Can An Attorney Find Happiness In The Law?

As an attorney who practiced for 7 years, was very unhappy for a few years in the middle, and then came out happy on the other side (while I was still practicing), I believe that we can find happiness.  

But not in the law.

Allow me to explain.

As I went through college, high school, law school and then my LLM program, I could not wait to get to the other side of my education. Especially in law school.

"Once I graduate and start practicing (and am making that cash), I'll find some happiness in my life."

This optimistic thought kept me going through Evidence exams, mock trial competitions, and eventually through studying for the bar exam.

Then I came out on the other side with a job that was so exciting for me and so fulfilling. I wanted to try cases and right out of the gate, I was trying civil cases and experiencing the rush and excitement of being a new litigator.

But as the years went on, and the excitement of that job wore off, I started to feel very discontent in my practice. The monotony, the clients, the boss who was such a narcissist and so dishonest in his practice that it made me sick to watch.

I was no longer happy with my legal practice.

In the midst of my happiness crisis I realized something I should have realized long before that moment.

Being a lawyer was never going to make me happy or fulfilled necessarily.

The same concept applied to everything else in my life - relationships, family, the gym, my friends.

The only place I could find happiness and fulfillment was in myself.

And once I found happiness and fulfillment in myself, I then started to enjoy all the other areas of my life again.

I was energized by my work and found a way to mentally and emotionally cope with a manipulative supervisor.

I was more fulfilled in my relationships, friendships and social life.

And I actually figured out how to separate work life from private life. Meaning when I leave the office, I leave work at work.

You can absolutely be happy and find joy in life. But you'll never find it fully in your profession. You have to first find it in yourself.

In my next article, I'll share some tips around how to find happiness in a life that feels like you are on a Ferris wheel that is never ending.

My question for you is how have you found happiness in your life outside of your profession? Comment below!!