When first considering a career within the legal field, you likely looked at it through rose-tinted glasses. After all, it’s a profession that is often highly sought after. It requires a high level of academic qualifications and skills and, as such, comes with a certain element of prestige. Furthermore, from an altruistic perspective, it gives you a chance to enhance the lives of others.
It’s easy to hold onto this vision when you are first starting in your career. In fact, it may be the goal you envision when battling your way through the bar, the baby bar, or even your first law school assignment.
However, when they enter the working world, many new lawyers become a little disenfranchised with the concept, and this feeling can only worsen over time. There are various reasons for this:
- The legal field is highly competitive. While you may have obtained all of the necessary qualifications for a position in a law firm, you aren’t necessarily guaranteed a contract. Only around 25% of graduates will receive a training contract each year. What’s more, once you’ve secured a position, you may still find yourself in a hyper-competitive workplace where your work is undervalued or underappreciated.
- Burnout is all too common. A recent study found that 62% of legal professionals report feeling stressed or overwhelmed on a daily basis. There are various reasons for this, such as a seemingly never-ending workload, complicated cases, or even poor workplace culture. This, of course, leads to burnout and a loss of enthusiasm.
- You have no work-life balance. ‘18% of legal professionals did more than 10 hours of unpaid overtime a week‘, and many do not expect time off in lieu or extra pay to combat this. This is because many legal professionals believe they have to put their career first if they want to succeed, meaning they sacrifice their personal life as a result.
If you’ve experienced any of the above, you’re not alone. Many of our DWD Providers experienced similar feelings of disillusionment or worry about their careers. (You can read more about one Provider’s experience here).
However, if you’ve still got a passion for the industry, becoming a DWD Provider could be the solution you are looking for. This is due to the simple fact that it allows you to take your career into your hands. This means:
- Better work-life balance. When you run your own business, you’re responsible for your working hours. This means that you can focus on cultivating a better work-life balance so that you do not feel like you’re constantly chained to your desk.
- No more difficult bosses or managers. One of the biggest reasons people may feel unsatisfied at work is because they have to deal with demanding or overbearing managers. For example, you may feel as though you were underappreciated or overworked at your firm. When you become your own boss, you remedy this issue instantly. However, this also doesn’t mean you’re pursuing this career change alone, as you’ll have the full backing of the entire DWD time along the way. For example, we’ll provide you with ongoing training to help you establish and expand your practice.
- The chance to make a real difference in people’s lives. Sometimes, when working in a big law firm, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture, especially if you don’t get to see how your daily tasks impact your client(s). When working as a DWD Provider, you’ll work side-by-side with your clients so that you can see the benefits of your support from the outset. This makes for a rewarding career change for those looking to get back into the more ‘human’ side of practicing law.
Are you interested in opening your own peaceful divorce business? Our current Providers talk about the tremendous potential for growth that being a Divorce With Dignity Provider affords them. They brag about finally achieving the work/life balance they didn’t have while working for others. And they rave about their freedom and the future they are now building with Divorce With Dignity. Many Providers refer to DWD as a fulfilling lifestyle business.
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!
