To ask if it’s possible to find a job that isn’t anxiety inducing

[StuartBroadBarmyArmy]

I need some inspiration. I have work anxiety (and it is just purely work related). I’m 39 and dream of being able to give up work. But I love working in general - can’t just sit around, love to be busy. But my job (law) has ground me down and I constantly experience some level of anxiety.

Please give me some hope. Are there other jobs out there that pay ok, and are enjoyable? I’m scared to take the leap because I’m on a good salary and what if I move into something horrible?

On top of what others have told you above, lawyers typically record their time in 6 minute increments.
Imagine justifying how you've spent each 6 minute block of your day, every day, for the whole of your working life!

I remember years ago a friend saying to me that he had never met a happy lawyer. I think that may be a bit unfair but it is an incredibly stressful job (from observation). I have a job I love but I would be paid a lot more as a law partner - not necessarily a lot more as a regular high street lawyer (City law firms obviously on a different scale).

And as others have said it’s constant threat of being sued or making a mistake which costs the client money (which may or may not lead to you being sued). A lot of areas of law are also very complex and you may not have easy access to all the information you need. Add into that billing pressures & time pressures (which increases the risk of error and being sued) and … no thank you!

Oh yes. The tyranny of timesheets. I did a client secondment once and it was a horrible toxic environment but freedom from timesheets almost made it preferable.

In my current role I still have to produce timesheets to bill clients but I don't need to make sure they add up to 7 hours a day in six minute units and justify my existence to whoever might be looking over my shoulder.

Real estate, estate planning, intellectual property, cyber law would be less stressful areas of law.

I was a primary school teacher until recently, and felt very similar.

Now I do supply teaching, tutoring, and some holiday play scheme work. I enjoy the play scheme work a lot, because it's just the right amount of mindless for someone from a teaching background already. But it's also quite physical and busy, so I would go home every evening tired but satisfied.

Is there something out there that uses the skills you've gathered from law, but applies them in a way that would be second nature?

My previous job necessarily involved more conflict than I can cope with and after 6 months I knew I wasn't going to last in it long term so I left after DC3. Before that I had a job I didn't find very stressful at all, so I'd say it is possible, but I have no idea what I'm going to do next as I'm not medically capable of doing the first job any more.
I don't really know much about law but would something like conveyancing or family law be more manageable? Or teaching law at university?

If a lawyer cannot put together a coherent argument and argue it against a robust rebuttal, because it’s too stressful, how the hell do you expect them to be a competent teacher?

Its the old adage, those who can, do, those who can’t, teach.

Why not invest in a piece of land and grow apples and free range hens? Or take up watercolour and sell pictures to gift shops? Find something that is not taxing to the emotions. Become a yoga teacher. The only thing you need to do is be punctual and manage your diary. That’s not too stressful is it?

@ElliF you've contributed two quite odd and rude responses to this thread. Is there a particular reason why you're being so aggressive, when the thread is about a pretty benign subject?

OP, I work in a large University which has a legal services department- might this be a good move for you? I know some female lawyers have moved from commercial practice to work at the University due to the favourable maternity provision & flexible working opportunities- in general, University staff enjoy pretty good terms & conditions.

Bonkers.

Have you thought about civil service OP? Lots of opportunity for salary progression and also changing roles if you're not happy. You'll be able to apply your skillset to a good number of roles, so worth keeping an eye out on opportunities.

But with all due respect (and keeping in mind this is strictly from my point of view, as an outsider) these are not valid reasons I've heard so far for being anxious. People have described needing to achieve targets, having to hold difficult conversations, and needing to chase bills and payments...I'm not in law and my job is not related to it in the slightest and I have to do these things on a daily basis and don't succumb to an anxiety attack. But I do appreciate I'm talking as not someone in the business so I may not understand, but from the sounds of things I think I'd be really capable at something like this!

I agree with this and don't understand the theme of the thread. If I hired a lawyer (or was in school and had a teacher) I wouldn't want someone anxious and self-doubting, I would want someone confident and sure of themselves, because they would either be representing me or teaching me from a position of (I would hope) knowledge, not second guessing themselves at every step.

Ironically though, regarding your last sentence, my job contains talking to people from all professions and the most stressed (and rudest) people I talk to are consistently and disproportionately yoga teachers - and therapists!

The second paragraph of my post that appears just before your earlier one on this thread gives some examples of why practising law can be a particularly anxiety-inducing job.

Hmm, sorry, but that's just not something I'm personally buying. I appreciate obviously what you said is real for you, and for others that have commented on this thread, but I still don't think that what you've described is that much apart from the decisions that have to be made in jobs of all ranges. And I would kindly suggest that maybe if people aren't 'tough' enough for law then they should not maybe approach it in the first place as a career? For instance, for me personally, I think from the sounds of what has been described in this thread, I would be highly capable and successful in the law profession and not be reduced to feeling anxious and nervous. But that's just me.

Not sure if you two are the same person but can you kindly just fuck off. It’s so tedious when people come on here to troll posts.

To everyone else thank you and yes - all those things noted are why it’s stressful/anxiety inducing. I think I’d like to leave completely tbh rather than in-house. It’s just knowing what specific jobs those transferable skills transfer to.

@StuartBroadBarmyArmy Just because I don't agree with your point of view doesn't mean I'm trolling I just happen to simply not agree with you regarding this particular subject you wrote about, sorry if that upsets or offends you? I didn't mean to when posting my point of view..

‘don't understand the theme of the thread‘

Well perhaps you are not bright enough to be a lawyer then?

I am not a lawyer (and have an extremely stressful career myself) but I can understand what the lawyers are saying. They have eloquently described the stresses and pressures. Some of these may not become apparent until at senior level. It is not my field but with a bit of emotional intelligence and imagination, I get what these people are saying. Shame you are struggling!

OP, I know people who have gone down the in-house or PSL route but it sounds like you want to escape properly. Would you be up for retraining in a different career and doing exams?

The trolling on this thread is really unhelpful for an OP who is experiencing anxiety🙄

It is tricky figuring out "what next?" I have a number of friends who have moved out of BigLaw and started their own firms, moved into mediation/arbitration, gone to the Bar, gone into the GLS or moved into the PLC type route. A lot of people are getting sick of the BigLaw treadmill. More women than men ime are striking out and finding something different.

I totally sympathise OP. I think it's one of those things that perhaps you can't relate to/fully understand if you're not a lawyer.

I've left my job as a lawyer to go and work mentoring solicitor apprentices at a uni (not teaching, it's more pastoral/ensuring that they are meeting the requirements of the apprenticeship to progress and keep government funding). It's MUCH less stress and comparable pay.

I'm not struggling with anything, if you'd be so kind as to not be so rude to me @TrainedObserver , thank you.

From this thread I have seen that lawyers are stressed from stressful things that crop up in their job. Live most other jobs in this day and age. And the reasons given so far, like I've said, that's what I deal with on a daily basis in my job and it's not law-related at all.

@eurochick @chillih both helpful comments thanks. I am also noticing more colleagues leaving (which gives me hope!).

@Keyansier what are you hoping to achieve from your posts on this thread? To make the OP feel worse? To get some sort of pat on the back because you believe you would be able to practice law without anxiety?

Perhaps they would like to take my job 😂😂😂