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 explores why trusting your intuition is key, how to navigate conversations about your decision, and why you don’t need to convince anyone else to validate your choice.

See show notes at formerlawyer.com/254

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 step for any lawyer considering a career change. She shares how identifying what truly matters to you can uncover the root of your dissatisfaction and guide you toward a career that aligns with your priorities.

Whether you’re unsure about your next step or ready to make a move, this conversation offers actionable insights to help you get started on your path to a more fulfilling future. Tune in to learn why values are the foundation of Sarah’s framework for lawyers ready to leave the law behind.

See show notes at formerlawyer.com/253

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 can’t keep doing this,’ and you know you don’t want to be in the same place next year, this episode is for you. Sarah breaks down the options available to help you leave the law behind and create the change you’re ready for.

See show notes at formerlawyer.com/252

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

This week on The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah Cottrell welcomes back her client Kelcey Baker for a powerful conversation about the distressingly common experience among lawyers of wishing for a minor injury—like being hit by a bus—just to get a break from work.

Kelcey and Sarah dive deep into the toxic environments in the legal profession that normalize extreme stress and emotional distress while discouraging vulnerability and self-care. They explore the systemic issues in law firms that create these harmful dynamics and why addressing the environment, not the individual, is critical.

If you’ve ever felt trapped in an environment where taking a real break feels impossible, this conversation will resonate deeply and offer hope. Tune in to hear more about why these feelings arise, how they can be addressed, and the importance of prioritizing your well-being.

See show notes at formerlawyer.com/236

Previously, Lauren Ascher was on the podcast to discuss accommodations for lawyers with ADHD. It’s a good segue into an important conversation about disclosing ADHD and other mental health issues to your law firm. It’s no secret that there is a high incidence rate among lawyers for anxiety, depression, panic disorders, and other issues.

In the United States, you are entitled to certain accommodations legally for disorders covered under the ADA. But a real challenge is deciding whether or not you will disclose your ADHD, anxiety, or depression to HR at your workplace. It can feel really daunting to think about disclosing something like this at work.

See show notes at formerlawyer.com/205

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 some re-releases of some episodes in the podcast dealing with mental health. So there will be three episodes.

This first episode will be how to take a mental health leave of absence from your firm, and I'm joined by guest Megan Nogasky.

See show notes at formerlawyer.com/176

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 work with end up leaving law?” There is a sense that she is trying to convince people to leave their careers as lawyers and move on to something else, and she wants to answer that question and chat about it.

A fundamental belief that Sarah has is that people are the experts on their own experience. She is not trying to convince anyone of anything. There are moments when she gets especially fired up about some of the problematic parts of the legal profession, but she is just sharing her experiences and allowing a place for others to do the same. This podcast was created for lawyers to hear someone talking about something they recognize.

See show notes at formerlawyer.com/251

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 even passing the bar. What came next wasn’t the traditional legal path but an unexpected journey into the publishing industry. Today, Lilly is a literary agent with over 20 years of experience, co-founder of Full Circle Literary, and an advocate for authors navigating the complex world of publishing.

In this episode, Lilly shares how her legal background helped her thrive in a nontraditional career and why so many lawyers are drawn to publishing. She talks about the realities of life as a literary agent, the skills that truly transfer from legal practice, and how lawyers can tap into their creative passions. Whether you’re dreaming of leaving law or simply curious about the publishing world, Lilly’s story will inspire you to explore new possibilities.

See show notes at formerlawyer.com/250