'Post-Law' Transitions: Working With Me

My Transition from Law to Learning Design

Five years ago, in 2019, I transitioned from private legal practice as a solicitor and barrister after a career spanning four decades in the profession. As anyone who has practiced in this field knows, the structured and formal nature of legal practice can deeply shape one’s identity. The identity cloaks the person. Nowhere is that more apparent than when we robe for court and step into role, embodying the authority and privilege of the law.

When I made the decision to step away from such a strongly defined identity, I found myself facing the challenging task of redefining not just my scope and model of practice, but my sense of self. How could I continue to apply my skills and talents in a way that aligned with my values? Every July, I see a new cohort of “post-lawyers” on social media announcing that they have taken down their shingles and moved on to whatever it is they do now. Five years on from my own transition, I feel for them. The journey can be quick for some, longer for others. For me, parts of the transition were swift; others took time. Some aspects are still taking shape.

Legal Heritage: What We Value from the Past

I was fortunate to carry forward certain aspects of my legal practice that I valued deeply—my experience as a sessional academic in employment law and as a mediator. These formed part of my legal practice "heritage," things I wanted to retain and build upon. However, moving into a broader consultancy role without the comfort, prestige, or authority of being identified as a practicing lawyer brought its own set of challenges. I had to define what it meant to be a “post-lawyer” for myself.

A New Perspective

I speak of "post-law" in the same sense one might speak of post-modernism—not just as a linear period correlating to the time after practicing as a solicitor or barrister, but as a school of thought, a social and professional construct, a paradigm. My take on this was that "post-law" perspectives seek to reframe conflict and build accord through measures that find affinity with commercial and social norms and professional standards, rather than strictly adhering to legal rules and processes. This approach is issue resolution-focused rather than claims/remedy-focused. Discovering this was a turning point that began to shape what unfolded over the next five years.

A Post-Lawyer Is Still a Lawyer … of Sorts

Despite stepping away from traditional legal practice, I am still a lawyer in the broadest sense. I remain on the High Court and Supreme Court rolls in the states where I was admitted, and I am still oath-bound to uphold the "rule of law." However, I am no longer adhered to its forms, artifacts, or privileges. My transition involved several steps. I refreshed my mediation training, trained and qualified as an accredited conciliator, and successfully completed post-graduate qualifications in Education (Innovative Learning Design). It was this broadening of my skill base into the field of education that began to make a real difference.

The Attraction of Learning Design

Apart from filling an identity gap—allowing me to call myself a learning designer—it provided me with a theoretical and philosophical framework for shaping my new practice paradigm. Whereas I once would have been an advice-giver and legal representative in a field such as employment law, I became an educator and advocate (in a broader sense) in that same field. Educational theory and philosophy started to reshape my approach. I realised that I didn’t need to give advice if I could facilitate learning on the same topics. If I could provide quality information in a way that allowed people to acquire knowledge for themselves as part of a significant learning experience, that was better. They gained something meaningful from the exchange. They grew and were not dependent on me as a mere dispenser of advice.

If those significant learning experiences encouraged my learners to appreciate the human dimensions of the topic, care about the subject, and commit to ongoing learning, I didn’t always need to be their representative. Although I still take cases as a pro bono and paid agent where such representation is permitted, I found I could advocate in a different way—helping client/learners and trusting them become their own advocates.

These thoughts started to form in my mind and shape what I was doing as I began to support learning communities and public research projects. They aligned well with my collaborative law training and university teaching, as well as with my sense that post-law was relational rather than transactional.

Integrative Law

For several years before and during my transition I had come under the influence of the integrative law movement and the notion that lawyers could be changemakers and peacemakers ( J Kim Wright ). My interest grew in Collaborative Practice (Stuart Webb), Therapeutic Jurisprudence (Helgi Mackie and others), Structured Settlements ( Lainey Feingold : "I choose to swim with the dolphins rather than the sharks"), Conscious Contracts (J. Kim Wright, again), Relational Agreements (Linda Alvarez), Systems of Informal Justice (ed. Richard L. Abel), and Justice Without Law (Jerold S. Auerbach), and Human Needs Approaches to Conflict Resolution (John Burton). My reading also took me into the fields of the Ethics of Care (after Joan Tronto and Berenice Fischer), design theory, systems design, supply chain analysis, modern slavery, and Value Networks (Verna Allee).

Documenting Breakthroughs

If we grow in the direction of what we choose to study, then out of that melting pot began to emerge some key values and beliefs that gave more shape to my understanding of "post-law." Eventually, I was able to write a Scope of Practice Statement which clarified what I would and could do and where my personal and professional boundaries lay.

Another significant breakthrough came in June this year, when I had the opportunity to take a Summer Course on teaching Integrative Law at Quinnipiac University with J. Kim Wright. In describing myself as an “Integrative Lawyer,” I understood that I was engaged in integrating bodies of law and wisdom. But I was also doing it in a way that authentically integrated my talents and personality. That is, it respected my sense of personal “integrity” or authenticity.

During the Summer School, learners were challenged to develop and share a “Touchstone Statement.” I chose to share a statement of the values that inform my approach to post-law practice. In the course of subsequent reflection, I’ve been able to articulate five elements of what it is important for people working with me to know about me. I’ve adapted the categories of Passion, Heartbreak, and Ideal Client from the method taught by J Kim Wright. Somewhat self-critically, I have added “My Rave” and ‘My Prickles.”

Working With Me

Here is the result so far:

MY PASSION

"To create transformative learning experiences in justice, law, and ethics that lead to conflict resolution, peacemaking, and positive change."

After four decades as a solicitor and barrister, I realised that my calling was not just to provide legal advice or represent clients but to educate and empower others. My passion is rooted in the belief that true justice and peacemaking emerge from understanding and collaboration. By creating learning experiences that challenge assumptions, inspire reflection, and foster empathy, I aim to facilitate deeper insights into justice, law, and ethics. This approach not only leads to conflict resolution but also encourages individuals and organisations to become agents of positive change.

MY RAVE

"Collaborative learning and problem-solving by design as an alternative to the ‘banking model’ of advice-giving. Knowledge as an organisational asset."

In contrast to the traditional "banking model" of education (with acknowledgements to Paulo Freire) —where information is deposited into passive recipients—I advocate for a more collaborative, participatory approach. This method is not only more engaging but also more effective in fostering genuine understanding and long-lasting solutions. Knowledge, when actively constructed through collaboration, becomes a valuable organisational asset that drives innovation and growth. If you give me a platform, I’m likely to rave about this approach because it transforms learning from a passive activity into an empowering process that equips people to solve problems creatively and ethically.

MY HEARTBREAK

"Injustice. Unkindness. Superficial advice given without care or regard to the human dimensions. Shallow learning that does not involve change."

My heart breaks when I witness the misuse of power, particularly when it is wielded against those seeking growth, learning, and change. Injustice and unkindness, especially when they manifest as superficial, transactional advice that fails to consider the human element, are antithetical to everything I stand for. I believe that advice and learning should be more than just a transfer of information—they should be transformative, fostering empathy, understanding, and real change. This is why I am so committed to an approach that prioritises depth, care, and the human dimensions of every interaction.

MY IDEAL CLIENT

"Ethically-driven compliance & operations specialists seeking to design sustainable solutions that enhance organisational integrity, sustainability, and success."

My ideal clients are those who are not looking for quick fixes but are committed to the long-term health and integrity of their organisations. These are individuals who value ethics and are driven by a desire to create sustainable, just, and socially responsible practices. They understand that success is not just about profitability but also about maintaining integrity and contributing positively to society. By working together, we can design solutions that are not only effective but also aligned with these higher values.

MY PRICKLES

"I protect my independence of thought. I decline to be anyone's mere mouthpiece. I do not compromise my intellectual effort or reduce it to work for hire."

One of the most significant aspects of my professional identity is my commitment to independence. After years in a highly structured and formal legal environment, I value the freedom to think critically and creatively without being constrained by others' agendas. I refuse to be a mere mouthpiece for others or to reduce my work to a transaction. My intellectual property and the insights I provide are the results of careful, thoughtful work, and I protect them as part of my professional integrity. This stance allows me to offer genuine, unfiltered perspectives that are rooted in my values and experiences.

Work In Progress

In reaching this point, I’ve experienced many revisions, resets, recalibrations, and restarts, but I have no regrets. My journey from law to learning design, from advocacy to education, is ongoing, with many facets still being shaped. As I continue to integrate my interests in cultural heritage, music, and writing into my professional work, I remain committed to creating meaningful, transformative experiences for those I work with.

I hope that sharing these elements of my Touchstone and the journey that led to it might be helpful to anyone undergoing a similar transition. Whether you are navigating a new career path, redefining your professional identity, or seeking to understand how to work with me, I hope this provides clarity and insight into how I strive to work at my best.

As I continue to refine my approach and explore new directions in my post-law journey, I’m eager to hear from others who have navigated similar paths or are currently in the midst of their own transitions. Your insights, experiences, and feedback are invaluable to me, and I believe that sharing our journeys can foster a richer understanding for all of us.

If anything in this article resonates with you, or if you have thoughts or experiences you'd like to share, I warmly invite you to join the conversation. Whether you’re a fellow "post-lawyer," a professional in transition, or simply someone interested in these topics, I’d love to hear from you. Let’s learn and grow together.

Andrew C. Wood

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