The Former Lawyer Podcast

The Former Lawyer Podcast

By Sarah Cottrell

Do you hate working as a lawyer? Are you an unhappy lawyer who wants to leave the law, but isn't sure what to do next? Do your family and friends think you're crazy for wanting to leave the law, or are you too afraid to tell them you don't want to be a lawyer? The Former Lawyer Podcast is for you! Each week, host Sarah Cottrell interviews a different former lawyer who has left the law behind. Hear inspiring stories about how these former lawyers are thriving and found their way to careers and lives they love.
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12/01/25

The One Decision Unhappy Lawyers Must Make Before Changing Careers

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 and to other people, and they imagine how much better things could be somewhere else.  But imagining … Read more

11/24/25

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

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 loans. You built the career you were told would make it all worth it. Now you’re tired, anxious, or chec… Read more

11/17/25

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

Zi Lin did everything “right.” Philosophy major, law school, great grades, OCI, Biglaw offer, six-figure salary. From the outside, the path looked impressive. From the inside, it felt like being processed through a conveyor belt. No one asked whether… Read more

11/10/25

How Scarcity Keeps Lawyers in Jobs They Don’t Want

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 job, it can feel like there is no other path that will work. People outside the profession are usuall… Read more

11/03/25

Your Burnout Started Long Before Your First Legal Job

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 the profession. For many lawyers, it started long before their first legal job.  Sarah hears from people wh… Read more

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