I don’t think there’s ever been a magazine filled with so many happy lawyers before. It all started with a theory: that in-house counsel love their jobs. It’s something we often hear in passing, but we wanted to test the theory for this special issue focused on in-house counsel. We put award-winning journalist John Lorinc on the case. And sure enough, the theory held. After speaking to a long list of lawyers at innovative and fast-growing companies, Lorinc confirmed that there are a lot of benefits to working in-house that lead to high levels of job satisfaction. Check out our feature story to learn about some very interesting lawyers and the keys to both their happiness and their success.
But a funny thing happened on the way to the winter issue. While I often hear that going in-house is the way to be happy as a lawyer, this issue of Precedent turned up all sorts of happy lawyers — many of whom don’t work in-house. You’ll meet employment lawyer Ryan Edmonds who was at Heenan Blaikie LLP when it collapsed, but he used that potentially devastating event to try something new, exciting and rewarding. You’ll also meet Nicole Corriero, who not only loves her work as a personal injury lawyer, but also manages to find the time to be a kick-ass hockey player. And you’ll meet two lawyers from Bennett Jones LLP who’ve been innovators at their firm, starting a new practice area in marijuana law. Indeed, almost every page of this issue features at least one happy lawyer. I count 16.
We often look to in-house jobs as the holy grail of lawyer happiness. And, indeed, our research confirms that in-house can be a very happy place to be. But let’s not forget that there are plenty of lawyers in private practice who love what they do and have built careers that suit their interests, personalities, skill-sets and schedules. And that’s what makes it so easy to fill our pages with smart, interesting, ambitious and happy lawyers from all walks of legal life.
If you aren’t feeling happy already, this issue should make you smile. If, instead, it fills you with jealousy, then perhaps it’s time to quit that job and get on with something fulfilling. Go find your happy.
Sincerely,
Melissa Kluger
Publisher & Editor
Post Script: Great lawyers wanted
Speaking of smart, interesting, ambitious and happy lawyers, it’s time for the sixth annual Precedent Setter Awards. If you know any lawyers in their first 10 years of practice who excel in what they do both in their work and in their contributions to the community, please nominate them for a Precedent Setter Award. Winners will be featured in our 2015 summer issue.
Nominations close January 30.
More from the winter issue:
