Today in his column on Abovethelaw.com Mark Herrmann took the brave step of outing that compensation really is irrelevant, mostly. Sure the student loans have to be paid off and the baby kept in Huggies. But those financial demands usually can be met with the lion's share of positions available in law. Therefore, they are never any excuse to search for or to accept a job that you will hate.
Weekly, those employed, underemployed, unemployed, and never employed in the practice of law contact me The Coach. Frequently, it's for that complimentary 15-minute consultation I offer. Based on what they pick up during that, including the chemistry between us, they can decide if they want to book a session with the meter running [$100 an hour, available in half-hour increments.] Over and over again, they state that they have to take a job, stay in a job, or look for a job because of financial obligations.
Thanks to Herrmann's firm stance on this, I can now say that such talk is simply code for any or all of the following:
- I have no idea who I am and have no desire to find out. Therefore, I will plop myself in any job and do a force-fit. No surprise with that attitude, they don't get the job, get sidelined early in the game, or wind up a drunk or suicide.
- I don't like law, at least not enough to make the effort to find my place in it. In essence, they are protecting their sunk costs in a legal education and a few years of practice. Herrmann loves the law and it shows. No newsflash, he has the Midas touch on all aspects of it.
- I need a career change, maybe to something like journalism or sales. But, how can I leave the road more traveled? That means I would have to think for myself. Up to now, the path has been totally linear.
The odds are that it is one of these classic responses to being stuck that is killing the very ambition which got you into law school, through law school, passing the bar, getting a job, and bouncing back after losing a job. A useful read might be the book THE ARC OF AMBITION by James Champy and Nitin Nohria. I just wrapped up the interviews for a feature article I'm doing on ambition for AOL Jobs. Herrmann is among those I buttonholed for their point of view. When the piece is published in mid January I will provide the link on this blog.
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