The Former Lawyer Podcast

You Don't Have to Quit Your Job to Start Leaving Law

30 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Lawyers thinking about leaving often get stuck on a question that feels practical but actually keeps them waiting longer than they need to. Do I need ...

Why Lawyers Think Feelings Are Optional and What It Costs Them

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Lawyers who are unhappy at work often tell themselves they'll feel things later. When they retire, maybe. The sense is that feeling the full weig...

Why High-Achieving Lawyers Stay in Jobs That Are Hurting Them

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Being good at your job and being in the right job are not the same thing. For lawyers who are high achievers, that distinction can be almost impossibl...

The Perfectionist Trap That Makes It Hard to Leave Law

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Lawyers are, as a group, highly responsible, hard on themselves, and convinced they should be able to handle more than anyone else around them. That c...

Why Unhappy Lawyers Should Pick Up a Hobby Before They're Ready to Leave

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

For lawyers who know they are unhappy but are not ready to make any real moves yet, the waiting period can feel like dead time. There are things you c...

What Lawyers Wish They'd Asked Before Going to Law School

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A lot of people end up going to law school without ever really asking themselves whether it's what they want to do.The questions in this episode ...

Hard Things Feel Hard Because They Are Hard

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

2026 is kicking a lot of people's asses, including Sarah's. She gets into what the last few weeks have actually looked like, and shares the ...

Escaping the Legal Grind to Build a Balanced Life with Dan Branagan

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When lawyers look back at why they entered the profession, they often find the answer is less about a lifelong passion and more about a lack of other ...

How to Explore Your Career Options After Law with Patience and a Plan

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When Sarah looks back at her time in practice, she can see a pattern that shows up for almost every lawyer who thinks about leaving the law. She would...

From Law School to Literary Agent with Lilly Ghahremani

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Maybe you've thought about it. You love books, you love reading, and somewhere in the back of your mind, you've wondered if there's a w...

How a Misalignment of Values and Career Helped a Lawyer Become a Therapist with David Sazant

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Former litigator David Sazant spent years bouncing between practice areas, convinced that if he just worked hard enough and found the right fit, every...

How Multiple Assessments Help Lawyers Changing Careers

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Lawyers love a good assessment. Sarah has learned this running The Collab. There's something appealing about taking a test that promises clear an...

Don't Wait for the World to Stabilize Before You Leave Your Legal Job

05 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

When the world feels unstable, the idea of introducing more instability into your life by leaving your job can feel impossible. But waiting for things...

Do You Need a Bridge Job? Key Questions for Lawyers in Transition

29 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

One of the most common questions lawyers ask when they're thinking about leaving is whether they need a bridge job. It's a fair question, bu...

I'm Not Here to Convince You to Leave the Law

22 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes people ask Sarah, "Do all the lawyers you work with end up leaving law?" She gets the sense they think she's trying to convin...

The Best First Step When You're Not Ready to Leave Law Yet

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Maybe you're thinking about leaving the law, but you aren't quite sure you're ready to start working through the process. You're t...

Why Community Support Matters When You're Leaving the Law

08 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When lawyers start thinking about leaving, they focus on the practical steps. What career should I pursue? How do I update my resume? What skills do I...

The One Decision Unhappy Lawyers Must Make Before Changing Careers

01 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Most people who are thinking about leaving the law spend a long time in a familiar place. They know their job feels awful, they say it to themselves a...

When “I Invested Too Much to Leave the Law” Becomes the Reason You Stay Stuck

24 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There comes a point where the math you’ve been doing in your head stops adding up. You spent years in school. You passed the bar. You took on the lo...

You Don’t Have to Earn the Right to Leave the Law with Zi Lin

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Zi Lin did everything “right.” Philosophy major, law school, great grades, OCI, Biglaw offer, six-figure salary. From the outside, the path looked...

How Scarcity Keeps Lawyers in Jobs They Don’t Want

10 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A lot of lawyers assume that making more money will make leaving easier. In reality, the opposite often happens. Once you are in a high-paying legal j...

Your Burnout Started Long Before Your First Legal Job

03 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A lot of lawyers believe they shouldn’t feel burned out because they haven’t been practicing very long. But burnout isn’t measured by years in t...

The Mistake Lawyers Make When They Want to Leave the Law

27 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For years, the idea of leaving the law can sit quietly in the back of your mind. You tell yourself you’ll figure it out eventually, that one day you...

Why You Feel Like You Can Never Turn Your Brain Off as a Lawyer

20 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lawyers often describe feeling like they can never fully turn their brains off. Even during downtime, there’s a sense of waiting for the next email,...

What to Expect in Your First Year After Leaving the Law

13 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The first year after leaving law is a strange mix of freedom and fatigue. There is relief in stepping away from billable hours, but the exhaustion run...

How to Break the Outrage-Complacency Cycle and Finally Leave Law

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ever feel trapped in the cycle where one week you swear you have to get out of law, and the next you convince yourself it isn’t so bad? That back-an...

It’s Okay to Care What People Think and Still Leave Law

29 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many lawyers, when they stop and reflect, realize that one of the reasons they went to law school was to impress other people. Prestige mattered. But ...

The Former Lawyer Framework 2.0: Streamlining Your Exit Strategy

22 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Former Lawyer framework has recently received a glow-up, and this podcast episode covers all the fun updates. Sarah has a few things that stuck ou...

Why Talk Therapy Stops Working for Burned-Out Lawyers

15 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You’ve been in therapy. You’ve talked through your career. You understand, logically, that your boss’s mood isn’t your responsibility, that yo...

Nothing is Worth Sacrificing Yourself - A Reminder for All Lawyers

08 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s podcast episode is an important reminder every lawyer needs to hear. Sarah reminds listeners that nothing about your job is as important as ...

It’s Not Too Late to Leave the Law in 2025

01 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

2025 is more than halfway through, and if you told yourself this was the year you’d leave practice, this is your check-in. September is basically he...

Is the Grass Greener When You Leave the Law? (What Former Lawyers Say)

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The question comes up constantly - in podcast interviews, on Collab group calls, and in emails from listeners. "What if the grass isn't gree...

The Partner Who Makes Everyone Quit Isn't Your Problem to Fix

18 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

There's a partner at your firm. Everyone knows about them. Multiple people have quit working for them. Multiple people have gone out on mental he...

Know It’s the Right Time to Leave the Law with Two Questions

11 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s podcast, Sarah discusses how to know when it’s the right time to leave law. Many people listening are grappling with this question, and...

Lawyers Hoping To Be Hit By A Bus Isn't Normal, but Not Uncommon Either with Kelcey Baker

04 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You're exhausted from work and catch yourself thinking, "I wish I could get hit by a bus just a little bit so I could finally get a break.&q...

From Biglaw Impostor Syndrome to Publishing Diverse Children's Books with Tiffany Obeng

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You're successful on paper but can't shake the feeling you haven't really "made it" without a prestigious law firm on your re...

Escaping Lawyer Burnout for Legal Tech with Ben Chiriboga

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You're a lawyer who's good at your job but something feels off. You're performing well, making good money, checking all the boxes that ...

Why Lawyers Stay Stuck After Taking Career Assessments

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You've taken CliftonStrengths. You've done the MBTI. Maybe you've worked through a few other career assessments too. You have pages of ...

Legal Recruiter Bryson Malcolm Calls Out Firms That Abandon Diversity

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You've probably seen the headlines about major law firms pulling out of diversity programs and capitulating to executive orders. Sarah has been c...

Lawyer Burnout Is Valid Even If You Don't Have Kids

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Experiencing lawyer burnout but telling yourself you shouldn't be struggling because you don't have kids or a partner? You're not alone...

Is Making Partner Really Better Than Being an Associate

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

You're a senior associate who keeps telling yourself, "it'll get better when I make partner." But what if it doesn't? What if...

From Biglaw Misery to a Meaningful Career in Family Law

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dan Lemon thought Biglaw was the peak—until the job started crushing his mental health. What looked like success on paper was making his life unliva...

Biglaw Leaders are Cowards and the Effects are More Obvious Now than Ever

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Biglaw has a cowardice problem, and it’s more visible than ever. In this episode, Sarah Cottrell breaks down how toxic law firm culture grooms and r...

Supporting The Legal Accountability Project Because Transparency Shouldn’t Be Controversial

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah shares why she donates to The Legal Accountability Project, a nonprofit working to bring transparency to the judicial clerkship system. She tal...

Reddit and Fishbowl Are Great—Except When They're Not

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Reddit and Fishbowl can feel like the only places lawyers can be honest about how bad it really is. But even in these “safe” spaces, the lawyer bu...

Five Years of Helping Lawyers Leave the Law inside The Former Lawyer Collaborative

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah is celebrating five years of The Former Lawyer Collab—and reflecting on what it’s taught her about helping lawyers leave the law. In this ep...

Understanding Executive Functions in an ADHD Brain with Annie Little

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lawyer and certified ADHD coach Annie Little returns to talk with Sarah about executive function, ADHD in the legal profession, and why so many lawyer...

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity are not the Problem in Biglaw

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Is DEI really the problem in Biglaw? Sarah doesn’t think so, and she’s not alone. In this episode, she breaks down why blaming diversity, equity, ...

When Tragedy Leads to Career Changes and Better Balance with Laura Markham

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When Laura Markham suddenly lost her husband, everything changed—including how she viewed her legal career. In this episode, Laura shares her path f...

It’s Okay If You’re Just Surviving Right Now

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Feeling overwhelmed, unmotivated, or like you're barely keeping up? You’re not alone. In this episode, Sarah shares a simple but powerful refra...

What If You Don’t Want to Be a Lawyer Anymore?

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Are you questioning whether practicing law is really the right path for you? You're not alone—and you're not wrong for feeling that way. I...

What to Do If You’re Sick of Complaining About Your Job

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If 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 wo...

Advice to Get a Job in Tech after Law with Ed Cottrell

31 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On 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 ...

Leaving the Law Is Simple but It’s Not Easy

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many lawyers contemplating leaving the profession assume the process is complicated. The reality? It’s actually very simple. But that doesn’t mean...

You Don’t Need Permission to Leave the Law and Here’s Why

17 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

If you’re thinking about leaving the law but feel stuck, ask yourself this question. Who are you waiting for permission from?Many lawyers aren’t j...

Why Amisha DeYoung-Dominguez Left the Law for Public Service

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sarah Cottrell talks with Amisha DeYoung-Dominguez, a former lawyer who transitioned into public service, on this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast...

Why Stay-at-Home Parents Who Left Law Have More Career Options Than They Think

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many former lawyers who stepped away from their careers to be stay-at-home parents eventually find themselves wondering how to re-enter the workforce—...

What Has Been the Biggest Surprise for Former Lawyers in the Collab?

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this re-released episode, Former Lawyer Collab members share the biggest surprises they’ve encountered while figuring out what’s next. From dis...

Myths Former Lawyers Believed Before Leaving the Law

17 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In this re-released episode, Former Lawyer Collab members share the biggest myths they believed about leaving the law—myths that held them back from...

Former Lawyers Share the Obvious Thing That Transformed Their Careers

10 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This week, I'm re-releasing an episode featuring Former Lawyer Collab members sharing the simple yet transformative realizations that helped them...

Navigating the Millennial Success Trap

03 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 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...

Can the Corporate World Solve My Work-Life Balance Problems?

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many lawyers worry that leaving the law for the corporate world won’t fix their work-life balance struggles. In this episode, Sarah explores why cor...

Why You Don’t Need to IRAC Your Way Out of the Law

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lawyers often feel pressured to craft the perfect IRAC-style argument to justify leaving the law, but that’s not necessary. In this episode, Sarah e...

Why Your Values Are the First Step to Leaving the Law

13 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Leaving the law starts with understanding your values. In this episode, Sarah explains why taking a deep dive into your values is the critical first s...

A Clear Path to Leaving the Law This Year

06 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 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 c...

Lawyers Hoping To Be Hit By A Bus Isn’t Normal, but Not Uncommon Either with Kelcey Baker

30 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

This episode includes an important content warning for discussions of narcissism, narcissistic abuse, self-harm, and suicidality. This week on The For...

Disclosing ADHD and Other Mental Health Issues to Your Firm

23 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Previously, Lauren Ascher was on the podcast to discuss accommodations for lawyers with ADHD. It’s a good segue into an important conversation about...

How to Take A Mental Health Leave of Absence From Your Law Firm with Megan Nogasky

16 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

For countless reasons, December can be a pretty rough month for lawyer's mental health. So for the next couple of weeks, we're going to have...

I'm Not Here to Convince You to Leave the Law

09 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On 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 ...

From Law School to Literary Agent with Lilly Ghahremani

02 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Lilly Ghahremani knew from her first day of law school that she had made a mistake, but like so many lawyers, she kept going, earning her degree and e...

How the Sunk Cost Fallacy Keeps Lawyers Stuck in the Law

25 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Struggling with the fear of leaving law behind? This week, Sarah unpacks the sunk cost fallacy—a common mental block for lawyers considering a care...

Escaping the Legal Grind to Build a Balanced Life with Dan Branagan

18 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On today’s podcast episode, Sarah chats with Dan Branagan. He is a member of the Collab and a former lawyer who now works as a data analyst. They di...

How Toxic Workplaces Make You Doubt Yourself—And Why Leaving Law Can Help

11 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sarah dives into how toxic workplaces—especially law firms—can lead to deep-rooted self-doubt and self-gaslighting. She breaks do...

How a Misalignment of Values and Career Helped a Lawyer Become a Therapist with David Sazant

04 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, host Sarah Cottrell talks with David Sazant, a former litigator who transitioned from practicing law to ...

How Law Firms Mismanage Billable Hours and Create Anxiety for Associates

28 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sarah dives into the toxic environment many law firms create by pushing junior associates to take responsibility for generating work ...

How Adrian Hern Beat Legal Burnout and Transformed Her Career

21 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, Sarah revisits a conversation with her client, Adrian Hern, who shares her journey through The Collab and the Collab Plus One-on-One ...

Why Your Law Firm Isn't a Meritocracy (And How It's Holding You Back)

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever wondered why all your hard work at the firm isn't paying off the way you expected? In this episode, Sarah exposes the myth of merit...

How Law Firms Are Failing Lawyers With ADHD with Annie Little

07 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, host Sarah Cottrell shares a conversation with Annie Little about disclosing ADHD and other neurodiverge...

It’s Not You, It’s Burnout: How Your Environment Has a Big Impact

30 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In 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 ov...

How to Prepare a Law Practice for Sale with Victoria Collier

23 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah Cottrell talks with Victoria Collier, founder of Quid Pro Quo Law, about the process of preparing ...

The Former Lawyer Framework 2.0: Streamlining Your Exit Strategy

16 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The Former Lawyer framework has recently received a glow-up, and this podcast episode covers all the fun updates. Sarah has a few things that stuck ou...

The Importance of Asking Yourself What Can Go Right with Liza Hanks

09 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s podcast episode features a conversation between Sarah and a member of the Collab, Liza Hanks. Liza made a career transition out of practicin...

The “No Assholes Rule” (And Why It’s A Joke)

02 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

You may have worked in a workplace or more than one legal workplace where they said that they had a no-asshole rule.Clearly, there are many people who...

The Biglaw System Creates Burnout

26 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The next episode in our summer re-release series is Burnout is a Feature, Not a Bug. This is one of the things that I honestly think is the most impor...

Lawyers, Your Job Should Not Make You Cry

19 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

I originally recorded the episode Your Job Should Not Make You Cry back in the very early days of lockdown when I was still editing the podcast myself...

What Collab Members Wish They Had Done Sooner

12 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The next episode in our summer re-release series is one of the episodes from our Collab member question series. If you've listened to this series...

Signs of Malignant Narcissism In The Legal Profession

05 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Next up in this summer series of the most popular episodes of The Former Lawyer Podcast is an episode that I did about malignant narcissism in the leg...

Not Fitting In at Law Firms is a Good Thing

29 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The reason that I recorded this episode originally is that so often when lawyers are thinking about leaving, one of the things that holds them back fr...

Is Being A Lawyer A Bullshit Job?

22 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today we're kicking off a summer series with episodes of the podcast that have been released over the past, well, honestly, almost five years the...

Do You Need a Bridge Job? Key Questions for Lawyers in Transition

15 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Sarah addresses a common question that lawyers who are looking to leave their positions often ask: Will you need a bridge job t...

The Abusive Corporate Lifestyle is Not Designed to Help You Thrive with Tiffany Rogers

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s podcast episode features a conversation between Sarah and someone who is not actually a former lawyer. Tiffany Rogers is a therapist based i...

The Most Challenging Part of Leaving Law is the Emotional Work

01 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s podcast episode, Sarah shares the hardest thing about leaving the law. She’s talked to many clients, peers, podcast guests, and people ...

Lawyers Hoping To Be Hit By A Bus Isn't Normal, but Not Uncommon Either with Kelcey Baker

24 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s podcast episode, Sarah is chatting with Kelcey Baker, a returning guest. Their conversation reviews why it isn’t normal to want a break...

How to Explore Your Career Options After Law with Patience and a Plan

17 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s episode, Sarah offers important advice to listeners. While practicing law, she constantly thought about what she wanted to do outside the...

Navigating Commercial Real Estate After Gaining Experience in Biglaw with Andre Ferrari

10 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s podcast episode features a conversation between Sarah and Andre Ferrari. He practiced law for a few years before becoming a real estate deve...

How Many Vacations Will Be Lost Before You Make a Change

03 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Summer has arrived! On today’s podcast, Sarah asks listeners the question, “How many vacations does your job have to ruin, cancel, impinge upon, o...

CBT vs. DBT: Which Type Of Therapy Is Better For Lawyers?

27 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s podcast episode features another conversation with previous guest Annie Little. Sarah is chatting with her about thoughts and advice when it...

Know It’s the Right Time to Leave the Law with Two Questions

20 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

In today’s podcast, Sarah discusses how to know when it’s the right time to leave law. Many people listening are grappling with this question, and...

How Law Firms Avoid All Responsibility for Toxic Environments with Kelcey Baker

13 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s podcast episode features a returning guest, Kelcey Baker, talking to Sarah. There is a content warning because they are discussing a recent...

Nothing is Worth Sacrificing Yourself - A Reminder for All Lawyers

06 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Today’s podcast episode is an important reminder every lawyer needs to hear. Sarah reminds listeners that nothing about your job is as important as ...