FOURTH-GENERATION LAWYER
Risk more than others think is safe. Dream more than
others think is practical. Howard
Schultz
Fourteen months ago, I mentioned my
daughter Sara in a Wednesday Wisdom post entitled "The Ability to Change
Directions."
Here's a recap and an update on
that article.
* * * *
Fourteen years after graduating
from college, Sara decided to chart a new path for herself. She enjoyed an
active life in her community and a solid, stable job as a troubleshooter and
customer service rep for a software company. She had completed a master's
degree in Library Science, but she still felt a yearning to do more.
From somewhere inside her, she
decided to explore the idea of going back to school - this time tackling the
rigors of law school. It may have been in her blood or her genes. Her
great-grandfather, Henry Ware Hobbs, Sr. was an attorney, as was her
grandfather, Henry Ware Hobbs, Jr, her great uncle, Kenneth I. Franks, and I,
her father.
When she asked me about the idea, I
told her to go for it ONLY if she were prepared to go all in. With a glut of
law schools and a vast oversupply of lawyers in a sagging economy, the value of
a law degree has become the new equivalent of a liberal arts degree - a dime a
dozen. Don't do it, I said, unless you're willing to work harder than you've
ever worked before and you're convinced you can qualify for the law review and
finish in the top part of your class in a quality law school. Anything else
would be a waste of time and money.
Sara took the LSAT and did
remarkably well, scoring in the top 98th percentile. All of a sudden, she
became a hot commodity in the world of law school recruiters. Those test
scores, her mature and well-seasoned outlook on life, and her other strong
qualifications led to $1.25 million worth of lucrative scholarship offers from
16 highly-regarded law schools. She eventually accepted admission at the
University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
Law school was three long
challenging years, but Sara stuck with it. She demonstrated the capacity to do
more work than ever before, and the tenacity to finish the job she had set her
mind to. As of last week, Sara has now become a fourth-generation lawyer,
graduating with honors and a member of the law review. She's moved back to
Greensboro to study for the bar exam and prepare for the next chapter of her
life.
I spoke with Sara recently about
her decision to travel a different road. What were her primary fears as she
considered going to law school? She said she was very worried about giving up a
regular paycheck and she had doubts about her ability to compete against a lot
of other very smart people.
But her biggest concern was whether
after law school and as a lawyer she could live a happy life. She knew many
lawyers who hated their work and regretted their decision to pursue a legal
career. Was it possible in today's world, she wondered, to be a happy lawyer?
"How did you resolve that
doubt?" I asked. "Because obviously if you didn't, you wouldn't have
gone to law school."
"I looked at the example of my
grandfather and my father," she answered. "Granddaddy kept work in
its place. He maintained regular hours and never brought work home with him.
He took time for a short nap in the middle of the day."
"He also made time to foster
and nourish relationships. He had many friends of all ages and walks of life,
and they knew his home was always open for them to drop by and visit and share
stories. He was a consummate storyteller and story-listener. When he died, at
least two dozen people told us they considered him their closest friend."
She continued: "In addition,
Granddaddy was a master of encouraging others, including his grandchildren, to
push themselves. When I was 12, I mentioned wanting to read War and Peace, the biggest
book I knew. He gave me the nudge I needed to tackle such a humongous project
for someone my age. Then he followed up, asking about my progress and my
thoughts on the book. He showed me that a person could have a full and
well-rounded life as a lawyer."
She told me that I too was good at
keeping family, church, and community as my primary life focus. But she said I
had taught her another invaluable lesson. "You've shown by your example
that a law degree is like a Swiss army knife. It's an extremely flexible
tool, offering a wide range of options and career paths, if you're not afraid
to step out in a new direction. Sometimes that means you have to blaze a new
trail, or even break the mold and start afresh."
"The course of your career has
been varied and interesting. From judicial law clerk to large law firm; from
college professor to bank trust officer; from self-employed private
practitioner to instructor of lawyers and financial planners, and a national
authority on legacy planning; from retirement planning expert to advisor of
high-net worth clients; and now, even at the age of 67, your new direction as
the developer of the Will & Trust Express model of service to middle-income
families - you've done all that and more."
"In each of these roles,
you've taught me that it's okay to find things you love and then pursue them.
I've learned that focusing on my own fulfillment and enjoyment in my
professional life is one of the keys to being a happy lawyer."
So, as I see it, Sara faces the
future as a fourth-generation lawyer filled with optimism, perspective, and
tons of ideas on how to use her degree and training to make a difference in the
world and in her own life. She has taken the lessons of yesterday, combined
them with a strong skill-set for today, and opened a bright tomorrow for
herself. With admitted bias and pride as her father, I think she's going to do
quite well representing the profession and a noble family tradition.
Here's to you, Sara. Happy
Graduation, and Happy Life as a Lawyer!
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