Sequel, a very complex data integration program that does SQL inquiries. (I have no idea what that means). So in his 60s, he took on the challenge of learning Sequel and he got the job over people who knew the program cold. Why? Because he brought other skills to the table that the techies didn’t.

9. Embrace Change and Stay Positive

Finally, embrace the change with a positive mindset. I work with clients who are looking to make positive changes in their lives. They are nervous, skeptical and scared, but they want more out of their lives. Career transitions can be daunting, but they also present opportunities for growth, reinvention and reinvigoration. Stay open to new experiences and be willing to step out of your comfort zone. Remember, it’s never too late to find where you belong.

If you are an attorneyor senior executive and you’ve been thinking about exploring your career options or discovering “what else is out there” for you, or if you are not sure how to even start that process, get in touch with me today for a virtual cup of coffee. You will receive a confidential, no-cost consultation to discuss your situation and goals, and will also get expert advice on how to launch your job campaign.

If you would like to continue receiving Beyond the Bar Newsletter every 2 weeks, make sure to hit subscribe to stay up to date. If you have any questions about your career, click here

June 6, 2025 In blog

Are You Taking a Career Risk by Not Taking a Risk?

Fear is the biggest obstacle in career satisfaction

Lawyers are trained to look at every angle, to find all of the potential problems, to identify the risks. They will spend hours, even days, conducting research. They want to know everything there is to know about an issue. Then the lawyers pass on their findings and explain all the options to their clients. They may even make recommendations. But the clients decide … the lawyers just recommend.

Lawyers know if they make a decision and it turns out to be a mistake, they can be censured, suspended, even disbarred. They certainly can be fired or lose a client. So risk avoidance is ingrained in them from their first day in law school. They are taught that lawyers do research, spot issues, present options, and advocate their clients’ positions. But that’s it. I have had a number of clients for career counseling who literally lost sleep or suffered from anxiety out of fear of making a mistake.

Let’s face it — when you make a decision, you might be right or you might be wrong. Being wrong means potentially losing your client or ending your career. It saddens me that too many lawyers who dread going to work each day, who hate their quality of life, billable hours and constant battling, will nonetheless choose to remain miserable because they lack the courage to make — and implement — a decision to find something better.

Lawyers are trained to not take risks about their careers. Business executives who play it safe are thrown out of their jobs. Companies that play it safe are doomed to die. Taking risks is the lifeblood of a business. Investing in change is essential if a business is to survive, let alone to prosper.

A good executive must make critical decisions based on the best information available – even when the i’s are not dotted, the t’s are not all crossed, and not all of the evidence is in. Delay or equivocation can mean missing an opportunity or being too late to the market. It can mean losing to a competitor. It can mean failure.

For lawyers, making decisions can lead to a career failure. For executives, NOT making decisions can lead to a career failure.In my 25+ years of counseling lawyers about careers, I have interviewed more than 23,000 attorneys. I often ask, “Would you rather be a ‘decider’ or a ‘recommender’ – the King or an adviser to the King?” The answer is almost always to be an adviser. “They shoot at the king,” one respondent told me … but the underlying message is that there’s less risk to being the adviser.

Risk aversion is one of the key reasons so many lawyers are unhappy but don’t do anything about it.They see all the problems, all of the risks, all of the things that can go wrong if they try to change careers to find happiness and fulfillment. They think they might have to start back at the bottom of the ladder. They think they can’t make as much money as they are making now. They think their skills as litigators or compliance specialists or defense attorneys aren’t transferrable to another discipline. They think they might not be as good at something else as they are at practicing law.

All of these thoughts are wrong. All of them. I have more than 25 years of proof.

Lawyers may not talk openly about how miserable they are … but their actions prove it. According to a Johns Hopkins study, lawyers are Number 1 on the list of professions whose practitioners have major depressive disorders. According to an American Bar Association study, 28% of lawyers suffer from depression, 19% from anxiety and 23% from stress. Another study shows that 52% of lawyers have some form of alcohol problem. And yet these well educated professionals refuse to do anything about it.

They are cowards. They see so many risks in trying to make a change that they can’t motivate themselves or generate enough self-confidence to try to improve their situations. Out of fear, they can’t decide to move forward, so they abrogate the responsibility for their own lives. They don’t realize that not making a decision is, in fact, making a decision.I applaud the several thousand attorneys who have faced their fears, worked with me, didn’t chicken out during the middle of their programs, and ended up re-igniting their careers and loving their jobs.

I have only recently started to appreciate the guts these men and women have had.

For some three decades, I have preached my belief that a law school education is never wasted. Law school, I have often said, gives you analytical skills and a perspective that you don’t get in business school. However, I missed an important point: Business school teaches you that you have to have faith in your judgment, and have the courage to make decisions. Law school teaches you to recognize problems and leave the decision-making to someone else.

No wonder so many lawyers are unhappy in their careers; they simply lack the courage to decide to change.

If you want to debate and discuss this sentiment in real time, or if you want to talk about your own career goals, please get in touch!

If you are an attorney and you’ve been thinking about exploring your career options and discovering “what else is out there” for you, but you are not sure how to even start the process, get in touch with me today for a virtual cup of coffee. You will receive a confidential, no-cost consultation to discuss your situation and goals, and will also get expert advice on how to launch your job campaign.

If you would like to continue receiving Beyond the Bar Newsletter every 2 weeks, make sure to hit subscribe to stay up to date. If you have any questions about your career, click here.

April 7, 2025 In blog

Do You Get the Urge for Going, but Never Seem to Go?

“I awoke today and found the frost perched on the town. It hovered in a frozen sky, then it gobbled summer down. When the sun turns traitor cold … I get the urge for going, but I never seem to go.”

Joni Mitchell didn’t write these lines in her song, “Urge for Going ,” because she had lawyer friends who hated their jobs but never seemed to go for something better. But it could be an anthem for them, for unhappy people who want to make a change in their careers but who never seem to go.

Mitchell’s song, ostensibly about the coming of winter, is really about people who live unfulfilled lives because they don’t have the courage or the energy to change, while others get the urge for going, and they get the wings to go.

Many lawyers complain, at least to themselves, about the long hours, unappreciative clients, the tedium. the boredom, the poor quality of life, the nasty bosses and even nastier judges, and yet they endure.

“The warriors of winter, they gave a cold, triumphant shout. All that stays is dying, and all that lives in getting out.” They know there is a way out – they know of others who have left and found a new way — yet they endure.

“And bully winds came around, and push them face down in the snow.” Still they endure, face down in the snow, out of fear or laziness. There are many out there who do have the courage to face the unknown, to face their fears, and to find the energy it takes to make a change for the better in their lives. I am proud to have helped several thousand of them do so.

“I had a man in the summertime,” Mitchell writes, “but he got the urge for going and I had to let him go.”

I truly feel sorry for those who remain stuck and who have forfeited their lives. They follow the lyrics of the song. “Winter is closing in. I’ll ply the fire with kindling and pull the blankets to my chin. I’ll lock the vagrant winter out and bolt my wandering in.”

Some people bolt their wandering in. Others have the urge for going, and find the wings to go.

Which are you?

Thanks to Joni Mitchell and to Tom Rush, the foremost interpreter of this amazing song.

If you are an attorney and you’ve been thinking about exploring your career options and or discovering “what else is out there” for you, but are not sure how to even start the process, get in touch with our team today for a virtual cup of coffee. You will receive a confidential, no-cost consultation to discuss your situation and goals, and will also get expert advice on how to launch your job campaign.

April 1, 2025 In blog

The White-Collar Recession is Ending. Or is it?

A recent article by Chloe Berger in Forbes declared that “white-collar work is draped in …a dreary fog,” and it quoted Korn Ferry recruiter Mike Distefano who said, “change is afoot in the job market.”

It most certainly is.

Over the last several days, the stock market has been plunging, fears of recession are growing, and consumer confidence has been waning.

Forbes said the demand for middle- and top-third earners in 2023 dwindled to the lowest level in a decade. Worse, the article cited a report from Vanguard that said in 2024, hiring rates for those who make over $96,000 reached historic new lows.It is about to be getting worse.

The Forbes article noted that one-in-four people who lost their jobs last year were white collar professionals. It also said that “a whopping 40% of applicants said that they didn’t land a single job interview in all of 2024.”

Think about that. Qualified professionals who can’t even get an interview for a full year — in what was a pretty good economy. That is an amazing number. While thank goodness I can’t say this has happened to any of my clients, I have interviewed at least a few highly qualified attorneys who have gotten absolutely nowhere in their searches for a year or so.

One fellow – who used to make around $500,000 annually — told me he is thinking about selling his house and moving to a small apartment so that he can continue to make ends meet.

The fact is he is doing his job search in a traditional way. The traditional job search has gone the way of men’s white shoes and polyester leisure suits. Those days are gone. Over.

Winning a high-level job today requires a whole new approach, one using creativity, innovation, and yes, even daring. If your job search plan is to respond to classifieds, contact recruiters and network, your prognosis for success is very clouded.

While the Korn Ferry recruiter said there are signs that demand for white collar professionals may be awakening [Ed’s note: that was before this week’s economic news] , he warns it will still be challenging. He advises anybody, regardless of where they are in their careers, to stay one step ahead of the market, and to align their skills “to where the new jobs and demand might be. “

This, he noted, may be harder for those “already decades into their careers.” Indeed so. I work with clients from 35 to 65 (and up), who are well into their careers. Those over 40 face more challenges than their younger counterparts.

I agree with the Korn Ferry executive, but feel a key is developing skills that are not an extension to what you are currently doing (especially if the market is weak for your specialty) but instead are in areas that are more marketable in 2025. Figuring that out is another challenge, but one that is readily surmountable.

For example, if you are a litigator, but are good at training and developing younger attorneys, your skills in professional development may give you a plus in the marketplace. If you are successful in rainmaking, this talent may be more valuable in your quest for an in-house position than just your knowledge of the law.

The key to winning is to show employers you offer more bang for their buck than the people against whom you are competing. You need to establish your competitive edge

(For more on this topic, click here: https://www.careerstrategiesgroup.com/job-search-services/competitive-edge/. )

It is not your knowledge of the law that will get you your next job. Two things will do it. First, it is your knowledge of how to do a successful job search in 2025 — which is not necessarily how it was done in 2023 or 2024. Second, it is your ability to understand — and then to communicate – the skills that have made you good at what you do — that’s what you should be selling!

Do these two things and you will be a job search winner in 2025. If you need any help, get in touch!

[Author’s note: if you are facing a potential job loss, especially for civil service and JAG attorneys, I am preparing a free guide to how to get ready for a job campaign. I am not doing a slap-dash job but rather creating a document that will be insightful and helpful. To reserve your copy, email me at info@careerstrategiesgroup.com and put “Guide” in the subject line.]

If you want to read the Forbes article, here’s the link:https://fortune.com/2025/02/17/white-collar-recession-pummeling-office-workers-ending/

March 19, 2025 In blog

Take the Money. Then Run! Part 2

-My son, Harrison, during his graduation from Cornell.-

Since I gave up my national newspaper column with 3+million readers several decades ago, nothing has drawn the response that I have received from my article about my Ivy League son, Harrison, and why he should consider getting a JD along with his MBA.

Lawyers from top schools working at top firms can be making $500,000 by the time they are 30-31 years old. That’s a lot of money. But it raises a lot of problems for young lawyers who are able to get into the big leagues. The chief problem is staying there!

The gravy train runs on a very short track. The attrition rate at Big Law is about 20% per year (18% to 26% in the last few years). Some sage online said the half-life of a Big Law Associate is 3.1 years. That means many are counseled OUT by age 28-30. This is where the problem begins.

Most of these young lawyers are not going to be able to lateral to another Big Law firm. Skadden is not going to hire a young reject from Cravath. The best a youthful, laid-off lawyer can expect is that their firm will hook them up with one of its clients as a junior in-house counsel, or they will find a job with a smaller, much less prestigious law firm. Either way, they are facing a salary cut of hundreds of thousands of dollars, money they will never see again.

The truth is that these disenfranchised ex-Big Law Junior and Midlevel Associates ARE NOT WORTH THE MONEY THEY WERE BEING PAID.

The law firms know this –they are buying talent for its future potential and what it may become over time. And just like the NY Giants $140 million investment in Daniel Jones, sometimes a promising prospect comes up short.

These 20-something lawyers don’t know diddle-squat yet – they haven’t yet had the opportunity to handle complex, meaty cases. When it comes to law, they couldn’t shine the shoes of most of my clients, who are talented, experienced lawyers in their 40s, 50s and 60s from solo to mid-size law firm practices who are making less than a first- or second year Big Law associate.

I feel sorry for the young lawyers who lose their jobs. For many, it’s the first time they have failed. They did great on their SATs, were magna cum laude at their Top 20 colleges, aced the LSATs, went to T14 Law Schools, made Law Review, and were hired by premier global law firms. Then the boom is lowered and they are in deep feces. And deep debt.

They could have college and law school loan payments of more than $2,000 per month. They are often living in apartments that are running $2,500 a month. Their Ferragamo shoes are $1,400 per pair. Membership at the Racquet Club is $300 per month. I don’t blame them if they are spending their money this way – hell, if I were 29 again and making a mint, I am not sure if I’d have the discipline to put it into a 401K and not into an M4. (Actually, I would have the discipline, but I was boring when I was that young).

One of these young ex-Big Law kids sought out my help after he lost his job. At the time, he was making around $400,000. After a few conversations, I did not accept him as a client because it became clear that he did not have any marketable talent. He told me no employers would even look at him, and he was selling his vintage Jaguar convertible to be able to pay his rent. I wanted to help him, but I don’t accept cases where I feel we can’t win. I have to believe my clients can bring significant value to an employer or I don’t take their cases. The guy ultimately found a job at an upscale coffee shop in Scarsdale.

Some young Associates make it through the Junior and Midlevel ranks and get into Year 6. I think my son Harrison could make it. But my advice to him was that as a 6th year, he should quit Big Law and get a life. I said he should either go in-house or focus on the business side of his education, and use his MBA.

Why this advice? I will address Life in Big Law in an upcoming edition. Stay tuned.

If you are an attorney and you’ve been thinking about exploring your career options and or discovering “what else is out there” for you, but are not sure how to even start the process, get in touch with our team today for a virtual cup of coffee. You will receive a confidential, no-cost consultation to discuss your situation and goals, and will also get expert advice on how to launch your job campaign.

March 13, 2025 In blog

Take the money. Then run! Part 1

My younger son is a pretty smart kid. He had a 3.97 as an Economics Major at Cornell. He is now in his first year at bank and is earning six figures plus a signing bonus. He’s 22 years old. In our discussions about his future, we talked about his getting an MBA, a credential that is normal for his career track. But we also talked about going for a combined MBA/JD.

This is perhaps the first time since I started counseling unhappy lawyers 30 years ago that I recommended someone consider becoming a lawyer. What has changed? I am almost ashamed of myself for what I am going to say, but it’s the truth:

It’s about the money.

First year attorneys in Big Law are starting at $225,000, with a $20,000 annual bonus and this year, an additional $6,000 bonus. That’s $251,000 for a kid 25- or 26- years old. By the time they reach age 30-31, at today’s rates they would be earning $455,000, or $480,000 with this year’s special bonus.

Imagine being 30-years-old and making almost a half-million dollars a year? Most of my clients don’t come anywhere near that figure after 30 years in the profession! Of course, this remuneration is only for the crème de la crème, the ones who graduate from the Top 14 law schools, and opt for careers in Big Law. But for young people like my son, this could happen.

I know what young lawyers have to go through for a career in a top-flight law firm. I know about the 70- and 80-hour weeks. I know about drudgery. The boredom. The cut-throat atmosphere. The demanding, belittling partners. The ungrateful clients. The complete lack of a personal life. The near-impossibility of having a relationship. I know about all of that. I have heard these stories from young lawyers time and time again.

But to be able to earn $1.7 million in 5 years? $2.26 million after 6 years? As a Dad, I’d have to counsel my son, “Suck it up, dude. Get the money.” I would also tell him that after 6 years, he should then, “Quit and go in-house or into business.”

It’s not a coincidence that while most of the lawyers who contact me for advice are well into middle age, there is also a big spike on the graph of callers aged 31. The sixth-year associates. The ones who want to have a life.

We will have more on this topic in the coming weeks.

Happy, healthy and fulfilling New Year to all of my readers!

Bruce

If you are an attorney and you’ve been thinking about exploring your career options and or discovering “what else is out there” for you, but are not sure how to even start the process, get in touch with our team today for a virtual cup of coffee. You will receive a confidential, no-cost consultation to discuss your situation and goals, and will also get expert advice on how to launch your job campaign.

 

March 4, 2025 In blog

DOGE’d GOVERNMENT LAWYERS & EXECUTIVES … Unjustly Facing a Challenging Future

[Author’s note: if you are a civil service attorney or executive, please see the special offer at the end of this article. Also, this is a Special Edition. We will be resuming our regular alternate Thursday schedule starting March 6]

The way the hatchet has fallen on tens of thousands of civil servants since the Trump inauguration is unconscionable. Families are now suddenly facing wrenching hardships, and the civil service professionals whose careers have come to screeching halts must now deal with some daunting challenges for which many are ill-prepared.

What kind of job can you get if you have spent 10 years as a lawyer for a regulatory agency like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau when Washington has decided there is no longer a need for financial regulations? What kind of job can you get as a civil rights attorney for the Department of Education when protecting civil rights is no longer a government priority and when the private sector is being (strongly) encouraged to disband its DEI programs?

A traditional path for civil service professionals when changing jobs is to link up with another federal agency or contractor. That strategy isn’t going to work today – no one knows how many more government agencies will be shut down or hacked to bits in the coming weeks. While there will certainly be opportunities for some terminated civil servants, they won’t be easy to find.

As of Feb. 20, according to the Office of Personnel Management, about 75,000 federal positions are facing elimination due to the DOGE buyout offer. OPM – which has terminated its own probationary employees — also reports that 220,000 other federal probationary employees (less than 1 or 2 years on the job) are facing the axe.

That’s almost 300,000 federal jobs that are disappearing, not including cuts at the Pentagon. And not all of the people being terminated are probationary – the USAID has been shuttered and some 10,000 staffers are now jobless. The IRS is expected to lay off thousands more workers – certainly PWC and Deloitte are not going to absorb them all!

The surfeit of experienced civil service professionals who have been let go for no reason is going to make the competition more intense than ever for other federal government jobs. Let’s face it, the Trump-Musk machine wants to dismantle the civil service, so they won’t be creating many new jobs. Not in Washington. Not anywhere. Beating the competition and winning one of those few available civil service jobs is going to be a challenge.

On a broader scale, the District of Columbia region is going to be awash with white collar job seekers, many of whom are lawyers and executives. Career change – wanted or otherwise — is a subject on the minds of many of them. Since a transition into another civil service position is less likely than in the past, a career change of a greater or lesser magnitude is to be expected for most ex-government workers.

This will not be an easy process, which is why I am here in the first place. I have been guiding white collar professionals through complex career changes and job searches for 20+ years. There may be some opportunities on the state, county, city and town government levels. Even the non-profit and academic sectors may have some spots.

The private sector can be viable, especially for former government regulators who can move to the other side, and help the regulated. How much of a market there will be in this space is uncertain, as it is expected that many current regulations are going to be eliminated – and along with them, the need for compliance counsel. Nonetheless, the private sector is going to be the best bet for many discharged government attorneys and executives.

But there is another problem here: The perception of government workers. Public sector workers are often portrayed as lazy, incompetent and even evil, according to a Department of Justice Programs study.

Recent studies say civil servants are seen as “inflexible, boring, lazy, and go home on time.” This is complete bull poop. I have had the privilege of working as a career mentor to many, many public sector lawyers and executives. As a group, I have found them to be among the brightest and most dedicated, conscientious clients I have ever served. They take their work seriously and are there – often at great economic sacrifice – to help others, serve their communities, and to try to make the country better.

But the negative perception is real.

I experienced it myself early in my career when I was trying to make the transition from being an aide to the US Congressman to getting a job in the private sector. I thought the fact that I was working on legislation, researching complex issues, solving all sorts of problems for constituents, writing speeches and position papers – all of this – would result in the corporate world greeting me with open arms. Boy, was I wrong.

I had to fight my way past many misperceptions about government workers – the concerns mentioned above and more! – until I was able to get a private sector job. To this day, I remember my colleagues both in DC and in the District Office, as being among the smartest, hardest- working and dedicated people I have ever worked with. I felt honored to be working with them.

Fast forward a few decades-plus. Today, I am currently the part-time Executive Director of a state-funded consumer advocacy NGO. My personal practice, Career Strategies Group, has been very good to me, so my work as a contractor with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office is my way of giving back and helping others. Once again, I have found the state government professionals with whom I work to be an extraordinarily talented, caring and hard-working group of individuals.

The Special Offer: I am offering a free guide specifically for Trump-Musk civil service victims to help them get started on their job searches, and to deal with some of the stresses of a sudden and undeserved job loss. This not something I will be putting together in a slap-dash manner – I am going to prepare something useful, thoughtful and original. It will take time to complete, but if you would like to reserve a copy, please email me with the word “Guide” in the subject line. I will also make myself available for a no-cost 30-minute consultation to discuss your job search questions.

If you are an attorney and you’ve been thinking about exploring your career options and or discovering “what else is out there” for you, but are not sure how to even start the process, get in touch with our team today for a virtual cup of coffee. You will receive a confidential, no-cost consultation to discuss your situation and goals, and will also get expert advice on how to launch your job campaign.

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