By Erin Giglia
One common theme we’ve seen since starting Montage is lawyers struggling to find balance and happiness while using their law degrees to their fullest potential. For some, that means full partnership in law firms across the country. But for others, law firm partnership does not fit with their own life vision, and their career paths take twists and turns before they discover their true callings.
Liz Brown is passionate about helping attorneys find their best use for their law degrees, and is writing a book, “Life After Law: Finding Work You Love with the JD You Have,” that will be published in September 2013 by Bibliomotion.
“Life After Law helps attorneys find greater career satisfaction outside the traditional practice of law. The book provides detailed guidance for lawyers, former lawyers, and law students who are considering non-traditional paths by helping them consider realistic, innovative and enormously useful ways to reframe their careers. It tells the stories of people who have relaunched their careers in ways that are far more satisfying and sustainable than their previous jobs. It explains the ups, downs, and how-tos of each alternative path. Life After Law is an invaluable resource for every lawyer who has ever wondered how to find work they truly love.”
We were able to speak with Liz, and are fascinated with her concept. According to Liz, her book and blog are designed to help attorneys think creatively about their career alternatives. Lawyers tend to feel trapped in their careers, but their law degrees and skills they’ve developed as attorneys readily transfer to different professions.
Many lawyers have left law and are successful in many other satisfying professions. Liz understands this as much as anyone. As a former law firm partner, Liz enjoyed her practice, and struggled with how to leave when law firm life didn’t fit the rest of her life. Since then, Liz has had many professional opportunities. She managed an angel investor network in Boston before accepting her current job as a business law professor. She now enjoys mentoring attorneys who want to leave the law but do not want to start from scratch.
“Life After Law demonstrates that lawyers never start from scratch. All the skills lawyers learn in legal practice can be reframed into a new career or interest.”
Liz’s blog, Life After Law, features a series of interviews of former lawyers exploring and succeeding in new careers, from professors to entrepreneurs to therapists. The blog is a preview of Liz’s book. The Life After Law blog is also a forum for attorneys who have transitioned out of law to tell their stories, and to help others. Attorneys looking to leave the law can seek inspiration and advice from others.
Thank you, Liz Brown, for sharing your story with us. We love the Life After Law Blog, and are looking forward to reading “Life After Law: Finding Work You Love with the JD You Have” when it comes out in September 2013!
Liz Brown graduated from Harvard Law School, and has practiced law in San Francisco, London, and Boston, advising senior executives at Fortune 500 companies on legal strategies and managing multi-million dollar cases from inception to successful resolution. She is the former Executive Director in Boston of Golden Seeds, one of the largest angel investor networks in the United States. She now teaches business law at Bentley University and is a frequent speaker on alternative law careers.