The Former Lawyer Podcast

In today’s episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks about the offers she has available for lawyers who are interested in leaving law and looking for some resources to help organize thoughts and plans. Sarah offers three different programs, each building off the base of the Collaborative and providing a different level of accountability and follow-up depending on your needs.  See show note...

In today’s episode, Sarah is wrapping up the summer series where she asked questions of some of her clients, who shared their personal experiences. Previous episodes have asked about myths , advice for the person they were five years ago , and much more. Make sure to catch up if you want to hear from people who have utilized some incredible resources The Former Lawyer offers.  This episode focuses...

On today’s podcast episode, Sarah is sharing answers from Collab members for another question as part of the summer series. Each episode in the series asks the same question to multiple members so listeners can learn more about their experiences. Today's question is: what’s something you've learned that you wish you could go back and tell the you of five years ago? Sarah is sharing these...

On today’s podcast episode, you’ll learn more about members of the Collab and what has surprised them most. Each episode in this series asks the same question to multiple members so listeners can learn more about their experiences.  Today’s question is: What is the biggest surprise you have experienced thus far in following The Former Lawyer Framework as a Collab member? These members are working...

On today’s podcast episode, it’s another series episode where Sarah is sharing more feedback directly from Collab Members . Each series episode asks the same question to multiple members so listeners can learn more about their experiences.  Today’s question is: What’s one thing that you thought was true that you’ve realized is not true? Each of the five respondents shares a myth that they believed...

On today’s podcast episode, Sarah is sharing more feedback directly from Collab Members as part of the summer series. Each series episode asks the same question to multiple members so listeners can learn more about their experiences. Today's question: What is one thing that felt obvious or elementary that was really transformative for you? Sarah reminds listeners that sometimes you need that...

In today’s podcast, Sarah is kicking off a new series where listeners will hear first-hand experiences from her clients. In each episode, one question will be asked, and you’ll get to hear answers from multiple people.  Each of the clients answering this question is part of the Collab. This is a self-paced program where you get access to The Former Lawyer Framework, the curriculum that helps peopl...

In today’s episode, Sarah is back again with Annie Little discussing the book Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber . It’s part of a series of podcast discussions diving into the miseries of a bullshit job. Today, it’s time to dive into the fourth and final misery that comes with bullshit jobs. Go back and catch up if you missed the first three in this series . The final misery covered in the book is the...

In today’s episode, Sarah is back again with Annie Little discussing the book Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber. It’s part of a series of podcast discussions diving into the miseries of a bullshit job, and today, it’s time to dive into the third misery that comes with bullshit jobs. If you missed the first two, go back and catch up. See show notes at formerlawyer.com/189   I'm closing enrollment...

In today’s episode, Sarah is back again with Annie Little discussing the book Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber. It’s part of a series of podcast discussions, so check out the others before and after this one. Graeber gives four reasons why having a bullshit job feels so miserable. Last week’s discussion was all about the first reason— ambiguity and forced pretense —catch up on that one first. Then,...

This podcast episode is part of the series where Sarah is chatting with Annie Little about the book Bullshit Jobs by David Graeber. If you missed the first episode in this series, check that out first and learn the background of this series and more about Annie . This episode is about the misery of ambiguity and forced pretense, which is the first of four things Graeber identifies as an impact tha...

Sarah kicks off a new series on today's podcast with Annie Little, another lawyer career coach. Annie has been on the podcast a few times in the past, like the episode on ADHD . She founded her company, JD Nation , and helps lawyers find better jobs, both in and out of law. In this new series, the two of them discuss the book  Bullshit Jobs: A Theory by David Graeber and dive into some of the...

On the podcast today, Sarah is talking to Andrew Sohn, a podcast listener. He was practicing law when he began listening to the podcast and decided to transition to career services at a law school. Andrew shares his journey from law school and deciding to leave the law for the career happiness he's found today. It was interesting to hear many of the previous podcast themes come up in the conv...

In today’s episode, Sarah talks about how people look at those who leave law firms. The views tend to be distorted, especially from others who work at the firm. This comes up often in Sarah’s conversations with former lawyers and people who are still currently working in law, so today, she’s diving in a bit deeper. See show notes at formerlawyer.com/184   I'm closing enrollment for my self-pa...

In today’s podcast, Sarah is chatting with Raha Francis. Raha graduated from Harvard Law and worked as a corporate intellectual property attorney before pivoting into a management consultant role at the Boston Consulting Group. During those years, she figured out how she wanted to spend her days and helps people today figure out how to create a career and life that resonates with them.  The conver...

In this podcast episode, Sarah responds to a listener's email about a recent episode where the discussion was about law firms and the narcissists that often run them. The listener wanted an additional discussion on the podcast about the bullying and abuse that goes on in law firms.  Sarah spent a decade moving through different sections of the law, plus the recent work on Former Lawyer with m...

On today’s podcast, Sarah is chatting with Jayci Lee, a former lawyer who has become an author since leaving her job as a litigator. The conversation covers everything from the process of leaving law to the importance of caring for mental health. Sarah discovered Jayci after reading one of her books where the main character is a lawyer. One former lawyer instantly recognized another, and she knew...

Sarah talked with Karen Gulde a few months ago as part of the former lawyers turned therapists month. Karen talked about her experience of hypervigilance as a lawyer, the experience of her nervous system is constantly activated, and how common that is for lawyers. Sarah’s husband, Ed Cottrell, posted a reaction to that on LinkedIn and shared his experiences in the last year since he left law.  In...

Sarah is interviewing Dina Lynch Eisenberg, an organizational ombuds, with an interesting journey through her career. As a former lawyer, she understands the struggles of that profession and has found a way to utilize her skills to build a business. The conversation covers the different paths she took after leaving the law (her patchwork career to put it in Dina's words). Plus, she dives into...

In today’s environment, Biglaw is, unfortunately, doing quite a few layoffs, and it’s a topic that many lawyers have at the top of their minds. This podcast covers many's feelings when laid off and some ways to reframe your thoughts around the topic. We'll discuss what stealth layoffs are, why it's ok to have mixed feelings, and how to move forward. See show notes at formerlawyer.co...

On today’s podcast, Sarah talks to Ruth Kaufman, a voice-over and on-film actor who is also a former lawyer. Law school was never an option that Ruth felt drawn to, but with pressures from her parents, she earned her degree. Her career path has woven in and out of law a bit, but she’s now a successful voiceover actor. Learn more about her journey and advice to anyone looking to make a similar shif...

Sarah spoke with last week’s guest, Megan Nogasky, again on this week’s podcast to dive deeper into the idea of taking mental health breaks. They chatted about the importance of listening to the signs, how to take the first steps, and some of the common challenges lawyers have in taking a mental health break. If you missed last week's episode, make sure to listen to learn more about Megan’s s...

In today’s podcast episode, Sarah talks to Megan Nogasky, her former law school classmate. Megan is another former lawyer who returned to school to get into the mental health space to join the series featuring lawyers who have transitioned into this industry. Megan shares some great advice and gives listeners her story about discovering that being a lawyer wasn’t for her anymore and how she made t...

On the Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah is chatting with Lauren Ascher about how an ADHD diagnosis changed a career, prompting her to make the career change from law to mental health work. After ten years as a lawyer, Lauren is back in school, getting her master’s in mental health counseling. She is also working as an ADHD executive function coach. After our episode with Annie Little a few months ago...

In this episode of the Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah interviews Yael Eiserike, a former lawyer turned therapist. They talk about the challenges of deciding to go back to school, why therapy felt like the best fit for Yael, and what advice she has for any current lawyers debating making a big change in their life.  Connect with Yael Eiserke Website:  https://www.pacificmft.com/   Tiktok:  https://ww...