Why you should be your own CEO

It seems that corporate America continues to be run by people who are just as sexist and out-of-touch as those who argued that women should not be allowed to vote, who seem to think that women cannot both raise children and be successful in business.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal, in a June 28th speech at the Society for Human Resource Management’s annual conference, former General Electric Co. Chief Executive Jack Welch asserted that women had to choose between taking time off to raise children and reaching the corner office. . . .

[go to the new NAFLP site for the full article]

NAFLP Co-Founders Quoted in Major Legal Publications

The interest in legal freelancing is gaining momentum as reflected in major periodicals publishing articles about this segment of the legal industry. In the past week, NAFLP co-founders were each cited in articles published by the American Bar Association and the National Law Journal.

"Lawyer for Hire: Freelance Contractors Change the Marketplace", Hannah Hayes, Perspectives, Vol. 17, Number 3.

"[M]any freelance contract lawyers must fight the perception that 'they are between jobs or don't have it in them to be a "real" lawyer," [Amanda] Mineer points out. "It's about a balanced life . . ."

"Downturn May Have an Upside for Contract Attorneys", Emily Heller, National Law Journal, May 5, 2009.

"'I have more work than I know what to do with,' [Melody Kramer]
said. 'I think the market is perfectly primed for freelancing right
now.'"

What is "success" in the legal profession?

"If success is not on your own terms, if it looks good to the world but does not live in your heart, it is not success at all." Anna Quindlen

This quote prefaces an interesting YouTube video showing 30-ish lawyer "Jack" performing a ritualistic burning of his Harvard law school diploma.

An interesting article about "Jack" appears on the ABA Journal website "Looking for Simpler Life, Lawyer Burns Harvard Law Degree

What is the measure of success in your career?

A lesson in work-life balance from Michael Phelps

What kind of work schedule produces 5 Olympic gold medals (and counting)? According to the phenomenal US swimmer Michael Phelps who has been dominating the swimming competitions in Beijing, he trains 2-5 hours a day, 6 days a week. (Source: http://sports.ign.com/articles/627/627665p1.html)

Just something to think about when you plan your work week.

How balanced is your work-life?

This morning I found an interesting tool on the JDBliss - Balancing Life and the Law site. You input times you arrive at the office and leave the office, and then you input time spend on administrative matters, personal matters, professional development, and meals. It works for working at a law firm or working for yourself. It then calculates how many hours a year (and how many a week) you will need to work at home to meet your target hours. I was stunned by the outcome for my days - no wonder I'm so tired!

Do your own work-life balance and let us know what your results are.

http://www.envoyglobal.net/jdbliss/test/calculator2.htm

Great lawyers don't work 80 hours a week

Have you ever noticed that the history of great lawyers never includes reference to the number of billable hours those lawyers accumulated? When you consider the greats -- Abraham Lincoln, William Jennings Bryan, Clarence Darrow, Gerry Spence, for but a few -- do you know what their billable hours were?

Of course not. Because great lawyers have great minds, can think well on their feet, and have excellent analytical and writing skills.

Unfortunately, even the best of intellects fray with fatigue and lack of a balanced life style, a fact that the legal profession is slow to acknowledge.

An article titled "Billable hours 'intersect' with the profession's woes" in the January 2008 issue of the California Bar Journal, contains the now familiar story of a successful big firm lawyer who, after 16 years, had had enough. She wanted a life, she wanted a husband, she wanted children. Rather than being marginalized for working part-time for a big law firm, she opened her own consulting/mediation practice and works zero to 20 hours a week. She is hardly the only lawyer that has made that choice.

Although some law firms are claiming to make some efforts to create a more work-life balance friendly environment, they have a long way to go. I recently heard a young associate from a large firm happily describe her 60% work week option as working "only 50 hours a week"!

It is up to lawyers themselves to change the profession, one person at a time. If you want to be a great lawyer (or paralegal or other legal professional), chart a career course that values your talents and abilities, rather than maximizing your hours at the office.