You are here: Home / Interviews / Finding Your Path: A Business Coach Weighs In

Finding Your Path: A Business Coach Weighs In

August 11, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Crystal MarshPlease welcome Crystal Marsh, former attorney and career business coach. She is the owner of Crystal Marsh Coaching — a where she helps millennials define success and fulfillment for themselves and then land their dreams jobs or start their new businesses. Today she is sharing answering questions and sharing her insight on law school, the first years and finding your path.

Welcome, Crystal!

I’m getting ready to start law school, and I’m not at all sure I should go. I think I’d be good at law, but I’m not sure it’s my passion. Is this a terrible idea? What should I be thinking about as I make this decision?

I love this question! Before going to law school, you should get really clear on what your reasons for going are.  Do you truly want to be a lawyer or is there someone else who expects you to go to law school? Is someone going to be disappointed if you don’t go? Are you going to be told you’re not living up to your potential if you don’t go to law school? People who think they want to go to law school should talk to some lawyers.  Find a lawyer who has the career that you would want including the types of cases he works on, the types of people she works with, the number of hours worked per week, and the salary.  Find one person who has all of those things and talk to them, find out what they did, and see how you can follow the path they’ve already tread.  If you cannot find a lawyer who has a career that you would want for yourself, its possible law won’t give you the career you want.
I’m a young-ish lawyer and I really hate my job. I liked law school okay, and did pretty well, but I hate going to work every day. Help! What are the three most important things I can do now, to figure out what to do with my career?
Network.  As soon as you get an inkling that your job is not going to be a long term role you should begin networking like crazy.  Actually, it would be better if you start networking even before you realize that.  Most jobs these days are not posted anywhere, you’re going to have a leg up in the job search if you’re well connected. Networking will also be useful in helping you determine what kind of work you might enjoy.  The more you can talk to people about their work, legal or otherwise, and find out what their day entails, the easier its going to be for you to evaluate your options and find something better suited for you.
Hone the legal skills you most enjoy. If you get really good at a few things that you enjoy doing, you’re going to have greater leverage when you try to transition.
Get clear on what you like and don’t like.  Even if you don’t like your job, there are probably aspects of it that you do enjoy.  Don’t disregard those.  Take inventory and begin researching other positions that require more time doing the things you like.
Could you talk a bit about what you do in the average day at work and how it’s similar to (or different from) what you thought you’d be doing when you started law school?
I work as a career coach so my life is nothing like what I imagined when I was in law school! I spend my days coaching private clients, writing articles, and reading personal development and career books.  The reading and writing I expected, but the content is different.  The coaching is totally different than what I expected although it does have similarities to counseling legal clients.

 

Thanks, Crystal!

Crystal is a career and business coach, who helps millennials define success and fulfillment for themselves and then land their dreams jobs or start their new businesses. Crystal was working as an attorney, earning six figures and, for all  intents and purposes, seemed incredibly successful, but lacked fulfillment. Crystal had to discover for herself how to define success and fulfillment in order to  find work that she loves.  Her life’s work is helping others do the same. You can learn more at www.CrystalMarshCoaching.com or connect with her on Twitter or Linkedin.

Read On:

Looking for some other articles about your law school or your law career? Check these out!

As you embark on your law school application journey, you might want to bookmark Applying to Law School 101: What You Need to Know to Succeed.

Are you getting our helpful email updates? If not, you can rectify that right now by joining the free Girl’s Guide email list.

shutterstock_78784651

Concerned about your law school grades? Get the feedback and support you need to succeed.

Check out our law school tutoring options at the Law School Toolbox.

Get started, and ensure you're spending your time wisely!

Got a question? Drop us a line. We're here to help!

You Might Also Like:

 What’s Your Brand? Please welcome back Keri Clapp, professor and tutor for the Law School Toolbox and Bar Exam Toolbox, to discuss establishing, developing, and prom...
Interested in Entertainment Law? An Interview with... Given that I was on the board of the Arts & Entertainment Law Society in law school, I'm thrilled to welcome Jaia Thomas, a Los Angeles-based sports a...
Can I Be an Introverted Attorney in a Profession t... Today we welcome back Christen Morgan, guest writer and foreclosure attorney, to discuss how to handle the legal profession as an introvert. In a c...
What To Do If You Start 3L Year With No Job –... Please welcome back guest writer and current 3L Shirlene Armstrong to discuss some options if you find yourself in your 3L year without a job offer. ...
Filed Under: Interviews Tagged With:

Speak Your Mind

*