Sticking with it

Back in July, I wrote a blog about what inspired you to enter the law. That post got an interesting comment from a reader who suggested I ask why people stick with the profession after finally understanding what it actually entails.

I don’t know if that reader has had a bad experience in law school or once he became an attorney, but he does bring up an interesting question: Why do you continue to be an attorney?

It seems nearly each profession is struggling right now; the legal community is no exception. While Indiana hasn’t been hit nearly as hard as some of the larger firms in bigger cities, we’ve seen our share of layoffs in recent months. Do you worry about your job? Hope to ride it out until prospects are better, or are you considering packing up and trying your hand at something new?

Even if you take the economy out of the equation, being an attorney isn’t easy. You put in countless hours, have tons of debt right out of law school, and maybe have to defend your choice of work to some. It’s a high-stress job that can demand more than you always want to give and can keep you from spending more time with family, friends, or pursuing hobbies. Ever think of throwing in the towel and trying to find another job outside the legal world?

Maybe the feelings of that reader are very rare and most are quite happy with how their career has turned out. Perhaps you’d care to share why you have continued to work as an attorney.