Labor Day became a holiday back in 1894 to celebrate the working person — the contributions of those who labored to give everyone else free time and quality products. In more than a hundred years since then, Labor Day has become little more than another long weekend where most people still work and a few get an extra day to rack up bills on “Labor Day Sales.”
There has always been a split between the employee and the business owner — the person who works and the one who decides who gets a day off. Of course, not everyone is cut out for the business-owner life; most people lack the entrepreneurial spirit. But not everyone wants to spend their lives in the daily office grind. This is especially true for those in the helping professions. If your calling is assisting people with their personal, social, or emotional issues, a typical 9-to-5 job isn’t going to be fulfilling.
People like you are often drawn to legal careers, but what are the benefits and drawbacks to working for someone versus working for yourself in the legal field? What if you’re not the business-management type?
An Associate in the Firm
Beginning in 2010, attendance at law schools dropped precipitously, down more than 20% by 2022. A slight rise in 2023 may or may not be a sign of improvement since those students still have to graduate and pass their state bar exams. The economy will always have room for new attorneys, although the jobs may not be what they had hoped.
Being a newly-minted attorney at a law office has its good and bad points. On the plus side, the firm is there, and the senior attorneys’ reputation ensures that clients will continue coming. The new attorney need not do anything but handle cases. On the downside, new attorneys are pressured for “billable hours.” Without their own client list and a solid reputation for cases won, an associate must bill as many hours as possible to earn their keep.
A new associate attorney is one of those “laborers” whose hard work should be celebrated on Labor Day. They do most of the hard work in a big firm and gather a lot of stress while they do it. Associates who make partner deserve their accolades — if they can still appreciate them. At a big firm, it may take ten years or more, and the odds are stacked against all but the very best of attorneys.
On Your Own—All Alone?
Solo practitioners and small law firms have a depressing 40% failure rate, like every other startup business. The main reason for any small business failure is lack of market need, or the flip side, market saturation. Solo practitioners could resolve this with adequate networking. If they are overbooked, a referral to a nearby colleague would net them a referral fee and a grateful client.
Networking is one of the ways legal professionals can head out on their own without sacrificing the stability of a law office. The Divorce With Dignity Network gives Practitioners training in operating, advertising, and developing a successful peaceful divorce services business (along with ongoing support in each of these areas and beyond). It is possible to be your own boss without sacrificing the safety net that an office job provides.
Divorce Mediation Options
Divorce mediation is a rapidly expanding area of family law. In mediation, the parties meet with a neutral mediator and work together to resolve issues like child support, custody, and property division. Mediation is so successful that family courts often require it as part of the divorce process. This means there is a tremendous need for passionate and dedicated mediators.
At the same time, mediation does not require the full services of a big law firm. It does demand people who can support one another and don’t mind referring clients when their caseload is too heavy or if a case is out of their area. Quality over quantity is essential for mediation services.
An Open Door for All Family Law Professionals
The Divorce With Dignity Network supports legal professionals with experience in family law. This includes mediators, paralegals, and small attorney firms. If you’re anxious to dispense with being a laborer and be a beneficiary of your work, you can make a difference for people who need your talents.
Whether you offer mediation or legal document services for divorce and related matters, there’s a place for you to make a difference in people’s lives and achieve a better quality of life for yourself.
Enjoy Working “For Yourself, Not By Yourself”
Startups fail mainly because the new owner lacks the resources to keep going when things get rough. The Divorce With Dignity Network makes sure our Providers have those resources. One DWD business owner commented “Providers are in business ‘for yourself, but not by yourself.’” You have the best of both worlds, the support and security of an established firm — and the freedom and flexibility of a business owner.
If you join the Divorce With Dignity Network, you will receive comprehensive training for setting up and operating your business, assisted development of your business plan, ongoing coaching and training, and access to other Providers for training and exchange of business ideas.
Just as important, we are dedicated to the idea that this is your business. You are doing something you enjoy doing, and you want a better job than slogging in an office or an impersonal position. The goal of operating your own peaceful divorce business is to obtain the work-life balance you cannot have while working for someone else. This is your chance to dance to your own tune, not another’s.
We have the most successful legal services system for legal professionals and are driven by ongoing training and a commitment to serve our Providers. Join us on a journey to discover if becoming a Divorce With Dignity Network Provider is right for you! Schedule your complimentary Discovery Session today!
