Why I Am Leaving the Law (In 500 Words or Less)

I love the law. I love corporate transactions. The excitement of mergers and acquisitions. IPOs. Venture capital. All of it. But here's the thing: I hate the law business. And when it all comes down to it, it's not worth all of the angst and pressure to do something that will consume my days, nights and weekends for the next 30 years. And that's if I'm really good at it. I've had friends brag about how they gave birth, and within a week, they were back doing deals. Or how a heart attack didn't stop them from closing a $2 billion deal. That's great for them, I guess. But quite frankly, that's not the kind of stuff I want to brag about.

I spoke recently with the head of the corporate group of a large, multi-national law firm, and he told me that he was so happy that his son decided not to follow in his footsteps and go to law school. This from a man who is undoubtedly making close to a million dollars, and is seen by many as being at the top of his game. That should tell you something about the state of the law today. In fact, it's not a stretch to say that I don't know one happy lawyer.

If I could write out the exact reasons I wanted to leave, this would be the mother of all entries. There are so many reasons. So many stories that you wouldn't believe about working beyond all limitations and getting nothing for it. Stories that would make child sweatshops sound like daycare centers. That would make prison feel like a 4-star hotel.

But instead of boring you with all sorts of details and pro/con lists, I should simply say this: there are times in our lives where we must make decisions grounded in faith. And sometimes faith takes the form of the road directly in front of us. Yes, I'm going to miss it. And who's to say I won't be jumping back in in a couple of years? But for the foreseeable future, I believe that this is where I should go. My life has been hard enough, without the 100-hour weeks.

I'm jumping into the vast, undefined world of consulting on August 15. Good salary. Decent hours. And you get to wear jeans. In all seriousness, part of my job description is to "identify and solve problems". Really. Basically, sitting around a table with really smart people and figure out things. They call it work. I call it dinner conversation.

So I'm taking this week off, working through a million wedding details and buying lots of crap. I just bought the world's most expensive coat rack. And the Heavenly Bed is coming on Saturday. Ahhhh, the Heavenly Bed. Who says I can't enjoy my life a bit more?

Come to think of it, that's what I need. A big, fat nap.