Trial Magazine

For trial attorneys, successful long-term careers require expertise, passion, and seeking out new opportunities.

Occasionally, a young trial lawyer approaches me with a blunt question: “What steps do you suggest for ensuring a long, enriching, and satisfying legal career?” It’s a valuable question to ask. I’ve spent four decades immersed in a diverse, active, and rewarding trial practice, but it’s common for lawyers’ professional energy to dissipate through routine work, personal crises, health problems, and career changes. I’ve been fortunate that during my own times of stress—whether dealing with complicated discovery, long depositions translated from a foreign language, or a multi-week trial away from home—I’ve been able to lean on the support of loved ones and close colleagues to recharge.

Over years of practice, attorneys may start to notice that their work feels repetitive or that they no longer arrive at the office with an enthusiastic mindset. If your goals seem unclear and your progress feels sluggish, consider the following ways to reset your work engine and stay curious, interested, and motivated.

Sharpen your ax. You may have heard the parable of the woodsman who is initially able to chop down 100 trees a day but can only chop 30 after the first three months because his ax has become dull. Without sharpening his ax, the same effort will yield lower results—no matter how hard he works. Lawyers need to take the same care to sharpen our minds. Make rejuvenation a priority, and get away from the office! Take a vacation or start a new hobby.

Mentally demanding activities such as learning a foreign language can be particularly rewarding because you can see quick results and open new horizons in communication. I’ve also found that conversations about religion, art, or other non-legal topics strengthen my thought process and distract from the mundane.

Explore new opportunities. Bring something different and rewarding into your practice and your life. There is no need to commit to one narrow practice area. The results will improve your self-worth and your relevance as a lawyer in your community. Challenge yourself to open another office location, work for legislative change, or take on a new practice area as a way to foster creative legal growth and career development. Take the opportunity to work with, mentor, and network with other lawyers.

Lean on and learn from others. Be open to meaningful conversations with other attorneys about their practices. Law practice can seem lonely and competitive, but your fellow lawyers can be great resources—for commiseration and encouragement. Interaction with colleagues that is unrelated to the law not only buoys one’s spirit but also leads to new friends and business contacts. Be honest—if you want to expand your work horizon, talk to others for reassurance and new ideas.

Cultivate your curiosity about the law. If you have the opportunity, take a course at your local university to revisit constitutional law or other legal topics from the perspective of a law student. Or teach a course related or unrelated to the law. I’ve served as an adjunct law professor, and the students’ enthusiasm and my conversations with faculty members were exhilarating.

Give back. Help a friend or—better yet—a stranger. Find a way to make a difference in another person’s life by joining a cause where even a small contribution can have a big impact. You could be a mentor or provide hands-on or economic assistance to an area struck by natural disaster. Make the time to coach a youth sports team; get involved in your child’s school programs; or volunteer at a hospital, on a food line, or for your church or synagogue. Find a way to participate in projects you believe in. Advocate for the poor, disadvantaged, and disenfranchised. Harness the natural drive to help others—which probably brought you into plaintiff practice in the first place—by seeking out opportunities to give back in new ways.

Prioritize physical health. Integrate physical activity and sound nutrition into your daily life. The busy trial lawyer never seems to have enough time for physical fitness, but a program that keeps your mind and body balanced will go a long way in raising your professional energy. And protect the time in your schedule set aside for exercise. Even if you don’t reach Olympic-level condition, physical activity will help you sleep better and improve your ability to learn and absorb new material.

Fortunately, my practice has allowed me to build a firm, work with new lawyers, travel, teach both formally and informally, get involved in legal and civic organizations, and pursue interests outside of the law. It’s different for everyone, but your battery will recharge more quickly and fully if you discover ways to stay relevant and involved outside of the office. By making this a priority, you can merge your career and interests to provide greater fulfillment in both your work and personal life. You will find that you will reinvent yourself as you reset your practice.

Ira H. Leesfield is a partner at Leesfield Scolaro in Miami. He can be reached at leesfield@leesfield.com.