Written by Frasia Wright, Managing Director of FWA

I recently had the pleasure of joining an experienced panel for LawCare’s “Let’s Talk About” webinar series, where we explored the topic of Your Career in the legal profession.

It was a privilege to be part of such an insightful group, and I’m grateful to have been invited. I also learned a lot from the discussion, which featured:

• Eric Rugundu – Client Relationship Manager at the International Bar Association, Certified Coach, and LawCare Champion
• David McCahon – Chief of Staff at Mills & Reeve, Former General Counsel, Executive Coach & Mentor
• Kavita Varu – Lawyer, speaker, and professional DJ
• Nick O’Neill – Chair

Together, we explored how legal professionals are finding new ways to build fulfilling careers—highlighting that success doesn’t always follow a traditional path.

Career concerns are one of the top reasons people reach out to LawCare. Many begin to question whether law is truly right for them, often due to relentless pressure, unmet expectations, or uncertainty about the future. For some, this leads to thoughts of changing roles or even leaving the profession altogether.

During the session, I shared insights into why lawyers choose to stay or leave roles across different types of legal environments—large firms, small/mid-sized firms, and in-house positions. Here are some of the key drivers:

🔹 Large Firms
Stay for: prestige, high compensation, elite training, resources & networks
Leave because of: extreme hours, burnout culture, lack of control, “golden handcuffs” treadmill

🔹 Small/Mid-size Firms
Stay for: closer client relationships, variety, autonomy, faster partnership track
Leave because of: lower pay, resource pressures, limited advancement, instability

🔹 In-house Counsel
Stay for: work-life balance, strategic role, stability, no billable hours
Leave because of: limited mobility, corporate politics, reliance on one employer

Ultimately, fulfilment in law comes down to alignment – the match between your values, your environment, and what matters most at this stage of your career.

If any of this resonates with you, or if you’d simply like a confidential discussion, we’d love to hear from you.

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frasia@frasiawright.com  
cameron@frasiawright.com 
teddie@frasiawright.com
stephanie@frasiawright.com
jade@frasiawright.com

📞 01294 850501

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