The Former Lawyer Podcast
Do you hate working as a lawyer? Are you an unhappy lawyer who wants to leave the law, but isn't sure what to do next? Do your family and friends think you're crazy for wanting to leave the law, or are you too afraid to tell them you don't want to be a lawyer? The Former Lawyer Podcast is for you! Each week, host Sarah Cottrell interviews a different former lawyer who has left the law behind. Hear inspiring stories about how these former lawyers are thriving and found their way to careers and lives they love.
Episodes
294 episodes
When Tragedy Leads to Career Changes and Better Balance with Laura Markham
When Laura Markham suddenly lost her husband, everything changed—including how she viewed her legal career. In this episode, Laura shares her path from real estate litigation to finding a more flexible, values-aligned role after loss. She talks...
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Episode 265
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48:27
It’s Okay If You’re Just Surviving Right Now
Feeling overwhelmed, unmotivated, or like you're barely keeping up? You’re not alone. In this episode, Sarah shares a simple but powerful reframe for lawyers who are just trying to make it through right now. If you’ve caught yourself saying you...
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Episode 264
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8:40
What If You Don’t Want to Be a Lawyer Anymore?
Are you questioning whether practicing law is really the right path for you? You're not alone—and you're not wrong for feeling that way. In this episode, Sarah talks about why so many lawyers feel stuck in careers that no longer fit, and why ch...
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Episode 263
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11:58
What to Do If You’re Sick of Complaining About Your Job
If you feel like all you do is complain about your job, you’re not alone. Many lawyers reach a point where they’re exhausted, not just by their work, but by how much they talk about how miserable it makes them.In this episode of The ...
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Episode 262
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9:32
Advice to Get a Job in Tech after Law with Ed Cottrell
On today’s podcast, Sarah is chatting with a familiar guest who has been on the podcast several times. It’s her husband, Ed Cottrell. They met in law school an...
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Episode 261
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42:08
Leaving the Law Is Simple but It’s Not Easy
Many lawyers contemplating leaving the profession assume the process is complicated. The reality? It’s actually very simple. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. In this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah Cottrell brea...
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Episode 260
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7:16
You Don’t Need Permission to Leave the Law and Here’s Why
If you’re thinking about leaving the law but feel stuck, ask yourself this question. Who are you waiting for permission from?Many lawyers aren’t just worried about logistics. They feel like they need approval. They worry about how their ...
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Episode 259
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9:03
Why Amisha DeYoung-Dominguez Left the Law for Public Service
Sarah Cottrell talks with Amisha DeYoung-Dominguez, a former lawyer who transitioned into public service, on this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast.Amisha, now a congressional staffer, shares her winding journey through law s...
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Episode 258
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58:35
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Why Stay-at-Home Parents Who Left Law Have More Career Options Than They Think
Many former lawyers who stepped away from their careers to be stay-at-home parents eventually find themselves wondering how to re-enter the workforce—without going back to practicing law. On this episode of The Former Lawyer Pod...
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Episode 257
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10:25
What Has Been the Biggest Surprise for Former Lawyers in the Collab?
In this re-released episode, Former Lawyer Collab members share the biggest surprises they’ve encountered while figuring out what’s next. From discovering unexpected support from other former lawyers to realizing just how much law school and le...
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16:47
Myths Former Lawyers Believed Before Leaving the Law
In this re-released episode, Former Lawyer Collab members share the biggest myths they believed about leaving the law—myths that held them back from making a change. From the fear of being seen as a failure to the belief that legal work has...
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15:54
Former Lawyers Share the Obvious Thing That Transformed Their Careers
This week, I'm re-releasing an episode featuring Former Lawyer Collab members sharing the simple yet transformative realizations that helped them move forward in their journey out of the law. From understanding their values to accepting that it...
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15:34
Navigating the Millennial Success Trap
In this episode of The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah Cottrell gets real about why so many Millennials feel stuck in the pursuit of success. As an elder Millennial herself, she unpacks the pressures lawyers face to maintain a certain lif...
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Episode 256
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13:16
Can the Corporate World Solve My Work-Life Balance Problems?
Many lawyers worry that leaving the law for the corporate world won’t fix their work-life balance struggles. In this episode, Sarah explores why corporate jobs aren’t all the same, how to identify workplaces that align with your values, and why...
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Episode 255
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10:33
Why You Don’t Need to IRAC Your Way Out of the Law
Lawyers often feel pressured to craft the perfect IRAC-style argument to justify leaving the law, but that’s not necessary. In this episode, Sarah explores why trusting your intuition is key, how to navigate conversations about your decision, a...
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Episode 254
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11:36
Why Your Values Are the First Step to Leaving the Law
Leaving the law starts with understanding your values. In this episode, Sarah explains why taking a deep dive into your values is the critical first step for any lawyer considering a career change. She shares how identifying what truly matters ...
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Episode 253
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9:41
A Clear Path to Leaving the Law This Year
In today’s episode, Sarah kicks off the new year with an update on how you can work with her in 2025. If you’re starting the year thinking, ‘I can’t keep doing this,’ and you know you don’t want to be in the same place next year, this episode i...
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Episode 252
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9:42
Lawyers Hoping To Be Hit By A Bus Isn’t Normal, but Not Uncommon Either with Kelcey Baker
This episode includes an important content warning for discussions of narcissism, narcissistic abuse, self-harm, and suicidality. This week on The Former Lawyer Podcast, Sarah Cottrell welcomes back her client Kelcey Baker for ...
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40:10
Disclosing ADHD and Other Mental Health Issues to Your Firm
Previously, Lauren Ascher was on the podcast to discuss accommodations for lawyers with ADHD. It’s a good segue into an important conversation about disclosing A...
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10:31
How to Take A Mental Health Leave of Absence From Your Law Firm with Megan Nogasky
For countless reasons, December can be a pretty rough month for lawyer's mental health. So for the next couple of weeks, we're going to have some re-releases of some episodes in the podcast dealing with mental health. So there will be three epi...
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29:27
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I'm Not Here to Convince You to Leave the Law
On today’s podcast episode, Sarah clarifies a question she often hears when she tells people about the work she does: “Do all the lawyers who you work with end up leaving law?” There is a sense that she is trying to convince people to leave the...
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Episode 251
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10:07
From Law School to Literary Agent with Lilly Ghahremani
Lilly Ghahremani knew from her first day of law school that she had made a mistake, but like so many lawyers, she kept going, earning her degree and even passing the bar. What came next wasn’t the traditional legal path but an unexpected journe...
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Episode 250
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42:41
How the Sunk Cost Fallacy Keeps Lawyers Stuck in the Law
Struggling with the fear of leaving law behind? This week, Sarah unpacks the sunk cost fallacy—a common mental block for lawyers considering a career change. She explores why we tend to overvalue past investments and undervalue the...
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Episode 249
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10:29
Escaping the Legal Grind to Build a Balanced Life with Dan Branagan
On today’s podcast episode, Sarah chats with Dan Branagan. He is a member of the Collab and a former lawyer who now works as a data analyst. They discuss how his journey to escape the le...
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Episode 248
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41:27
How Toxic Workplaces Make You Doubt Yourself—And Why Leaving Law Can Help
In this episode, Sarah dives into how toxic workplaces—especially law firms—can lead to deep-rooted self-doubt and self-gaslighting. She breaks down the ways negative environments distort our sense of self-worth and confidence, making it feel i...
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Episode 247
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12:25
