July 17, 2025
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How to Prepare for an Uncertain Job Future
Fear of job loss today is running rampant in the legal profession. The impact of the Trump economic program, the draconian cuts in the civil service and of course, the potential impact of the tariffs, are causing businesses (including law firms) to take stock of where their businesses are heading and make adjustment accordingly.
Believe it or not, we are also seeing job cuts, especially for younger lawyers, because of Artificial Intelligence – yes, good old technology has advanced enough already that law firms in the US and overseas are turning to AI instead of 1st and 2nd year associates. We’ll have more on this in upcoming editions. Now back to the issue at hand.
I have been writing quite a bit lately on dealing with a real or potential job loss in terms of techniques to employ. This time I want to look at how to prepare yourself emotionally.
Before you allow your mind to race out of control trying to take in all the various options, this simple list of 6 reminders will help keep you on the right path. Implementing all, or even some, of these pointers, is sure to be helpful.
1) FIND A MENTOR OR COACH.
This sounds self-serving (because it is!), but in fact this is good advice. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There is no shame in consulting with a coach to overcome the hurdles standing in the way of your job search success.
An experienced coach can fill in many of the knowledge gaps that their clients have about “what’s out there” and how to make a transition. Reading self-help books and blogs are fine as supplements, but reading alone is not a substitute for getting mentored by people who know the ropes.
2. GET PREPARED.
Lawyers conduct research and fact-finding every day. Use that skill when getting ready for a job search or career change. Knowing you are prepared is the best way to fend off feelings of futility and doubt. Start by taking an inventory of your skills — not just your practice area skills, but the ones that make you good at what you do.
Also, start getting smart about the world of work. Research job functions. Talk to people about their jobs. Contact trade and professional associations involved in fields in which you may be interested. You may find you are qualified for many more positions than you think!
3. DON’T YIELD TO YOUR FEARS.
Lawyers are not risk-takers by nature, and they like to be on solid ground before they put forth opinions. They tend to come up with reasons why they cannot do something that, in fact, they can do. In this job market, a defeatist or overly cautious attitude can doom a job search and career.
If, while contemplating your next career, you get excited about a certain job category, go for it! Don’t yield to a lawyers’ knee-jerk fear of the unknown. We have helped lawyers transition into entertainment, broadcasting, the arts, public affairs, motivational speaking, sports marketing, entrepreneurship, and many other areas that seemed crazy or impossible.
4. BE A GOOD LISTENER.
Ask people to share their stories. If you meet someone who has a job in which you may be interested, ask them how they got there. You can learn a great deal from the experiences of others. Connect with people! The more you can relate to and learn from others, the more confident you will become in your ability to make a transition.
5. GET RID OF BACK-UP PLANS.
Beware of the “doom and gloom” mindset. Focusing on a worst-case scenario will undermine your career development aspirations. One of my favorite quotations, from Henry Ford, is: “If you think you can do something, you are right. If you think you cannot do something, you are also right.”
I am not a pie-in-the-sky type, but I definitely believe that if you think you are going to fail at a task, you will fail, but if you think you will succeed, you will succeed. Focus on making a plan for your success. Avoid back-up plans because they divert your energy. Don’t be sending our resumes for jobs you don’t really want “just in case.” Try to push worry to the side and replace it with positive thinking! You can do this!
6. LOSE YOUR ANGER.
