BarTalk April 2003
Volume 15, Number 2

Here’s a floatation device

by Maureen Fitzgerald

A colleague called me yesterday and told me about another lawyer who had jumped ship – you know – left his law firm, decided to go out on his own, chose to follow his heart, couldn’t take it any more and so on.

Upon reflection I realized the power of my friend’s metaphor: Jumping Ship. Did the lawyer jump into the ocean or was it just a lake? Did the ocean have sharks? Was it rough water? Did the lawyer have a lifeboat or perhaps a life preserver?

All my answers led me to conclude that jumping ship was a fairly risky thing to do and, all things considered, things were not looking good for this poor lawyer. In effect this lawyer had propelled himself off a safe and comfortable ship into icy cold water and we have no indication about how he would survive.

Metaphors reflect deeper hidden assumptions that we hold about reality. Perhaps this metaphor explains why each of us is afraid to make a change. Many of us secretly envy those who make the leap, yet we are unable to do it ourselves.

Perhaps you too hold many of the assumptions that other lawyers hold in relation to switching firms or changing careers. These include:

• I will never earn as much as I do now;

• I will be all alone;

• I will lose the reputation I have gained at this firm;

• I will lack access to other expert lawyers;

• I will lose the status attached to a particular law firm;

• My colleagues will think I am copping out; and

• My family will think I am going through mid-life crisis.

The lawyer who just jumped would likely be able to dispel many of these assumptions. If you reflect on each right now, you can likely see that many are not grounded in reality and might never come true. For example, l suspect that the leaping lawyer will continue to work beside and across from many lawyers. He probably took with him many life-saving devices including close relationships and a solid reputation.

My own assumptions were dispelled two years ago when I jumped ship. I left my safe and comfortable position at the Law Society and decided to do what I really enjoyed. After all, at 42 with 10 years of practice, surely I had some control over my career. I now practise as a Conflict Management Consultant, primarily doing harassment investigations and workplace mediations. I love what I do and my clients appreciate the energy and passion I bring to my work.

Through this process I have come to believe that if you are doing what you love, everything you need will come your way, and you will be happy and successful.

Your ideal life is located at a place where you can be your best and those around you bring out the best in you. If you are working in a situation that is not ideal, do not let your assumptions prevent you from finding your ideal career. Be daring and courageous. Challenge the assumptions that prevent you from becoming truly successful.

Maureen F Fitzgerald BCom, LLB, LLM has written a book to help lawyers and professionals find the work they love. The book, entitled Mission Possible – Creating a Mission for Life and Work, will be in bookstores this summer, and can currently be purchased for $19.95 (email mfitzgerald@primus.ca).

This article was published in the April 2003 issue of BarTalk and is subject to the copyright by the British Columbia Branch of the Canadian Bar Association, 2005, all rights reserved.