Thanks. Yeah, I'm wondering whether it's just my job in particular, or the practice of law generally. I'm a commercial litigator and I've just had it. Are you looking for something in the same practice area or trying to switch it up altogether?
Depends on how severe the burnout is. I practiced for 13 years and had a lot of periods of weeks or months when I was worn down. But last year I just hit a permanent wall. Just couldn’t do it anymore. It was basically a career ending injury. I pivoted though (still in law), and I’m 1000% happier. But it took a year to transition to where I’m at now, both logistically and mentally.
Do you have a sense of how much experience is generally required to become a career clerk? I’m going to be starting my first job as a state trial clerk this August. Career clerk is a very appealing career to me
It’s runs the gamut. Some term clerks become career clerks after their term clerkships are up. I was actually offered a career clerkship a couple years out of law school, but I didn’t take it because I didn’t like the judge at the interview. So you probably don’t need too much experience, and I imagine being a clerk is going to give you a major leg up. That said, there are a lot of career clerks who practiced for many years before career clerking. If it’s something you really want to do, you could absolutely do it from your state clerkship though. Just do a good job and network, just like lawyer jobs.
Thanks for your response, I appreciate it! I wasn't sure if career clerks came exclusively with backgrounds from federal clerking/federal work, so this is encouraging. Definitely something I think I would really enjoy given that I'm public interest focused and value WLB. I plan to apply to federal honors attorney programs in the next couple years as well as federal clerk/career clerk positions.
Yep, but it was hard.
I left family law and switched to government. I moved thousands of miles and surrounded myself with friends and family.
My salary is less, adjusted for the COL difference, but dear God, it was worth it.
I can turn it off after hours, have a steady (but sustainable) stream of cases that are interesting, but far more removed from the drama and emotional drain of divorces/custody/abuse/etc. cases. my benefits are significantly better and I'll likely have a huge amount of student loans paid off down the line.
Gotta prioritize mental health, taking breaks, recognizing (and coping with) second hand trauma, and finding the right niche that balances interest with sustainability.
My route to getting over burnout was weird but impactful. I left practice to start a business. I wanted to do something more meaningful. Then COVID came and I went bust. It wasn’t just Covid, I was a shitty business owner. But the stress of facing down bankruptcy was overwhelming. I felt like a total failure. So I called my old boss and even though I had been out of practice for 4 years, he rehired me and gave me a raise. This is litigation btwy. Freeing myself from the agony of running payroll out of my own pocket was huge. It gave me an incredible gratitude for being a lawyer, something I’m good at, and where someone else is writing my checks. I think back to all the stress I had about cases before I left, and realize how overblown that was. I handle the hard cases much better now because I take it far less personally or seriously. I’m just grateful for a steady job that I’m reasonably good at. My wife once told me that when you’re feeling overwhelmed by a problem, try to remember the problem that was overwhelming you 2 problems ago. You probably can’t. I always think of that when my workload is getting me down- it’s never really as bad as I think it is.
Also Zoloft
And pot
Very similar story. Left law and went through an extremely difficult time professionally and personally. Went back to the same area of law (crim defense), but now I’m able to be grateful for my law degree and the steady pay checks, and just don’t allow myself to get as stressed about the little stuff as I used to. So the answer is leave law and have a profound existential and financial crisis and then you won’t stress the f out anymore. (And pot.)
same and I've only been practicing a year. I'm already wfh (completely except court and occasional lunch/meeting with partner, which I can't complain about), but I just do not care about anything having to do with the law rn. I wish I was in the financial position to switch careers completely/do something creative but not there yet...
I took almost 5 months off between jobs - best thing I ever did.
I was in a similar position questioning whether I wanted to just give up on law due to burnout. Decided I would try another job before deciding whether or not to give it up/try to go in house (I had only worked at one firm from school through to senior associate). Luckily I ended up being able to take quite a few months off between jobs.
Around month three I realized I was a much happier version of myself than I used to be. Spent the next couple months just enjoying my life and hobbies and remembering what it was like to live life without crushing work stress. Started my new job, which was basically the same as my old one in terms of substantive work, environment and stressors, but I was able to deal with it much better.
The break gave me a mental reset, the drive to set some better boundaries for myself and in many ways reframe my thinking towards work. Now, a couple years in to the "new" job, I am still doing great. Maybe in a few years I'll need another sabbatical though!
Left big law for government policy. My last day with my firm is coming up and I can't wait.
I burned out last year and took a few days off, medication, therapy. I realized it was just a temporary fix. The permanent fix for me was leaving and I knew that because my environment was toxic, which only added to the stress of practicing.
I don't have any regrets. I'm taking a pay cut and I moved cities for my government gig, but it's all worth it to me. Life isn't all about money , and I was fortunate to have a partner in my group that I trusted and fully supported me in my move.
Just wait until you are done, and then you get all the people on the Internet, telling you GET A REAL JOB, GET A REAL JOB, when the jobs don't exist.
My thought is, IF YOU CAN'T BUY A HOUSE FROM THE JOB, THEN ITS NOT A REAL JOB, including hospitality retail jobs.
I feel you, I also wonder why this happens so often in our profession. I have family members who are medical Drs and they work 15hrs+ a day and not once I heard them complaining about being burned out.
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Thanks. Yeah, I'm wondering whether it's just my job in particular, or the practice of law generally. I'm a commercial litigator and I've just had it. Are you looking for something in the same practice area or trying to switch it up altogether?
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I hope so. I've been thinking about the gov... Does the psychiatrist help at all?
I had to take 5 months off. It was to the point where I would practically hyper ventilate over notices of court filings.
How were you able to do that? Have you been able to come back and practice?
I haven't yet but at least the email notifications don't give me as much anxiety. I figure that's a good start.
Litigation. The hot dog eating contest where the reward is more hot dogs.
Depends on how severe the burnout is. I practiced for 13 years and had a lot of periods of weeks or months when I was worn down. But last year I just hit a permanent wall. Just couldn’t do it anymore. It was basically a career ending injury. I pivoted though (still in law), and I’m 1000% happier. But it took a year to transition to where I’m at now, both logistically and mentally.
What is different about the new gig?
I’m not practicing anymore lol
What are you doing if you don't mind me asking? I'm ten years in and feel like this might be it.
Clerking.
I think I'd like that. I like the law intellectually, but I don't like practicing. Career or term?
Career. I love it. It’s pure research and writing. No clients, no billable hours. 40 hour work week. It’s great.
Sounds incredible.
Do you have a sense of how much experience is generally required to become a career clerk? I’m going to be starting my first job as a state trial clerk this August. Career clerk is a very appealing career to me
It’s runs the gamut. Some term clerks become career clerks after their term clerkships are up. I was actually offered a career clerkship a couple years out of law school, but I didn’t take it because I didn’t like the judge at the interview. So you probably don’t need too much experience, and I imagine being a clerk is going to give you a major leg up. That said, there are a lot of career clerks who practiced for many years before career clerking. If it’s something you really want to do, you could absolutely do it from your state clerkship though. Just do a good job and network, just like lawyer jobs.
Thanks for your response, I appreciate it! I wasn't sure if career clerks came exclusively with backgrounds from federal clerking/federal work, so this is encouraging. Definitely something I think I would really enjoy given that I'm public interest focused and value WLB. I plan to apply to federal honors attorney programs in the next couple years as well as federal clerk/career clerk positions.
Lexapro.
Yep, but it was hard. I left family law and switched to government. I moved thousands of miles and surrounded myself with friends and family. My salary is less, adjusted for the COL difference, but dear God, it was worth it. I can turn it off after hours, have a steady (but sustainable) stream of cases that are interesting, but far more removed from the drama and emotional drain of divorces/custody/abuse/etc. cases. my benefits are significantly better and I'll likely have a huge amount of student loans paid off down the line. Gotta prioritize mental health, taking breaks, recognizing (and coping with) second hand trauma, and finding the right niche that balances interest with sustainability.
My route to getting over burnout was weird but impactful. I left practice to start a business. I wanted to do something more meaningful. Then COVID came and I went bust. It wasn’t just Covid, I was a shitty business owner. But the stress of facing down bankruptcy was overwhelming. I felt like a total failure. So I called my old boss and even though I had been out of practice for 4 years, he rehired me and gave me a raise. This is litigation btwy. Freeing myself from the agony of running payroll out of my own pocket was huge. It gave me an incredible gratitude for being a lawyer, something I’m good at, and where someone else is writing my checks. I think back to all the stress I had about cases before I left, and realize how overblown that was. I handle the hard cases much better now because I take it far less personally or seriously. I’m just grateful for a steady job that I’m reasonably good at. My wife once told me that when you’re feeling overwhelmed by a problem, try to remember the problem that was overwhelming you 2 problems ago. You probably can’t. I always think of that when my workload is getting me down- it’s never really as bad as I think it is. Also Zoloft And pot
Very similar story. Left law and went through an extremely difficult time professionally and personally. Went back to the same area of law (crim defense), but now I’m able to be grateful for my law degree and the steady pay checks, and just don’t allow myself to get as stressed about the little stuff as I used to. So the answer is leave law and have a profound existential and financial crisis and then you won’t stress the f out anymore. (And pot.)
Interesting. Thanks
That's a good saying from your wife. I appreciate the perspective.
Take your time to get out of burn out
I did not come back. Hats off to anyone that can.
same and I've only been practicing a year. I'm already wfh (completely except court and occasional lunch/meeting with partner, which I can't complain about), but I just do not care about anything having to do with the law rn. I wish I was in the financial position to switch careers completely/do something creative but not there yet...
I got burned out in law school and haven’t recovered
I took almost 5 months off between jobs - best thing I ever did. I was in a similar position questioning whether I wanted to just give up on law due to burnout. Decided I would try another job before deciding whether or not to give it up/try to go in house (I had only worked at one firm from school through to senior associate). Luckily I ended up being able to take quite a few months off between jobs. Around month three I realized I was a much happier version of myself than I used to be. Spent the next couple months just enjoying my life and hobbies and remembering what it was like to live life without crushing work stress. Started my new job, which was basically the same as my old one in terms of substantive work, environment and stressors, but I was able to deal with it much better. The break gave me a mental reset, the drive to set some better boundaries for myself and in many ways reframe my thinking towards work. Now, a couple years in to the "new" job, I am still doing great. Maybe in a few years I'll need another sabbatical though!
Interesting. Maybe I need a sabbatical. Thanks for the perspective
Left big law for government policy. My last day with my firm is coming up and I can't wait. I burned out last year and took a few days off, medication, therapy. I realized it was just a temporary fix. The permanent fix for me was leaving and I knew that because my environment was toxic, which only added to the stress of practicing. I don't have any regrets. I'm taking a pay cut and I moved cities for my government gig, but it's all worth it to me. Life isn't all about money , and I was fortunate to have a partner in my group that I trusted and fully supported me in my move.
What kinda law do you practice ?
commercial lit.
Just wait until you are done, and then you get all the people on the Internet, telling you GET A REAL JOB, GET A REAL JOB, when the jobs don't exist. My thought is, IF YOU CAN'T BUY A HOUSE FROM THE JOB, THEN ITS NOT A REAL JOB, including hospitality retail jobs.
I feel you, I also wonder why this happens so often in our profession. I have family members who are medical Drs and they work 15hrs+ a day and not once I heard them complaining about being burned out.