You know how the old saying goes - - "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
Well, the same goes for lawyers who don't know how or when to stop (working).
One of our "standard questions" to our new lawyer clients is: "What do you do for FUN?" We are no longer surprised when they cannot come up with an answer.
Most lawyers have a deep passion for the legal profession and the work that they do. The problem is, however, too many of them carry that passion to an extreme. All they do is WORK - - to the exclusion of everything else in their lives.
Cake without frosting may taste good; but, add some frosting and it tastes great. We believe that an element of "fun" must be added to one's life to change a "good life" to a "great life." This entire subject may sound strange to the lay person, but not to those lawyers who seldom come up for air.
We suggest that one develop a passion for something in addition to "the law." Something fun. Something that gets them out of their office (at least once in a while).
We know a lawyer who loves to play golf. He would say it is his pastime. But that same lawyer, if pressed, would admit that he only plays golf once every couple of months. He is too busy to play more frequently. Come on, now !
It would be interesting to know how frequently this topic resonates with lawyers who read this blog.
I always learn something when I read this blog.
As for this article,the author is exactly right. Almost 10 years ago, I left a very large law firm to start my own firm. Within a week, I also had my first T-ball team. Since then, I've coached about 15 youth sports teams (baseball, basketball, and softball). Recently, a friend of mine asked how I could "afford" to spend so much time coaching youth sports since, after all, I bill by the hour. My response was that I could not affort not coach these teams. Had I stayed at the "big" firm, I would have a lot more $$$ in my bank account. But I would not have had the priceless experience of coaching those kids. The trade off, to me, was (and still is) a no-brainer.
As for golf, I try to play 9-holes at least once a week. My secret is to tee off at dawn on a Saturday or Sunday with some of my buddies. I'm home before the family wakes up most weekends. Who works between 6 and 9 a.m. anyway?
Posted by: John Stephens, Attorney at Law | July 25, 2007 at 06:14 PM
I left my partnership with a big firm 15 years ago and have never regretted that decision. While I gave up my ability to provide a full service firm for large institutional clients, I gained a life outside the practice of law. I detest the word "vacation" because my life involves doing interesting things, which I support by practicing law between taking interesting trips and doing other interesting things. I find as a litigator I have more flexibility because, if it is planned right, I can get away for a month at a time without a major disruption to my practice. That requires that I limit my practice and only work with clients that trust me and I them. I also love my Blackberry because I can keep in touch and answer questions from a hike in Peru, or an Alpine meadow in the Alps while watching the Tour de France come by. I love the lyric from an old "Rush" ballad that says, "We will pay the price but never count the cost." You have to have that attitude toward life and not worry too much about what you are giving up to make sure you are happy with your life. Remember, no one has gotten out of this thing alive yet, so you may as well enjoy it while you are here.
Posted by: Frank Conner, Attorney at Law | July 20, 2007 at 12:52 PM