Shows
The Former Lawyer PodcastIt’s Okay If You’re Just Surviving Right NowFeeling overwhelmed, unmotivated, or like you're barely keeping up? You’re not alone. In this episode, Sarah shares a simple but powerful reframe for lawyers who are just trying to make it through right now. If you’ve caught yourself saying you’re doing “the bare minimum,” this conversation will help you shift that narrative and offer yourself more grace. Whether you're thinking about leaving the law or just trying to get through the week, Sarah reminds us that surviving a hard season isn’t a failure—it’s a sign you’re human. If you’re struggling with what...2025-04-2108 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastWhat to Do If You’re Sick of Complaining About Your JobIf you feel like all you do is complain about your job, you’re not alone. Many lawyers reach a point where they’re exhausted, not just by their work, but by how much they talk about how miserable it makes them.In this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah Cottrell addresses what happens when you reach that breaking point. She explains why you don’t have to wait until you can leave your job to start making a change, and how taking small steps now can set you up for the future, whether you’re leaving...2025-04-0709 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastAdvice to Get a Job in Tech after Law with Ed CottrellOn today’s podcast, Sarah is chatting with a familiar guest who has been on the podcast several times. It’s her husband, Ed Cottrell. They met in law school and graduated at the same time. Ed’s path took a different route than Sarah’s, and he now works in the tech field after leaving law. Today's conversation explores the common interest of many lawyers Sarah speaks with to explore jobs in tech. If you’ve been curious about getting a tech job or want to learn more about Ed’s journey.See show notes at form...2025-03-3142 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastLeaving the Law Is Simple but It’s Not EasyMany lawyers contemplating leaving the profession assume the process is complicated. The reality? It’s actually very simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. In this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah Cottrell breaks down the difference between something being simple but difficult versus complicated but easy, and how this applies to leaving the law. The truth is, figuring out what’s next isn’t complex, but doing the work to make a change is hard. That’s why she created The Former Lawyer Collab because even though the steps are clear, having support...2025-03-2407 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastWhy Amisha DeYoung-Dominguez Left the Law for Public ServiceSarah Cottrell talks with Amisha DeYoung-Dominguez, a former lawyer who transitioned into public service, on this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast.Amisha, now a congressional staffer, shares her winding journey through law school, legal aid, and government work—ultimately realizing that practicing law wasn’t the right fit. Her story highlights the struggle many lawyers face, the pressure to stay in the profession despite clear signs it isn’t working. Through The Former Lawyer Collab, Amisha found the clarity and support she needed to make the leap into a fulfilling new career.See sho...2025-03-1058 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastWhy Stay-at-Home Parents Who Left Law Have More Career Options Than They ThinkMany former lawyers who stepped away from their careers to be stay-at-home parents eventually find themselves wondering how to re-enter the workforce—without going back to practicing law. On this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, host Sarah Cottrell addresses this exact challenge, breaking down the key steps for making the transition while avoiding the pressure to return to legal practice.See show notes at formerlawyer.com/2572025-03-0310 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastNavigating the Millennial Success TrapIn this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah Cottrell gets real about why so many Millennials feel stuck in the pursuit of success. As an elder Millennial herself, she unpacks the pressures lawyers face to maintain a certain lifestyle or salary—pressures that often come from family expectations, societal norms, and internalized beliefs about what success “should” look like.Sarah shares personal insights, client stories, and some hard questions to help you rethink whether the life you’re chasing actually aligns with your values. She also dives into how therapy can play a game-changing role in breaking...2025-02-0313 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastWhy Your Values Are the First Step to Leaving the LawLeaving the law starts with understanding your values. In this episode, Sarah explains why taking a deep dive into your values is the critical first step for any lawyer considering a career change. She shares how identifying what truly matters to you can uncover the root of your dissatisfaction and guide you toward a career that aligns with your priorities.Whether you’re unsure about your next step or ready to make a move, this conversation offers actionable insights to help you get started on your path to a more fulfilling future. Tune in to learn why va...2025-01-1309 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastA Clear Path to Leaving the Law This YearIn today’s episode, Sarah kicks off the new year with an update on how you can work with her in 2025. If you’re starting the year thinking, ‘I can’t keep doing this,’ and you know you don’t want to be in the same place next year, this episode is for you. Sarah breaks down the options available to help you leave the law behind and create the change you’re ready for.See show notes at formerlawyer.com/2522025-01-0609 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastLawyers Hoping To Be Hit By A Bus Isn’t Normal, but Not Uncommon Either with Kelcey BakerThis episode includes an important content warning for discussions of narcissism, narcissistic abuse, self-harm, and suicidality. This week on The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah Cottrell welcomes back her client Kelcey Baker for a powerful conversation about the distressingly common experience among lawyers of wishing for a minor injury—like being hit by a bus—just to get a break from work. Kelcey and Sarah dive deep into the toxic environments in the legal profession that normalize extreme stress and emotional distress while discouraging vulnerability and self-care. They explore the systemic issues in law firms that creat...2024-12-3040 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastI'm Not Here to Convince You to Leave the LawOn today’s podcast episode, Sarah clarifies a question she often hears when she tells people about the work she does: “Do all the lawyers who you work with end up leaving law?” There is a sense that she is trying to convince people to leave their careers as lawyers and move on to something else, and she wants to answer that question and chat about it.A fundamental belief that Sarah has is that people are the experts on their own experience. She is not trying to convince anyone of anything. There are moments when she gets e...2024-12-0910 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow the Sunk Cost Fallacy Keeps Lawyers Stuck in the LawStruggling with the fear of leaving law behind? This week, Sarah unpacks the sunk cost fallacy—a common mental block for lawyers considering a career change. She explores why we tend to overvalue past investments and undervalue the cost of staying in an unhealthy profession. You’ll also learn why leaving law doesn’t mean your legal experience is wasted. If you’ve ever felt stuck weighing the pros and cons of walking away, this episode is for you.Download Sarah’s free guide, First Steps to Leaving the Law, at formerlawyer.com/first.2024-11-2510 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow Toxic Workplaces Make You Doubt Yourself—And Why Leaving Law Can HelpIn this episode, Sarah dives into how toxic workplaces—especially law firms—can lead to deep-rooted self-doubt and self-gaslighting. She breaks down the ways negative environments distort our sense of self-worth and confidence, making it feel impossible to see a way out.For those who feel trapped in a cycle of self-doubt, Sarah shares insights into how leaving a toxic legal environment can help you reconnect with your strengths and reclaim your confidence. If you're questioning whether it's time to move on, this episode is a must-listen.See show notes at formerlawyer.com/2472024-11-1112 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow a Misalignment of Values and Career Helped a Lawyer Become a Therapist with David SazantIn this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, host Sarah Cottrell talks with David Sazant, a former litigator who transitioned from practicing law to becoming a therapist. David shares how he recognized that his legal career was not in line with his personal values and explains the process he went through to make the leap into mental health. For those considering a career outside of the legal profession, especially in therapy, David’s story offers valuable insights and inspiration.Throughout their conversation, David discusses the challenges he faced as a lawyer, the sense of unfulfillment that led hi...2024-11-0441 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow Law Firms Are Failing Lawyers With ADHD with Annie LittleIn this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, host Sarah Cottrell shares a conversation with Annie Little about disclosing ADHD and other neurodivergent or mental health conditions in the workplace, specifically within Biglaw. As October is ADHD Awareness Month, Sarah highlights the challenges lawyers face when considering disclosure and the systemic issues in law firms that often fail to provide adequate support. Tune in for an insightful discussion about the complexities of navigating legal careers with ADHD and the importance of creating supportive work environments.See show notes at formerlawyer.com/2072024-10-0736 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastIt’s Not You, It’s Burnout: How Your Environment Has a Big ImpactIn this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah Cottrell tackles a topic that has been coming up in many of her conversations with clients: the overwhelming feeling that you just don’t want to work anymore. If you’ve ever felt like you hate working and can’t imagine enjoying any job, especially after working in a toxic legal environment, this episode is for you. Sarah discusses how burnout, particularly in lawyers, can make you feel like you’re broken, but she’s here to tell you—you’re not. She explains why these feelings are common and how...2024-09-3011 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow to Prepare a Law Practice for Sale with Victoria CollierIn this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah Cottrell talks with Victoria Collier, founder of Quid Pro Quo Law, about the process of preparing a law firm for sale. Victoria shares her own journey, from building her practice to successfully selling it, and offers critical insights into the steps lawyers can take to make their firms scalable and attractive to buyers. From establishing processes and delegating tasks to cleaning up financials, Victoria breaks down the key factors that make a law firm a valuable asset.Whether you’re a law firm owner thinking about your long-term ex...2024-09-2336 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastThe Most Challenging Part of Leaving Law is the Emotional WorkIn today’s podcast episode, Sarah shares the hardest thing about leaving the law. She’s talked to many clients, peers, podcast guests, and people in her life; everyone encounters their own unique obstacles. However, the biggest thing keeping people from making a change is the practical reality. Lawyers get stuck trying to figure out things on the front end, like reworking resumes or convincing someone they can work in a role other than a lawyer. People get stuck in the process of the practical things that get you a new job. This is the part that many...2024-07-0109 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow to Explore Your Career Options After Law with Patience and a PlanIn today’s episode, Sarah offers important advice to listeners. While practicing law, she constantly thought about what she wanted to do outside the law. But then her brain would start telling her everything that would make it a bad fit and instantly become negative.Lawyers are just trained to do this, and it’s important that you recognize that ahead of time.Stop telling yourself that something isn’t going to work before you’ve actually spent any time looking into it. People start worrying about finances and skills they don’t think they have, and...2024-06-1710 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow Many Vacations Will Be Lost Before You Make a ChangeSummer has arrived! On today’s podcast, Sarah asks listeners the question, “How many vacations does your job have to ruin, cancel, impinge upon, or maybe make you not even plan before you decide enough is enough?” Many lawyers struggle to take vacations, and when they do, it’s a challenge to shut off work and enjoy themselves. So many of the people Sarah speaks to face this challenge. They might travel somewhere new but feel like they are expected to remain connected and available to people at work. She knew there were partners senior to her who would...2024-06-0309 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow to Decide if Now is the Right Time to Leave LawIn today’s podcast episode, Sarah addresses a question that many people start asking themselves when the economy is unstable: Is now really the right time to consider leaving the law? Layoffs and challenging circumstances can add an added layer of stress and concern when it comes to changing industries and leaving your job. Sarah shares some thoughts and advice about these concerns and questions. See show notes at formerlawyer.com/227 2024-04-2210 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastSeparating Your Identity From Your Legal CareerIn today’s podcast episode, Sarah chats with one of her one-on-one clients, Ann Marie Cowdrey. She has had a lot of experience working for regional and international law firms throughout her career. She hit a rough patch and thought it was time for a chance, so she started working with Sarah. Today, she’s sharing her experience in law and how she flipped things around. See show notes at formerlawyer.com/226 2024-04-1556 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastUnderstanding Burnout Versus Depression In Lawyers And How To Get SupportMany lawyers find themselves asking, “Am I depressed, or am I burnt out?” This comes up when they are thinking about leaving the law, and it’s not a new topic on the podcast. In the episode where Sarah spoke to Ilona Salmons, they did a deep dive into burnout and what it is. Mental health is a common topic brought up in the Former Lawyer community, and many lawyers deal with misery by intellectualizing things. Today, Sarah is revisiting this topic and sharing a few important thoughts. Sarah often talks about therapy on the podcast. It is ext...2024-04-0808 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastWhy You Shouldn't Feel Guilty if You Hate Being a LawyerToday’s podcast topic was sparked by a recent call for the Guided Track Sarah is facilitating this spring. This program is designed to assist lawyers in navigating their career paths and offers a safe space for self-reflection. It helps individuals determine if leaving the law is the right choice for them and guides them toward their next steps. The program fosters a close-knit community where participants can share their experiences, exchange ideas, and support each other through the process, providing a sense of camaraderie and accountability. The discussion centered around a common yet often unspoken experience of...2024-03-2507 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastAn Existential Crisis When Leaving the Law Isn't a Sign of FailureLawyers expect to follow a perfectly laid-out path. It’s natural. When the next step in any journey isn’t clear, it feels like something is wrong. In today’s podcast episode, Sarah talks about moments when you feel like you’re having an existential crisis, but that doesn’t mean you are doing anything wrong. When you feel like you’re having an existential crisis, it might feel like you’re in a vacuum. If you want to join a group of like-minded individuals, join the Collab. Sarah created this group to make it easier to navigate the pr...2024-03-1108 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastOne Simple and Essential Piece of Advice to Leave the LawThe theme of today’s podcast episode is the idea that just because you can doesn’t mean you should. This advice was a central point to a recent keynote talk Sarah did at The Authentic Lawyer Summit, and it’s important for anyone leaving the law, but also lawyers who want to stay in law forever. Sarah shared more about her background and how this advice applied to her life and has brought the topic to the podcast to share more with the listeners. Let’s dive in. See show notes at formerlawyer.com/215 E...2024-01-2916 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastThe Challenges of Leaving Public Interest Law with Strawberry NevillToday’s podcast episode features Sarah’s conversation with Strawberry Nevill. After connecting through a mutual friend, Sarah invited Strawberry to come on to share their journey from working in public interest. This area of law has its own challenges and can be very hard to walk away from. Strawberry spent about 15 years in and around the legal field, including three years as a practicing lawyer, so let’s dive in and learn more about their journey. See show notes at formerlawyer.com/214 Enrollment for the next Guided Track is open now. Learn more a...2024-01-2247 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastAdrian Hern’s Escape from Legal BurnoutToday’s podcast episode features a client, Adrian Hern. She’s a member of the Collab and has also worked with Sarah one-on-one. You’ll get some insight into working with Sarah individually and how it’s structured. Plus, you get to hear from a client who has gone through these conversations and hear some first-hand experience and advice about navigating legal burnout. See show notes at formerlawyer.com/212 2024-01-0839 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastFormer Lawyer Turned Professional Organizer with Heather DaviesOn today’s podcast episode, Sarah is chatting with Heather Davies, another former lawyer. Heather’s new career as a professional organizer is something that many listeners have messaged Sarah about, so they chat about her journey to become a lawyer and what led to her transition to a professional organizer. See show notes at formerlawyer.com/211 2023-11-2745 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastDoes Being a Lawyer Cause Anxiety or DepressionMany people who listen to this podcast or reach out to work with Sarah have the question, “Does working as a lawyer give you anxiety or depression?” This podcast covers mental health and the subject of anxiety a lot, and Sarah has talked a lot about being diagnosed with generalized anxiety and a panic disorder. These mental health issues are common among lawyers, so let’s discuss that question. There’s not really a definitive answer to this question. It’s interesting how much this concern is raised, and that fact in itself says a lot about the profes...2023-11-0618 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastDoes Being a Lawyer Lead to ADHD? Unpacking the Relationship with Annie LittleIn this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah Cottrell and Annie Little engaged in a candid conversation about ADHD and its prevalence among lawyers. They dive into an intriguing question that came in on social media after a previous ADHD conversation: Does being a lawyer give you ADHD? The podcast revealed some compelling insights about ADHD in the legal profession and debunked misconceptions. If you're a lawyer contemplating a career change, this blog post is for you. We'll break down the essential points from the podcast and explore the real challenges lawyers with ADHD face, shedding li...2023-10-2334 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastNot Fitting In at Law Firms is a Good ThingOn the podcast today, Sarah is talking about lawyers feeling that they don’t fit at their law firm and feeling something is wrong with them because it seems to be working for everyone else. After years of conversations with lawyers (and former lawyers) Sarah has discovered how common this feeling is. Not fitting in is actually a good thing, and Sarah will explain why. See show notes at formerlawyer.com/202 2023-09-2515 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastBehind the Scenes of The Former Lawyer Podcast’s First 200 EpisodesToday’s podcast marks a special milestone. It’s the 200th episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast. To celebrate, Sarah sat down with Stacey Harris of Uncommonly More, who Sarah works with to produce the podcast, to talk about how the podcast came to be and what it created. Other Episodes Mentioned: Lawyers, Your Job Should Not Make You Cry The “No Assholes Rule” (And Why It’s A Joke) Is Being A Lawyer A Bullshit Job? Burnout In Lawyers with Ilona Salmons See show notes at formerlawy...2023-09-1143 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow to Choose the Right Former Lawyer Program for YouIn today’s episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks about the offers she has available for lawyers who are interested in leaving law and looking for some resources to help organize thoughts and plans. Sarah offers three different programs, each building off the base of the Collaborative and providing a different level of accountability and follow-up depending on your needs. See show notes at formerlawyer.com/197 2023-08-2113 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastWhat Would Former Lawyer Collab Members Tell Themselves Five Years AgoOn today’s podcast episode, Sarah is sharing answers from Collab members for another question as part of the summer series. Each episode in the series asks the same question to multiple members so listeners can learn more about their experiences. Today's question is: what’s something you've learned that you wish you could go back and tell the you of five years ago? Sarah is sharing these responses and talking about how common it is to feel this way. You are not alone if you are struggling in your law career, and it’s possib...2023-08-0711 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastFormer Lawyers Share an Obvious Thing that was TransformativeOn today’s podcast episode, Sarah is sharing more feedback directly from Collab Members as part of the summer series. Each series episode asks the same question to multiple members so listeners can learn more about their experiences. Today's question: What is one thing that felt obvious or elementary that was really transformative for you? Sarah reminds listeners that sometimes you need that additional support to really recognize when something will make a big difference for you, even if it feels obvious. On today’s podcast episode, Sarah is sharing more feedback directly from...2023-07-1712 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastThe Challenges of Giving Notice at Toxic Law FirmsIn today’s episode, Sarah talks about how people look at those who leave law firms. The views tend to be distorted, especially from others who work at the firm. This comes up often in Sarah’s conversations with former lawyers and people who are still currently working in law, so today, she’s diving in a bit deeper. See show notes at formerlawyer.com/184 2023-05-2211 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow to Handle the Bullying in Law FirmsIn this podcast episode, Sarah responds to a listener's email about a recent episode where the discussion was about law firms and the narcissists that often run them. The listener wanted an additional discussion on the podcast about the bullying and abuse that goes on in law firms. Sarah spent a decade moving through different sections of the law, plus the recent work on Former Lawyer with many stories from other current and former lawyers. If anyone is going through this situation, it’s horrible and confusing. It’s hard even to understand what is happening at the m...2023-05-0811 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastDiscovering the Art of Writing Romance with Former Lawyer Jayci LeeOn today’s podcast, Sarah is chatting with Jayci Lee, a former lawyer who has become an author since leaving her job as a litigator. The conversation covers everything from the process of leaving law to the importance of caring for mental health. Sarah discovered Jayci after reading one of her books where the main character is a lawyer. One former lawyer instantly recognized another, and she knew Jayci would be a great podcast guest. See show notes at formerlawyer.com/1812023-05-0148 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow the Hypervigilance in Law Causes Lawyers to Leave the Law with Ed CottrellSarah talked with Karen Gulde a few months ago as part of the former lawyers turned therapists month. Karen talked about her experience of hypervigilance as a lawyer, the experience of her nervous system is constantly activated, and how common that is for lawyers. Sarah’s husband, Ed Cottrell, posted a reaction to that on LinkedIn and shared his experiences in the last year since he left law. In this episode, Sarah chats more with Ed about his experience with hypervigilance and leaving the law. See show notes at formerlawyer.com/1802023-04-2409 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastFinding Freedom in Mental Health After Leaving Law with Megan NogaskyIn today’s podcast episode, Sarah talks to Megan Nogasky, her former law school classmate. Megan is another former lawyer who returned to school to get into the mental health space to join the series featuring lawyers who have transitioned into this industry. Megan shares some great advice and gives listeners her story about discovering that being a lawyer wasn’t for her anymore and how she made the transition. See show notes at formerlawyer.com/1752023-03-2051 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow an ADHD Diagnosis Changed a Career Path with Lauren AscherOn the Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah is chatting with Lauren Ascher about how an ADHD diagnosis changed a career, prompting her to make the career change from law to mental health work. After ten years as a lawyer, Lauren is back in school, getting her master’s in mental health counseling. She is also working as an ADHD executive function coach. After our episode with Annie Little a few months ago, many listeners have reached out about undiagnosed ADHD, so read along and listen to the podcast to learn about Lauren’s experience as a form...2023-03-1348 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastSetting Aside Prestige and Leaving Law for Therapy with Yael EiserikeIn this episode of the Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah interviews Yael Eiserike, a former lawyer turned therapist. They talk about the challenges of deciding to go back to school, why therapy felt like the best fit for Yael, and what advice she has for any current lawyers debating making a big change in their life. Connect with Yael Eiserke Website: https://www.pacificmft.com/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pacificmft Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PacificMFTNetwork Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pacificmft2/ See show notes at formerlawyer.com/1732023-03-0647 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastEnding a 22 Year Legal Career for a New Career in Counseling with Karen GuldeIn this episode, Sarah interviews a former lawyer, Karen Gulde. After 22 years as a lawyer, she decided to transition into counseling and help drive home the importance of mental health and self-care. Sarah and Karen talk about what factors led to her making the career switch, and what advice she has for others who might be considered the same. See show notes at formerlawyer.com/167 2023-02-2746 min
The Former Lawyer Podcast5 Tips for Lawyers to Find a Therapist to Help with Stress and AnxietyThis podcast episode is all about therapy for lawyers. Sarah covers the importance of finding a therapist that fits your needs and the five tips to help you find the right person. There aren’t therapists for lawyers specifically, but there are a few tools you can utilize to help you find someone that works best for you. Sarah has been very open about how therapy has helped her and wants to share her advice to help other lawyers find therapists so they can enjoy the same benefits. 5 Tips to Find Therapists for Lawyers ...2023-02-2022 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastWhy It's Critical Lawyers Know Your Job is Not Your Identity with Mike WhelanIn this episode, Sarah interviews Mike Whelan, the author of Lawyer Forward. They chat about his work helping solo attorneys, breaking out of the task-oriented law world, and moving towards a system that allows people to thrive and succeed. You’ll hear about his experience starting law school in his 30s right as the recession hit and find out how that impacted his choice to start his own firm after graduation. It’s a fascinating conversation that focuses on the idea that your job is not your identity and how lawyers can use their strengths to find a ful...2023-02-1348 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastEmbrace Your Passion and Leave Your Legal Career Behind with Cary SimowitzThis episode features Cary Simowitz. Cary met Sarah by email in the summer of 2020 while he was still working as a lawyer. Before then, he had done a detour and bagged a MFA degree in California, right out of law school. Now, Cary works as the head of legal marketing at a law firm in the Midwest. His story is proof that taking a detour as a lawyer is not necessarily a death knell like most people believe. When you follow your heart and ditch the soul-sucking legal practice, you can live the life of y...2023-02-0653 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow the Former Lawyer Collaborative Helped Angelica Pedraza Transition to NursingThis episode features Angelica Pedraza, who has eight years of experience working as a commercial real estate lawyer in Biglaw, Midlaw, and a boutique firm. Angelina has been a lawyer for eight years but has decided to leave the field to become a nurse. Angelina gave notice at her firm in October of last year after joining the Former Lawyer Collaborative in May. In this episode, we learn about her journey and how she plans to change careers. If you’re reading this and want the resources, courage, and support to make the kind of chan...2023-01-2352 min
The Former Lawyer Podcast1 Year After Leaving the Law: Looking Back with Collab Member Jamie Spannhake This episode is a follow-up to Sarah’s previous conversation with Jamie Spannhake. Jamie is a Former Lawyer Collaborative member who left the law in October 2021 after 17 years of practice. In this episode, Jamie talks about what she's done over the last 12 months since leaving the law and some of the lessons that she has continued to learn. If you want to experience the same thing, Sarah will start a new round of the Guided Track in February to help you figure out what you want to do outside the law. ...2023-01-1642 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow The Guided Track Supported Marquel Stuedemann in Transitioning from Lawyer to Trust OfficerThis episode features Marquel Stuedemann, who joined the Former Lawyer Collaborative in the Fall 2021 cohort of Guided Track. Marquel discusses her experiences before and after joining The Collaborative. In this episode, you will see what being in The Collaborative looks like and how the support can help you leave the law by identifying an alternative career that is a great fit for you. If you would love to have the same experience as Marquel Stuedemann, you can join the next Guided Track cohort that starts in February. The Guided Track is a ten-week support program th...2023-01-0943 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHappy New Year, It's Client Month at Former Lawyer!In this episode, Sarah discusses starting 2023 with a new podcast series that features previous clients in the Former Lawyer Collaborative. People who listen to the new series will hear the inspiring stories of former lawyers who quit their soul-sucking jobs by following Sarah's tried-and-true advice and strategies. These former lawyers are now in careers they love and are enjoying the life they now live to the fullest! Learn more about The Guided Track. See show notes at formerlawyer.com/1652023-01-0207 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow Sarah Rutledge Fischer left Biglaw to be a Working ArtistToday’s episode picks up from the last bit of Sarah’s discussion with Sarah Rutledge Fischer. In the first half of the conversation, Sarah talked about her journey through the legal track and into a Biglaw firm. She also spoke about seeking therapy and being pregnant while practicing law. In the final part of this conversation, you’ll read about her journey out of the law and into the art world. You’ll also learn a bit about the concept of “following your passion” and how Sarah (Cottrell) helps lawyers to leave the law. See show no...2022-12-1940 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow Janelle Christian Went From Biglaw to Starting a Coaching BusinessThe episode is an installment in The After series that focuses on showing lawyers that the after is really better than before. This episode features Janelle Christian, who successfully transitioned from big law to life coaching. In this conversation, Janelle talks to Sarah about being bored in the legal profession and building a side hustle as a lawyer. She talked about how some harmful lies told in the legal field hurt people and make lawyers feel bad about themselves. You should listen to this conversation to learn how to create lives of autonomy, happiness, freedom...2022-12-0539 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastThe After Series: Life After BiglawKicking off a new podcast series, The After Series. The new series will help unhappy lawyers who are hesitant to quit their soul-sucking jobs for fear of what comes next or because of uncertainty see that quitting to follow their passion makes things better than before. Why the After Series is Important Sarah notes that a common trait among her clients, especially those in Biglaw, is disbelief that things could get better than they currently are in their job. Those working in Biglaw firms can attest that a lot of emotional and mental ma...2022-11-2808 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastLeaving Private Practice Behind for a Career in Tech as a Data ScientistThis episode features Greg Jacobs, who has successfully transitioned from the law into the technology industry as a data scientist after 14 years of practice. In this conversation, Sarah talks to Greg about the approach he used to move into a job that many lawyers are potentially thinking about without fully returning to school. You should listen to this if you want to start a fulfilling career in the tech industry. You will learn the exact process Greg used to get his dream job and how taking the risk to trust his instinct brought him to w...2022-11-2157 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow to Work Through Conflicting Emotions as You Transition Out of the LawIn this episode, Sarah talks about lawyers and former lawyers struggling with the decision to transition out of the law for fear of missing out or underachieving in their new field. These lawyers think that those who are practicing are more “successful.” Here, you will learn how to overcome the fear of failing and how joining the Former Lawyer Collaborative can help you to ditch regret and fear. Let’s get into it! See show notes at formerlawyer.com/1622022-11-1416 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastWhy Your Toxic Workplace Makes It Impossible To Figure Out What You Want To DoOn the latest episode of the Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah took a break from interviewing former lawyers to share something important for anyone in a toxic workplace. She talked about how being in a toxic workplace makes it harder to figure out what you want to do when you eventually move on. Toxic workplaces trigger all sorts of responses from the nervous systems that make it almost impossible to do the inner work needed to gain clarity, whether it’s on a post-legal career or just another sector of law. Keep reading to learn how your...2022-10-3114 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow Laura Evans Left Environmental Law Days After a Terrible Anxiety AttackLaura Evans went to law school wanting to be an environmental lawyer. She focused on that all the way to actually practicing environmental law, which is pretty uncommon in the legal world. When she eventually left, she didn’t have a plan, but she did still have the passion to make a change for the environment. Now, she works as an environmental planner, still in the environmental space but doing slightly different types of work than before she left the law. In their conversation, Sarah and Laura talked a lot about how that happened, she had...2022-10-2453 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastIt's Not As Unusual As You Might Think to Leave the Law After 20 YearsSarah shares something she has observed in her clients who have worked in the law for a long time. Many of these lawyers fear being the only one with that level of tenure who has ever left the law. Today, you’re going to learn why that couldn’t be further from the truth and how the Former Lawyer Collaborative can help any lawyers who are struggling with that fear. See show notes at formerlawyer.com/1582022-10-1006 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastFrom Biglaw Partner to Success Coach for Lawyers with Heather MoulderFor this episode of the Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah chatted with Heather Moulder. Heather worked in Biglaw and even made partners. But in the end, she left to inspire and impact people as a success coach for lawyers. In this conversation, you’ll learn about Heather’s career in Biglaw and how she discovered coaching. You’ll also get to read how a huge life event and her values helped her make the career shift. This is an amazing read for anyone constantly battling with their values and career in the law. See show note...2022-10-0351 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastLeaving Biglaw To Become an Author and Writing Coach With Mary AdkinsMary Adkins followed her dream of becoming an author after leaving the law. And she knew the law wasn’t for her by the second day. Today she's joining Sarah Cottrell to share her story of leaving Biglaw to become an author and writing coach. There are so many lawyers out there with dreams of being a writer, but they don’t know how or where to begin. If that’s you, you’ll want to stay tuned to learn how you can get help leaving the law and becoming an author too. See show...2022-09-1947 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastSimple But Not Easy: Finding A Post-Legal CareerOn the latest episode of the Former Lawyer, Sarah takes a break from interviewing former lawyers to talk about a realization that many clients have when trying to find the right post-legal career. Something can be simple and still not be easy. While these two words are often used synonymously, they aren’t the same. Not in the case of the process of leaving the law. Figuring out what you really want to do is quite difficult. And while there are things that can help make the process easier for you, that doesn’t mean that i...2022-08-2912 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastLife After Biglaw in a new Hybrid Role with Ed CottrellThis week, we’re sharing the second part of Sarah’s conversation with her husband and former lawyer, Ed Cottrell. Last week, Ed and Sarah talked about the beginning of his journey into law and some of the events earlier in his legal career. This week, you’ll read about the later half of Ed’s legal career, when he left, and where he is now. They also talked about what Ed has seen and experienced being a part of the whole Former Lawyer journey. So, let’s get to the second part of how Ed Cotrell l...2022-08-2255 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastThe Long Process Of Leaving A Legal Career with Ed CottrellLawyers are under constant stress and pressure yet always have a “this is fine” mentality. “Everything will be fine,” we keep telling ourselves. But, is it really fine? And, is “fine” good enough? This week, you’ll read about Ed Cottrell, a former lawyer and most importantly, Sarah’s husband. Ed had a legal career for 13 years before leaving the law for a job in legal tech. You’ll notice the ever-present theme of “just fine” in Ed’s legal career journey. During their conversation, Sarah and Ed spoke about the positives and negatives of his legal career, how his...2022-08-1546 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastLeaving The Legal Profession After Practicing For Years With Landis Wade On the latest episode of the Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah sat down with former lawyer Landis Wade to talk about his journey in leaving the law after practicing for a long time. 35 years, to be exact. In their conversation, Sarah and Landis touched on many common themes on the podcast and in lawyers that are desperate to leave the law. Whether you’re new or want to leave the legal profession practicing for years, this conversation will get you thinking further about what could be next for you. Let’s get...2022-08-0850 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastCreating Change In The Legal System with Aliza ShatzmanIn this episode, you’ll learn about Aliza Shatzman, a former lawyer turned co-founder of a non-profit called Accountability Project. Aliza shares the circumstances that led her to decide to leave the legal system and start The Legal Accountability Project. The Legal Accountability Project seeks to ensure that as many law clerks as possible have a positive clerkship experience while extending support and resources to those who do not. Sarah and Aliza also discuss some popular topics on the podcast, like the dysfunction in the legal system and what needs to change. This is an ext...2022-07-2541 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastWriting A Book About Former Lawyers While Leaving The Law With Adam PascarellaOn the latest episode of the podcast, Sarah had a conversation with Adam Pascarella about his journey in and out of Biglaw. Adam is currently the founder and CEO of Second Order Capital Management. But before that, Adam worked in Biglaw as an associate and ended up writing a book while leaving the law. The process Adam went through to figure out what he wanted to do after leaving the law is so interesting. So, stick around to read all about Adams’s journey in writing a book while leaving the law! See show...2022-07-1842 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastCareer Coaching for Lawyers: Working 1:1 with Sarah CottrellIf you’re a regular listener, you know that I practiced law for ten years, and now, I help unhappy lawyers ditch their soul-sucking jobs. On this podcast, I share advice for aspiring former lawyers and interviews to help you through the process of leaving and finding a new career. Today, I want to talk to you about why I didn’t do career coaching for lawyers when I first started Former Lawyer and what got me started doing 1:1 coaching. I’ll also talk about what it looks like to work with me and how you can get sta...2022-07-1118 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow (And Why) Navneet Mann Left The Legal Field For CoachingOn the latest episode of the Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah spoke with Navneet Mann, a former lawyer and listener of the podcast turned professional coach! She has her own practice, helping lawyers and other business professionals with business and mindset coaching. In this conversation, they talked about many different topics, including law firm abuse, the lawyer identity obstacle, and so much more. Keep reading to learn all about Navneet’s journey in the legal field and how she turned it around to become a business and mindset coach! See show notes at formerlawyer.com/1...2022-07-0449 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastTransitioning From a Legal Career: The Former Lawyer Story Part 2For those who may be new, Former Lawyer is run by me, Sarah Cottrell. Through my work with Former Lawyer, I help those that are trying to transition from a legal career and into something that’s really meaningful for them. This is part two of the story of my journey transitioning from a legal career and into starting Former Lawyer, as interviewed by Jessica Medina. See Show notes at formerlawyer.com/1012021-08-0247 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow to Know When It’s Time to Hire a Career CoachOn this episode, Sarah answers the common question, "How do I know when I'm at the point that I need to hire a career coach?". She has one simple answer and reframing question for you before you hire a coach. See Show notes at formerlawyer.com/0912021-05-2405 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastIs Now The Time to Leave the Law?On this episode, Sarah breaks down her take on the common question, is now the time to leave the law? See Show notes at formerlawyer.com/089 2021-05-1009 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow Sarah Rutledge Fischer left Biglaw to be a Working Artist: Part TwoIn Episode 039 of The Former Lawyer Podcast, I’m sharing the second half of my conversation with Sarah Rutledge Fischer. (You can listen to part 1 here.) Sarah is an artist and art teacher. She spent 3 1/2 years in biglaw before left and found her way to her current career as an artist. In the second half of our conversation, Sarah shares about: The shame she felt during her biglaw experience; Feeling like there was something fundamentally wrong with her as a person because she wasn’t finding the right fit in her firm; The disturbing paral...2020-05-0441 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastLeaving A Biglaw Firm For The Art World with Sarah Rutledge: Part OneIn Episode 038, I’m sharing the first half of my conversation with Sarah Rutledge Fischer. (Look out for part 2 next week! We covered so many important themes, I’ve split our conversation into two episodes.) Sarah is an artist and art teacher. She spent 3 1/2 years in biglaw before left and found her way to her current career as an artist. In today’s episode, we talk about lots of things, including her struggles with depression and the inhumane environment of many big law firms. This is an important conversation and I can’t wait for you to hear it...2020-04-271h 01
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow Matt Wheat Left Legal Aid to Become a FirefighterIn Episode 028 of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks with Matt Wheat, a single dad who left the law to become a firefighter. Matt spent most of his legal career in various public interest law jobs. While he was still practicing law, Matt started serving as a volunteer firefighter, fell in love with firefighting, and ultimately left legal practice to make it his full-time career. In this conversation, Matt shares about: Being “consumed” by injustice growing up, which led him to law school; The impact that the recession in the aughts had on his rural legal job...2020-02-1741 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastFinding an Influential Career in Coaching After Being Let Down by BiglawIn Episode 027 of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks with Erin Conlon. Erin graduated from law school and landed her dream job with a plaintiff-side class action firm, only to lose her job as a result of the recession in the late 2000s. She worked on a political campaign, started performing comedy, and ultimately landed in biglaw doing electronic discovery work. She spent almost a decade as Discovery Counsel before making the leap to life and executive coaching. Erin describes herself as a warrior for possibility. In this conversation, Erin shares about: Being told as a...2020-02-1053 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastBattling Depression To Become Legally Bold with Toya GavinIn Episode 026 of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks with Toya Gavin. Toya practiced law for over 10 years, eventually opening her own practice, before finding herself struggling with severe depression. After reexamining her life and her career goals, she started her company, Legally Bold, where she coaches and consults with women with J.D.s who are dissatisfied in their careers or who are trying to transform their side hustles into full-time careers. In this conversation, Toya shares about: Why the transition from an undergrad engineering major to law school was so jarring; How most law students think...2020-02-0356 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastGiving Up The Legal Profession For Event Planning with Risa Weaver-EnionIn Episode 025 of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks with Risa Weaver-Enion. Risa graduated from Duke Law School and worked a handful of jobs in the legal industry while she and her husband moved around the country for his job. Five years ago, Risa started her own event and wedding planning company, Risa James Events, as a side hustle, and in 2017, she transitioned to running her business full-time. In this conversation, Risa shares about: Why she’s half-serious when she says she went to law school out of spite (you do not want to miss this story!); How she...2020-01-2754 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastFrom Business Litigation to Professional Development for Lawyers with Katie AldrichIn Episode 024 of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks with Katie Aldrich. Katie practiced business litigation at a big law firm in Boston for more than five years before transitioning first into professional development for lawyers, and then into career coaching for lawyers and other professionals with Fringe Professional Development. In this conversation, Katie shares about: Being told by lots of people when she was a young child that she should be a lawyer because she had a lot of opinions; Deciding to go to law school because it seemed easier than looking for another job w...2020-01-2055 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastBuilding a Career and Business Coaching Firm After Leaving The Law with Ami WatkinIn Episode 023 of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks with Ami Watkin. Ami is a self-described “recovering corporate attorney,” and the co-founder of Integrated Hustle, a career and business coaching firm. In this conversation, Ami shares about: Deciding to go to law school in the aftermath of the financial crash of 2008; Making the choice to go to law school because at the age of 24 she thought “I like smart people, I’m smart, and I want to make six-figures”; Knowing that she didn’t want to stay in biglaw forever, but not knowing what she was going to do...2020-01-1349 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastFrom Federal Public Defender to Post Legal Career In Photography and Travel Journalism with Sivani BabuSarah talks with Sivani Babu. Sivani worked as a federal public defender before switching careers. She is now an award-winning nature photographer and travel journalist, and the co-founder and Creative Director of the cross-genre travel magazine Hidden Compass. In this conversation, Sivani shares about: Really enjoying being a federal public defender and getting up in court every day; Getting a “real” camera during law school and starting to take photos and display and sell her work simply as a hobby; The trip to Antarctica that changed the course of her career and her life; How the peop...2020-01-0653 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastFrom “Hating Every Second” of Working in Law to Legal Educator for Entrepreneurs with Sam Vander WielenSam left legal practice and has spent the last three years helping women entrepreneurs legally protect and grow their online businesses with her DIY Legal Templates and Fearlessly Legal™ Ultimate Bundle program. In this conversation, Sam shares about: Why she “hated every second” of corporate litigation; How she got sick of her own complaining about being a lawyer; Being told from a young age that she should be a lawyer because she was loud and opinionated; Being “laser-focused” on getting into law school in undergrad, even though she didn’t know that much about law school or being a l...2019-12-3058 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastFrom Working In Biglaw To Teaching Yoga And Meditation With Catherine ZackIn Episode 020 of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks with Catherine Zack. Six years ago, Catherine walked away from biglaw to teach yoga and meditation. Through her business, The Daily Vinyasa, Catherine teaches her clients and students how to incorporate yoga, mediation, and self-care into their daily lives. In this conversation, Catherine shares about: Being as certain she should leave the law as she had been certain she should go to law school; How being “type A plus plus plus” put her on the path to law school; Making decisions based on whether she could do something, rather than...2019-12-2358 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastThe Generational Mindset Gap Around Career Changes with Morgan HallIn Episode 019 of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks with Morgan Hall. Morgan left legal practice after 4 1/2 years and is now a sales executive at a tech company. In this conversation, Morgan shares about: Why she’s “happier than ever” working in sales; Being raised to think that her only three career options were doctor, lawyer, or engineer; Being pushed in the direction of becoming a lawyer because she had a strong personality and “liked to argue,” Hating law school, but thinking that was normal; Why worrying about looking like a quitter kept her in law school, even though she...2019-12-161h 06
The Former Lawyer PodcastLeaving Biglaw Without a Plan for The Unbillable Life with Marissa GeannetteIn Episode 018 of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks with Marissa Geannette. Marissa walked away from a successful biglaw career after nearly eight years, and now works as a freelance writer and blogs on her site, The Unbillable Life. In this conversation, Marissa shares about: Why she started blogging after leaving biglaw, but kept the blog anonymous at first; Why she no longer blogs anonymously (you can read her blog post about it here); How she just sort of fell into her practice area; Why she started thinking about leaving the law after only one year...2019-12-0948 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow a Millennial Lawyer Followed Her Curiosity Out of Law With Nicole AbboudIn Episode 017 of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks with Nicole Abboud. Nicole first practiced family law, then fashion law, and along the way started the podcast The Gen Y Lawyer and founded Abboud Media, a modern strategy and consulting agency specializing in social media, podcast, and video marketing for lawyers and law firms. She recently pivoted and is focusing on blogging about sustainability, inclusion, style, courage, and self-expression. In this conversation, Nicole shares about: Deciding she wanted to be a lawyer at a young age; Why she grew to hate practicing law; How she found...2019-12-0249 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow This Former Lawyer Made a Business out of Quitting with Goli KalkhoranIn Episode 016 of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks with Goli Kalkhoran, who quit law and started a portable photo booth company, Usie Booth. Goli also hosts the podcast Lessons from a Quitter, where she interviews inspiring people who have left traditional careers to start over and create a life they love. In this conversation, Goli shares about: Deciding that she was going to become a lawyer when she was 10 years old; Heading off to law school convinced she would love the lawyer life; Why she wasn’t surprised she didn’t like working at a law...2019-11-2553 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastTransitioning From A Legal Career to Health Coaching For Perfectionists With Simi BoticIn Episode 015 of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks with Simi Botic, who worked as a corporate healthcare associate at a law firm for almost four years before leaving to run her own business. Simi is a certified holistic health coach, Intuitive Eating counselor, and the author of Letting Go Of Leo: How I Broke Up With Perfection, a memoir about overcoming her decades long struggle with feeling like she wasn't enough. Through her work, she helps women all over the world ditch perfection and heal their relationships with food and body image so they can begin to embrace...2019-11-1850 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastJennifer Alvey: From Lawyer to Legal Publishing to Career Coach for LawyersIn Episode 014 of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks with Jennifer Alvey. Jennifer left the law for a career in legal publishing, and now works as a career coach for lawyers and others looking to make a career change. In this conversation, Jennifer shares about: Her progression from thinking she just didn’t like her particular legal job to realizing she didn’t want to be a lawyer at all; How she found her first job in legal publishing; Why writing for a legal publication was completely different from typical legal writing; How her blog, which start...2019-11-1150 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastLeaving the Law to Build a Caligraphy Company with Shinah ChangIn Episode 011 of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks with Shinah Chang. Shinah practiced corporate law for six years before leaving to start her own calligraphy business, Crooked Calligraphy. In this conversation, Shinah shares about: How she spent her entire childhood working to get into Harvard, but felt lost when she arrived; Why she ended up going to law school after undergrad even though she thought being a lawyer would be boring; Why “you’re so good at arguing” is not a good reason to go to law school; Why the known path of law school seemed...2019-10-2148 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastLeaving Your Legal Career After a Few Years With Francesca ChangIn Episode 010 of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks with Francesca Chang. While in law school, Francesca realized that she didn’t want to practice law, and instead travels and works as a freelance travel writer and marketing consultant. In this conversation, Francesca shares about: How she chose to go to law school because she thought it would be a way to contribute to social change; How she realized in law school that the legal profession was not for her, but deciding to finish law school and take the bar anyway; The pushback she received from th...2019-10-1444 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow Jen Berson Created a Different Definition of Success After the Legal LifeIn Episode 009 of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah talks with Jen Berson. Jen is a former lawyer who owns and run her own PR Agency, Jeneration PR, and teaches others how to start and grow their own successful agency. In this conversation, Jen shares: How she originally got on the path to law school because she was looking for a reason to stay in the city where she went to college for the summer; Why observing women more senior to her in her law firm made her realize that working at a firm was not for...2019-10-0758 minThe Former Lawyer PodcastStacy MikulikOn today’s show, Sarah talks with Stacy Mikulik. Stacy is a former lawyer who is now a jewelry designer and the owner of grace + hudson jewelry. In this conversation, Stacy shares: The danger of paying too much attention to what other people are saying about your career without listening to yourself as well; Why law school was a bad fit for her from the start; The confusion she felt about why anyone would want to be a biglaw associate; How inspiration from a shop she visited on vacation propelled her into the world of jewelry-making; The...2019-09-231h 05
The Former Lawyer PodcastLeaving The Law For Coaching as an Ontological Coach with Matt MaxwellOn today’s show, Sarah talks with Matt Maxwell. Matt is a former lawyer who is now a Leadership Coach and Facilitator. In this conversation, Sarah and Matt talk about: How he found himself asking during the first month of law school, “When did I actually choose to do this?”; How he raised the idea of leaving law school early on with his then-wife, but ultimately was held back by a sunk costs fallacy; Why taking the LSAT was his favorite part of his entire legal journey; The role his spiritual life played in deciding to leave t...2019-09-161h 05
The Former Lawyer PodcastFrom Biglaw to Director of The Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice with Heidi MuellerOn today’s show, Sarah talks with Heidi Mueller. Heidi is a former lawyer who is now the Director of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice. In this conversation, Heidi shares about: Why she had an inkling that she might want to leave law firm life even before she started; How she struggled with guilt over the fact that she didn’t like working as a big firm lawyer; The article she read that affirmed her decision to leave; Why she freaked out just as she was leaving her firm, even though she knew she wanted to le...2019-09-0955 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastFlying Out The Gates Of A Legal Job For Horse Race Writing With Nicolle NeulistOn today’s show, Sarah talks with Nicolle Neulist, a former lawyer who went from lawyer, to information security consultant and analyst, to writing about horse-racing. In this conversation, Nicolle shares about: Realizing during law school that law was not a good fit; Leaving the law after less than a year as a lawyer; Internally dancing a jig when being laid off during the 2009 contraction of the legal industry; Being willing to accept having law school debt forever in exchange for not hating your job; The mindset most lawyers have about how their career should go tha...2019-09-0245 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastPutting Priorities First To Discover A Career Outside Of The Legal World with Alexis MichaudOn today’s show, Sarah interviews Alexis Michaud. In her former life, Alexis was Deputy General Counsel for a newly public technology company. In this interview, Alexis shares: Why she left the law after practicing for 18 years; How working with an Executive Coach was integral to determining her next move; Why someone who loves legal work can still want to make a change and leave the law; Why knowing your own work personality is essential when deciding whether to leave the law; The reason she didn’t have pictures of her kids in her office while she was a lawy...2019-08-2655 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastQuitting the Law to Practice Medicine with Maria PhillisOn today’s show, Sarah interviews Maria Phillis, former lawyer turned doctor (ob/gyn, to be specific). In this interview, Maria shares: Why getting laid off during the big crash of '08/'09 wasn’t a terrible thing in retrospect; Why loving trial work wasn’t enough to keep her in the law; How she challenged herself to prove that she was truly interested in med school while still working as a lawyer; Why she doesn’t regret taking the path that she took (even though it meant even more student loans); Why she thinks it’s so hard fo...2019-08-1935 min
The Former Lawyer PodcastHow Former Lawyer Sarah Cottrell Got In And Out Of The LawIn this episode, Sarah Cottrell, the host of The Former Lawyer Podcast, shares about her experience working as a lawyer and why she decided to leave the law after practicing for 10 years. You'll hear about why she decided to go to law school (spoiler, she doesn't actually remember deciding to go), how she took a 6-figure pay cut (!) to leave biglaw after only three years, how she ended up in the best lawyer job of all time (in her opinion), why she ended up leaving the law anyway, and what inspired her to start Former Lawyer and this podcast. ...2019-08-1218 minThe Former Lawyer PodcastIntroduction to The Former Lawyer Podcast In today's mini episode, Sarah introduces The Former Lawyer Podcast. Click here to grab the free guide, "First Steps to Leaving the Law," and to be notified about new episodes and when the doors open to The Former Lawyer Community! Follow Former Lawyer on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, & LinkedIn. Transcript of today's episode: Sarah Cottrell: Hi, and welcome to The Former Lawyer Podcast! I'm Sarah Cottrell, the creator of Former Lawyer. On this podcast, I'll be interviewing all sorts of former lawyers who have left law to do s...2019-08-0301 min