The Former Lawyer Podcast

Today I'm sharing about something that happened to one of my guests after they were on the show, which turns into a bit of a Biglaw rant. I also talk about why I created Former Lawyer. Show notes at formerlawyer.com/080 . I'm closing enrollment for my self-paced group program, the Former Lawyer Collaborative, permanently on August 31st, 2026. If you've been thinking about joining no...

Pia Thompson practiced law for years even though it felt wrong to her. On today's episode, Pia shares how she figured out who she is and what she wanted, and how she found her way to a career she loves as a home organizer and a KonMari consultant-in-training. Show notes at formerlawyer.com/079 . I'm closing enrollment for my self-paced group program, the Former Lawyer Collaborative, perm...

In last week's episode , Janelle Christian shared about how she learned to prioritize herself over her job . In today's episode, she shares about how that included moving from a big firm in D.C. to one in Atlanta to make more space for her life, and ultimately, building a six-figure side business that enabled her to leave Biglaw. Show notes at formerlawyer.com/077 . I'm closing enro...

Janelle Christian skipped the LSAT twice, and only took it on her third go-round because her parents drove her to the testing site. She says, " My soul was screaming to not be a lawyer, but I still felt like it was what people wanted me to do. It was the right path, it was the prestigious path." In this first part of our two-part conversation, Janelle shares about her early career as a l...

Natasha Alladina started her legal career in Biglaw. But a few years in, she knew it was wrong for her, and so she decided to explore other options. Her path through jobs in public service, recruiting, and policy helped her figure out what she truly wanted to do—and how to figure out how to move towards what you want, versus simply running away from what you don't want. Show notes at formerla...

There are a lot of different obstacles that you may be running into as you consider leaving legal practice, but three of the biggest are Lawyer Brain, the Lawyer Bubble, and Other People's Opinions. Today, I'm sharing how to recognize these obstacles and how to defeat them. Show notes at formerlawyer.com/074 . I'm closing enrollment for my self-paced group program, the Former Lawyer...

If you're a lawyer and you're feeling burned out, this episode is for you. I share about burnout, how it works, how it relates to our nervous system, and why it's so important for lawyers to understand the root causes of burnout. Show notes at formerlawyer.com/073 . I'm closing enrollment for my self-paced group program, the Former Lawyer Collaborative, permanently on August 31...

Lawyers are so often expected to operate as though they are unaffected by the events going on around them. This is especially challenging when we are faced with traumatic events like last week's attack on the Capitol. I want to remind you that if you're struggling, it's not because you're doing anything wrong. This feels hard because it is hard. Don't buy into the lie that...

For the first podcast episode of 2021, I'm sharing about one of the times that I cancelled a planned vacation while practicing law, why the law was wrong for me, and what other lawyers can learn from my story. Show notes at formerlawyer.com/071 . I'm closing enrollment for my self-paced group program, the Former Lawyer Collaborative, permanently on August 31st, 2026. If you've been...

One of the most common things that I hear from lawyers who are contemplating changing careers is that they are worried about how to manage their student loans. So today on the podcast, I'm sharing the audio of a workshop that Lauryn Williams, a consultant with Student Loan Planner, presented to the Collaborative last month all about student loan debt considerations for lawyers. Show notes at...

After 20 years of working as a lawyer for the Department of Labor, Annette Choti decided to take the leap into digital marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) for small and solo law firms.⁠ She's sharing her story of how she escaped "beige world" on today's episode! Show notes at formerlawyer.com/069 . I'm closing enrollment for my self-paced group program, the Form...

Wondering about the Former Lawyer Collaborative ? In this episode, I talk about how the Collaborative works, past and upcoming workshops, and some of the amazing feedback I've received from members. Show notes at formerlawyer.com/068 . I'm closing enrollment for my self-paced group program, the Former Lawyer Collaborative, permanently on August 31st, 2026. If you've been thinking ab...

One of the most important things that lawyers need to do if they want to successfully figure out an alternative career is to develop self-compassion and to learn how to be kind to themselves. You may be skeptical, but in this podcast episode, I'm sharing why self-compassion is essential to finding career satisfaction and figuring out what's next for you. Show notes at formerlawyer.com/06...

"I don't want to be a lawyer anymore—what can I do?" This is the question that most unhappy lawyers find themselves asking when they realize that they want to leave the law. In today's episode, I'm talking about some of the answers to this question. Show notes at formerlawyer.com/066. I'm closing enrollment for my self-paced group program, the Former Lawyer Collaborat...

For most lawyers, it's hard to admit that we're struggling—even to ourselves. Today, I'm talking about my experience with clinical anxiety, and why it's so often mistaken for "typical" lawyer stress. I'm closing enrollment for my self-paced group program, the Former Lawyer Collaborative, permanently on August 31st, 2026. If you've been thinking about joining...

Megan Smiley and I are kindred spirits. We just met earlier this year, but she started her podcast, The Lawyer's Escape Pod, the same week that I started The Former Lawyer Podcast. I love what she's doing in the world, and I can't wait to share it with you! Show notes at formerlawyer.com/064. I'm closing enrollment for my self-paced group program, the Former Lawyer Collaborativ...

In this episode, I'm sharing my conversation with Geoffrey Stein. After more than 10 years of legal practice, Geoffrey went to art school and became a full-time artist and portrait painter. Full show notes at formerlawyer.com/063. I'm closing enrollment for my self-paced group program, the Former Lawyer Collaborative, permanently on August 31st, 2026. If you've been thinking about j...

Heather Yurovsky went to law school unsure of whether she would practice law long-term. After a year of practice, the verdict was in (no pun intended)—legal practice was not for her. So, Heather embarked on a new career path, learning how to simply take the next step when it revealed itself to her. If you've ever worried about needing to figure out the perfect next step or find a job that&apo...

Valerie Beck felt like she didn't fit in from the moment she arrived in law school. After several Biglaw jobs and an in-house gig, she decided law was truly not the place for her and decided to forge her own career path in the world of chocolate. Nearly 20 years ago, she started a business providing chocolate tours to people in her hometown of Chicago. She now runs her own business as a brand...

Last week, Jessica Medina shared all about how she ended up in law school, and then Biglaw, before deciding to leave to take a job at the SEC. In today's episode, Jessica shares about how she realized after making the move to the SEC that it wasn't just Biglaw that she didn't enjoy—she didn't enjoy being a lawyer. She explains all about how she made a plan to get out, and how s...

Jessica Medina went to law school thinking she would work for the government and change the world for the better. But during her 2L year at Columbia Law School, she gave birth to twins and became a single mom. Biglaw seemed the inevitable and obviously correct choice for her if she wanted her family to have a good life. But after eight years in Biglaw, Jessica decided not to put herself up for par...

Hobbies and side hustles can seem like a distraction when you're on the law firm treadmill. But cultivating interests outside the law is often the ticket to figuring out what you really want to do career-wise. In this episode, Helynn Nelson shares about becoming a level 3 sommelier—and how it helped her figure out that she wanted to leave the law, and what she wanted to look for next. Show no...

Have you ever looked at the people more senior than you at your firm, the partners and senior associates, and thought, "I don't want your life!" So did today's guest, Helynn Nelson. Helynn landed a coveted employment litigation associate role in Biglaw, but the lifestyle of a Biglaw lawyer was simply not how she imagined spending the rest of her working life. When she got pregn...

Who am I if I'm not a lawyer? My guest today, former lawyer Meghan Smith, shares about her own journey from big firm lawyer, to seemingly perfect job in an insurance firm, to her current gig as a joy coach for high-achieving moms. Along the way, one of the most significant questions that Meghan had to grapple with was: who am I if I'm not an intellectual superstar? Today she's shari...

Do you think that you're too old to change careers and quit law? My guest today, Hector Chavez, decided to make the move from law to nursing right before his 40th birthday. He knew he wasn't happy with his legal career. But he worried that starting over at 40 was foolish. Today he's sharing about how his worries were totally unfounded and why you shouldn't let the imaginary bar...