A Sigh of Relief

Contrary to what you may believe about yourself, merely having succeeded through law school-last week, last year or 20 years ago-tells the world you are a competent, intelligent and responsible person who attains goals you set for yourself. You're someone who commands respect.

For some of you, this notion may come as a shock. Rather than feeling successful, you feel like a failure because:

1. You didn't graduate at the top of your class 2. You didn't get an invitation to join a highly rated law firm 3. You aren't now practicing law in a prestigious firm 4. You haven't found a job within the legal profession 5. You didn't recognize the signs that you were going to be laid off 6. You aren't a super-lawyer, super-parent and super-person 7. You can't imagine practicing law for the rest of your life 8. You can't seem to get your work done, or done right 9. You don't love your work.

Don't assume because your law school classmates earned better grade, or because they now win more cases, earn more money, or look forward to their work-day while you dread yours, that you have failed. That fatalism is counterproductive. Other lawyers' success and satisfaction are only signs that they are in the right place and you're not. You are a bright accomplished person whose feelings of failure and frustration will vanish when you move to an environment more suited to your strengths and interests. - What Can You Do With a Law Degree, Deborah Arron

HOT DAMN! That describes exactly what I was feeling. Who knew that others have gone through the same type of anxiety about this job stuff. Those of you who are thinking that law is just not it for you should check out this book. I'm only on page 20, but it really makes me feel good that people know exactly how I feel.