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Artwork for The Former Lawyer Podcast

The Former Lawyer Podcast

Sarah Cottrell
Career Transition
Mental Health
Career Change
Legal Profession
Therapy
Burnout
Law
Work-Life Balance
Law Profession
Job Satisfaction
Biglaw
Lawyers
Sunk Cost Fallacy
Law School
Values
Big Law
Personal Development
Perfectionism
Coaching
Lawyer Mental Health

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes347Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
CareersBusinessSelf-ImprovementEducation

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Artwork for The Former Lawyer Podcast

Latest Episodes

On paper, Amy Terwilleger’s life as a lawyer looked great. Partner at a regional firm in Florida. Deputy general counsel. Thirteen years of business litigation. Married with two kids. And the whole time, a constant restless feeling she could not shak... more

If you're thinking about leaving the law, there's a good chance you've asked yourself some version of this question. Am I justified in doing this? You already know the environment isn't good for you. You already know something needs to change. But th... more

There are two very different situations a lawyer can be in when they start thinking about leaving. One is a job that is actively damaging their mental, physical, and emotional health. The other is a job that is just not the long-term answer. What you... more

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

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Recent Guests

Ben Chiriboga
Founder of Reframe Lawyer, platform helping lawyers move into legal technology and AI careers
Reframe Lawyer
Episode: How to Break Into Legal Tech and AI as a Lawyer with Ben Chiriboga
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
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.

Apple Podcasts
#182
United States/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#132
Ireland/Business/Careers
Apple Podcasts
#229
India/Business/Careers

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

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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. The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos
2. Maintenance Phase
3. 10% Happier with Dan Harris
4. Stuff You Should Know
5. If Books Could Kill

How many episodes of The Former Lawyer Podcast are there?

The Former Lawyer Podcast launched 7 years ago and published 347 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. Ben Chiriboga
2. Zi Lin
3. Tiffany Obeng
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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