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Artwork for The Former Lawyer Podcast

The Former Lawyer Podcast

Sarah Cottrell
Career Transition
Burnout
Mental Health
Law Profession
Work-Life Balance
Lawyers
Therapy
Career Change
Real Estate Development
Commercial Real Estate
Law School
Law
Depression
Transitioning Careers
Big Law
Vacations
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
Existential Crisis
Entertainment Law

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... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes344Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Self-ImprovementEducationCareersBusiness

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Artwork for The Former Lawyer Podcast

Latest Episodes

Legal tech comes up constantly when lawyers are thinking about leaving practice. It's legal adjacent, the field is growing, and there seem to be a lot of jobs. But when lawyers actually try to make a move, they usually don't know where to start. The ... more

Responsibility is one of the things that makes lawyers good at their jobs. It also shows up, over and over, as one of the things that makes it hardest for them to leave. Not because they don't want to go, but because leaving means someone else has to... more

For a lot of lawyers, hearing "just do your best" as a kid didn't feel reassuring. It felt like a requirement to give every ounce of everything they had until there was literally nothing left.

That's not incidental. The kind of person who interprets... more

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 to quit my job before I start figuring out what I want to do instead? It sounds responsible, but for... more

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Zi Lin
Former lawyer turned artist
Episode: You Don’t Have to Earn the Right to Leave the Law with Zi Lin
Tiffany Obeng
Former practicing lawyer turned author and publisher focusing on diverse children's literature
Sugar Cookie Books
Episode: From Biglaw Impostor Syndrome to Publishing Diverse Children's Books with Tiffany Obeng
Ben Chiriboga
An executive in legal tech and former lawyer
Nexl
Episode: Escaping Lawyer Burnout for Legal Tech with Ben Chiriboga
Bryson Malcolm
Legal recruiter and founder of Mosaic Search Partners, focused on representing historically underrepresented attorneys in Biglaw
Mosaic Search Partners
Episode: Legal Recruiter Bryson Malcolm Calls Out Firms That Abandon Diversity
Dan Lemon
Lawyer and member of The Collab who practices family law after leaving big law.
Episode: From Biglaw Misery to a Meaningful Career in Family Law
Elisa Schatzman
Co-founder of the Legal Accountability Project
Legal Accountability Project
Episode: Supporting The Legal Accountability Project Because Transparency Shouldn’t Be Controversial
Laura Markham
Former attorney turned General Counsel for a tax-deferred exchange company
1031 Corp
Episode: When Tragedy Leads to Career Changes and Better Balance with Laura Markham
Ed Cottrell
Legal tech professional with experience as a former lawyer
Ironclad
Episode: Advice to Get a Job in Tech after Law with Ed Cottrell
Amisha DeYoung-Dominguez
Staff member for a member of Congress and former attorney.
Episode: Why Amisha DeYoung-Dominguez Left the Law for Public Service

Host

Sarah Cottrell
Host of The Former Lawyer Podcast; specializes in interviewing former lawyers who left the legal field and pursued fulfilling careers.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 133 ratings
  • Helpful to hear the truth

    As an attorney, I’ve gotten so used to lying to myself. Listening to this podcast reminds me of truths I’ve buried for a long time. And that tells me I’m not alone. It’s eerie. Thank you so much Sarah, for doing this work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kimacima
    United Statesa year ago
  • A must for anyone even thinking about thinking about leaving the law

    If you’re feeling the push to leave the law Sarah shares incredible and actionable insights + hear from former lawyers about their experiences leaving the law.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TheStaceyHarris
    United States3 years ago
  • Thank You

    Thank you for this podcast. Relatable and well thought out. Feels great that someone gets it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Meggers1233
    United States4 years ago
  • Great podcast!

    So happy to have found this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Elizabeth in VA
    United States4 years ago
  • Great interviews

    I feel seen!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pehmbeh
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show is often described as hopeful and informative, offering practical steps for leaving law and finding fulfilling work, though some feedback notes variability in audio quality across episodes and a desire for more structured, process-oriented takeaways.
Overall, listeners praise the host's empathy and actionable guidance, with many appreciating the sense of community and relatable guest stories.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From Biglaw Misery to a Meaningful Career in Family Law
Q: Why did you decide to become a lawyer in the first place?
I was the kid who always wanted to be a lawyer and I didn't have any lawyers in my family. I didn’t know really what practicing law was all about.
From Biglaw Misery to a Meaningful Career in Family Law
Q: Can you just briefly introduce yourself to the listeners?
My name is Dan Lemon and I am not a former lawyer. Spoiler alert. I still practice law.
Escaping the Legal Grind to Build a Balanced Life with Dan Branagan
Q: Can you talk a little bit about sort of what your thinking was and how you ended up at the firm?
I was hoping that moving to a more low-key area would help with balance, but I wasn't fully out on private practice just yet.
How a Misalignment of Values and Career Helped a Lawyer Become a Therapist with David Sazant
Q: Can you talk a little bit about how you have thought about what type of therapy clients you want to work with?
I primarily work with men aged 20 to 60 and professionals struggling with their value systems.
How Adrian Hern Beat Legal Burnout and Transformed Her Career
Q: What did you learn about your identity while working together?
Adrian learned to separate her identity as a lawyer from her true self, realizing she was out of alignment with her values.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Former Lawyer Podcast

What is The Former Lawyer Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A podcast series focused on lawyers who leave the legal field and build fulfilling careers and lives beyond traditional practice. Across episodes, listeners hear first-hand accounts of career pivots into areas like policy, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and creative pursuits, often paired with practical strategies for transition such as therapy, assessments, and building supportive communities. Common threads include addressing burnout, confronting sunk costs, and navigating identity shifts, all with a practical, compassionate tone that emphasizes actionable steps and real-world outcomes. This show is likely to appeal to ambitious professionals feeling stuck in law who want clarity, community, and inspiration to pursue a life aligned with thei... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Former Lawyer Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Former Lawyer Podcast:

1. Pod Save America
2. It's Been a Minute
3. The Ezra Klein Show
4. The Idiot
5. The Daily

How many episodes of The Former Lawyer Podcast are there?

The Former Lawyer Podcast launched 7 years ago and published 344 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Former Lawyer Podcast?

Recent guests on The Former Lawyer Podcast include:

1. Zi Lin
2. Tiffany Obeng
3. Ben Chiriboga
4. Bryson Malcolm
5. Dan Lemon
6. Elisa Schatzman
7. Laura Markham
8. Ed Cottrell

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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