Absolutely fascinating - I am a Chartered Accountant in the U.K. working for 46 years full time in the Financial Services industry - what you have clearly articulated even I can relate to at my age now of 62! I am now following your TH-cam videos - thank you! Peter
Peter, I used to be an ACCA accountant (now resigned). It wasn't so much the job nor the hours expected (9am to whenever, especially around year end and month end) in actual fact I found that the quality of people and professionalism had deteriorated. I was dealing with CIMA/ACCA accountants who couldn't balance a TB nor did they know their basic DR or CR, they were just passing the exams to get the credibility which in turn come with misplaced arrogance/confidence. I also found that people who were 'unqualified' yet far more experienced and capable were being passed over for promotions and project work in favour of 'qualified' employees. I sometimes miss the job, however, I am more at peace with myself.
I am also FCCA accountant in the financial services industry and now I have resigned. The work does not scare me. Even though I was underpaid, The work I was delivering was of quality and also bringing good revenue to the company, even working during weekends to meet deadlines. However, I wasn't being valued, my ideas not taken into account. One thing I want to point is that when going to the job market again, the interviewers find it odd for a person who has taken a career break as if its an offence and u are not selected. I quit my job for health, my own peace and focusing on my personal matters rather than doing my best for someone else to earn money...
Honestly of course you quit, I watched your week in the life of video. It's actually NOT OK to work that hard and be wired in 7 days a week. Any person will get burned out and when you take a step back to reflect, you realise the input and effort doesnt always translate to meaningful outcomes. Happy for you that you quit, hope you find something that isn't so taxing in the future.
I have been viewing all the comments for an hour and a half and this is the best I have ever read! Thanks so much! I would bear that suggestion in mind when I go on my career as a lawyer.
After 20 years in the legal industry, I left and went back to school. I had two burnt-out and diabetes with the stressful lifestyle and crazy work schedule. The legal environment is toxic and demanding, no matter what type of law you do. I did immigration law and that was very emotionally satisfying. But it got too much after I hit 40 and my body and mind didn't like it anymore. I walked away from $350K a year. Whatever time I have left in life was more important, I decided to learn what I like and do what I like, and be more in control of my life.
Dude!! This has been super helpful I’ve actually just quit my job at the end of December last year. And whilst I’ve found a job now, I spent the last two months in full on existential dread about whether or not I wasted opportunities, my degrees and should’ve just stayed in law to keep my family and colleagues happy. This video just validated my struggles and I feel much more ‘sane’. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your journey!! Kindest regards A former lawyer
So glad to hear this, and thanks for leaving such a thoughtful comment - we definitely wanted to share our experience for others who were going through the same (or a similar) thing. All the best with everything coming next for you!
Thank you so much for your sharing, exactly what has come to my mind, especially the part keeping this job to make everyone but you happy. This is really helpful for me with my mental health. Hope to hear more update from you
Hi L & E, I have been in legal practice for the last 10 years, feeling exhausted and motivated to take a break too after watching your video. I think this is important before moving to the next journey. Tks
Congratulations on this decision - It's definitely not easy but I'm so incredibly excited for you both to see where life takes you. Love from Australia!
Congratulations. Identifying what one truly values is a priceless realization, and often, it comes too late. I look forward to seeing what's next for the two of you.
Exactly the reasons why I'm seriously planning to leave the law firm industry. I wish someone had told me these aspects of the law firm life before. Thanks so much for this video!
Good luck! I quit practice about 13 years ago and went to a know-how company you'll have heard of. Best decision ever, been here 13 years. Hope the new ventures go well for you both.
I want to be a lawyer, I absolutely love law and have an undying passion for it, but ngl all the cynicism I see from other lawyers when it comes to their work really scares me (Though I still want to pursue it regardless) Maybe I'm just an overzealous high-schooler who doesn't know the world yet, but who knows But anyway, thank you for this eye-opening video, I'm glad you were able to find and realize your own meaning and that you're more than the legal industry. Hats off to you and Em, hope you're living your best lives now :)!
law has a toxic work culture...apparently the system is set up to make you unhappy no matter how hard you work or try to be enthusiastic about your job
at career guidance they should have warning labels for law like "do you want to be unhappy for the next 40 years", "are you willing to sacrifice your mental and physical health for your job", "no work-life balance", "become cynical af about life", "sacrifice your personality for the sake of your image as a lawyer in society", "be silenced by regulatory bodies about how your profession makes you sick" etc...
Hi Lloyd & Em. Hope that you can soak up the sun and the palm trees as much as you can. Thank you for sharing your reasons. Thank you for putting a lot of efforts in editing, filming, adding B-rolls, replying to comments. It's absolutely useful for younger folks who want to work in the legal industry. Those reasons are also not inherently just for the legal profession. I'm sure many people can benefit from watching this video and think about if they run into similar things in their jobs. Mental health is important. Please take good care of yourself. Until next time
This resembles my story so much, Im an accountant and quit 6 months back (without a job lined up) because of the reasons that were mentioned in this video. Now I'm trying to figure what I want to do next in my life.
Hi Lloyd. Thank you very much for once again sharing your personal experience. I work as a junior associate in Italy for an international law firm, and even though you are in a different continent, your experience resembles mine a lot. It is “great” to hear that some of my perplexities on the job and especially on how things are dealt with (e.g. when in comes to rates and budgets) are not just my own problem. This makes me more determined to switch to in-house. I know some might see it as a downgrade or even a waste of potential but I feel like I’ve been robbed of a lot of my personal space and time which no one and no pay check will ever give me back. Thank you again because your story strengthens my idea that the productive myth is toxic, or at least not fit for everyone. Last but not least, best of luck with your future! 🍀
It is certainly not a waste - I'm happy I entered the profession and gained the knowledge/experience that I did, which will be with me for the rest of my life. I am sure the same will be true for you no matter what career path you decide to go down. All the best and thanks for the support!
Hey Lloyd, Hingson here. I have been binge watching your TH-cam content as a corporate lawyer for the past week (I quit the industry 5 years ago for similar reasons you pointed out)! Looking forward to the more of your content of your next passion!
It’s appreciated your genuine sharing and prudent insights. I’m also supporting your vision to uncover more and more transparency for those who considers to enter a career, industry, and life. Even for those who lacks of resources to get the working situation earlier. So, I create my channel by voice!
Funny how a lot of the things you mentioned reminded me of my (short) time in advertising, and the reasons why I eventually left as well. The worst part was definitely slaving away under high pressure just for the client's deadlines & projects that I didn't even create or own so it felt especially pointless to me. Great video as always! Love that you guys always keep it real ❤️
Having spoken to many friends in other professional services industries like advertising, I definitely realized that a lot of what I was feeling was actually relatable across many different industries under the wider "services" umbrella. Really happy to hear that the video resonated with you, and thank you for the support!
Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts. I can totally relate to that as I have been there before and decided to quit after 5 years as a corporate finance lawyer. Now I am in a happier place with better work life balance. I wish you and Em well and totally support you two’s decisions!
@@mihotsubaki8892 I am still in the legal profession but I went inhouse and I am doing general corporate work which has much less workload and my company values work life balance. I decided to leave law firm because the hours were too long and there was too much workload as I was in corporate finance. often I worked after midnight, on weekends and public holidays. I noticed that its too stressful and it’s affecting my health so I decided to quit. Health is upmost important. Hope my advice helps!
There is no greater feeling to be able to recognize what gives you joy and actually be able to attain it day in and day out. Fully respect your decision and am happy that you decided to quit. I hope you’ll be able to take this time to recharge, to enjoy some time with Em and I am sure there are plenty of opportunities ahead once you feel ready. I am not in the legal profession but have always been fascinated about yours and Em’s experiences. Perhaps consider writing a book, my humble opinion is that you’ll be very good at it and I’ll be the first one to get a few copies 😃.
It’s a horrible life. I put on 40kgs since I started as a corporate lawyer at a top tier Australian firm 5 years ago. I also have several issues with my lower back, hips and legs from sitting for extended periods. I’ve lost all my friends because I never have time for them. All I do is work, and when I’m not working I’m thinking about work. All of the above is true, yet for some fucking reason I’m terrified of quitting.
@@pinetworkminer8377 if you still want to use a law degree there are jobs considered “J.D. advantage jobs”. A lot of jobs that require MBAs will accept a JD also and if you wanted to work in compliance they usually prefer someone with a JD. I use JD because that’s the law degree here in the US. But some people decide to do something completely different and you can still talk up the skills you gain from law school and apply them to other things.
Good luck with the future! I’m / was from the engineering industry and I quit many years ago feeling I sold my soul to work and other people’s whims…my life is much better when not bowing down to others. Life with 3 kids is harder than any industry 😂
Congrats to you for quitting and finding fulfilment now! It is still one of my biggest regrets that I let my youtube channel basically die when I landed my magic circle training contract. But 8 years ago it seemed like madness to choose being a creator over the legal career I'd worked so hard to build! So glad there are people like you showing people that it is possible to choose yourself and follow your heart. Wish you and Em the best! P.S. I refused to go on secondment in Hong Kong because everyone at my firm knew that was an intense seat especially for banking and corporate :-D
Glad to hear you got the courage to jump out and have your work/life balance back. I've been following you because I work on the other side of the deal (M&A advisory) and it's been interesting to see how corporate finance lawyers work. I can also reflect my own work/life balance and I'm glad my working hours are more manageable (approx. 35h/week in Finland).
Congrats! I used to work in the legal industry as well (also in corporate but mostly IPO), so I can totally relate to your video. I am honestly so much happier and healthier now, and I hope you will be too!
Great decision, was a data analyst for a major car company. Now planning my relocation to Mexico to pursue entrepreneurship. Save your money and it will save you. Dont be reckless, be calculated.
Thanks for this video! I can definitely relate to some extent. Worked as a privacy lawyer for 3-4 years, quit (mostly because of reason #2) that you mentioned in the video. Took a coding bootcamp and today I am working as a web3 developer in the crypto space! I am enjoying every bit of the way and haven't looked back since!
I'm now doing a part time law degree and thinking to pursue a career in corporate law. But after hearing so many horror stories in law firms and seeing lawyers like you and Emily eventually leaving the industry anyway, I start to question whether I should go ahead with this plan or just continue my financially stable yet unchallenging career.
You should believe in yourself. If that's where you feel your place is, then that's where you belong. And if you are not able to withstand this challenge, you can always quit and switch for a second career.
There are positives which came out of doing this too - I certainly think having legal literacy is great, and the credentials open up many more doors as well. Part of why I am able to leave comfortably is because I feel like the skills/experience I've gained being in the profession will stay with me forever. I believe things in life such as jobs/career are not necessarily permanent, but that doesn't mean they're not worth doing :) all the best to you on your own journey!
Your videos are awesome btw! As someone who was living NYC law firm life for 7 years, I can say that they're accurate and faithful to what it's like to practice as a transactional attorney. Best of luck on your new ventures!
Thanks for sharing and glad to hear you both have made the decision without having a job to take a break, same here, hv just quit to take a break too, it's time to take care of mental and physical health. All the best to all of us.
This was refreshing. First off I'm very impressed with your ability to express everything in such a highly immense, intelligent manner. Having a client call in for some urgent work which disrupts your entire weekend can be extremely frustrating and then having that happen often can really make you hope for a basic 9-5, no on-call life. Extremely understandable. I hope you've found a recovery of such mental exhaustion and have started living comfortably. Best wishes with your pursuit of meaningful living and my question is - Are there law firms that don't have on-call and have fixed 9-5 hours?
I’d been several years in private practice, was never very good at it (nothing too demanding intellectually, just not organised enough, and especially not good enough at sucking up to partners; I was always respectful). Now I’m in-house at a massive US tech firm, learning a new area. Hours roughly 9-7, 9-8. Money similar, but chaotically unstructured. Plenty toxicity too. Thankfully I teach jiu-jitsu which gives me plenty of satisfaction.
Working in Finance Industry can be extremely demanding ... 😥 I wish you good luck in your future endeavours, I am certain you'll achieve everything you work towards.
Question for Q&A: What coffee/tea do you drink to stay up or wake yourself up in the morning? Any particular brand? What else does it help you stay energetic most of the time? Gym?
My jaw literally dropped when I saw this video - having known you from law school and college, this is a huge surprise. But, I understand where you're coming from - everything is SO relatable - and I can't wait to see where life takes you both next! Enjoy California :)
Thank you, Christie! Haha - definitely a bit of a 180 from our uni days :) I suppose it's just another reminder that life has the potential to take us on interesting journeys. Thanks for all of the support towards our channel from day one!!
Thanks for sharing and congratulations on the next chapter or at least a break from all the madness! As a corporate law associate myself, I have to say that all the reasons you mentioned are very genuine and candid. We’ve spent years of education and trainings to adapt to the on-the-clock type of client service, and honestly what scares us or at least me is not really the hard work or the all nighters, and we get compensated for that quite generously, cravath rate, cola and all that. However the idea of not being able to make any schedule or commitment or just exploring new interests outside work in a meaning way is what bugs me everyday. The notion of staying on the job for a few years and exiting thereafter while golden handcuffed is ironically pragmatic (which I am struggling with everyday as well). Congratulations again on moving onward and forward!!
Thank you - it definitely helped me when I spoke to friends in the industry about their experience and realized that I wasn’t alone in feeling this way. I hoped that by speaking candidly about these issues in the industry, others could relate and possibly reflect on their own situation as well. Really happy to hear that the video resonated with you! 🤝
Congratulations on your courageous decision! It's so important to be passionate in what you do. Babysitting clients is only acceptable if they are paying you more.
Hey Lloyd, I'm glad to see you have chosen the path you feel is best for yourself, and thank you for being honest with the decision process. Best luck with your future endeavors!
I'm a lawyer and I hate it. There is no work life balance, a lot of politics, boring as shit, and clients have unreasonable expectations when they were the ones who didn't plan accordingly. I am planning on leaving as well.
wow wow wow this channel is amazing thank you so much for sharing your insights. I'm a final year law student in AUS with a commercial law graduate program starting from next year and had so many concerns swirling through my mind. your videos have definitely helped quell some of my concerns. can't wait for your future content and sending you all my support from down under!!!
Congratulations Lloyd (and Em too). I can understand how difficult it is to leave your comfort zone after spending years building a solid career in law. I think many of us would be interested to know - what are your plans for the next step? Are you two just taking a break or are you guys becoming full time TH-camrs?
Congrats Lloyd and thank you and Em for sharing your genuine thoughts and experience with us! I’m going through similar struggles with my work and I admire your conviction to do your own thing
I’m thinking of getting a JD/MBA specifically because of some of these things that worry me (as a big law paralegal, I see the things you’ve mentioned) so that I could move into a business position and not have to do it necessarily by lattering in as an in house attorney first.
I started my own small accounting company after being in the industry for the last 20 years. It is really rewarding: having the pay going to my wallet instead of my boss'es. I always had direct great relationship with all clients, so this stays rewarding. And I take as many vacations as I want to and I need for my children. Without having to ask my boss for it. It will be 8 weeks of vacation this year. In between I mostly work on weekends and late evenings , too, when my children don't need me, but I choose the time and whether I want to do it. So I highly recommend anyone to stop being employed and start their own thing with their professional skills and knowledge.
Hey Lloyd and Em, have you both ever considered working in-house ? I’ve heard working for a company as a client can be less demanding than private practice?
This is me in a certain way. I tried to get into a job as a data analyst, purely because data is the new hot thing and the money is good. And I joined a job for a month and it didn't go the way I hoped. I was constantly glued to the laptop doing 8 hour days of just number crunching and model building. In the end, I was dismissed cause' I wasn't pulling my weight and in all honesty, I felt it was satisfying for me.
Wow, I am really looking forward to your next video.As a lawyer in the mainland after graduating from a good college, I always find my job lacking of self accomplishment .I even want to shift my career these days.Really admire your English, and you tell me how can you say English so fluently ?
Absolutely fascinating - I am a Chartered Accountant in the U.K. working for 46 years full time in the Financial Services industry - what you have clearly articulated even I can relate to at my age now of 62! I am now following your TH-cam videos - thank you! Peter
Peter, I used to be an ACCA accountant (now resigned). It wasn't so much the job nor the hours expected (9am to whenever, especially around year end and month end) in actual fact I found that the quality of people and professionalism had deteriorated. I was dealing with CIMA/ACCA accountants who couldn't balance a TB nor did they know their basic DR or CR, they were just passing the exams to get the credibility which in turn come with misplaced arrogance/confidence. I also found that people who were 'unqualified' yet far more experienced and capable were being passed over for promotions and project work in favour of 'qualified' employees. I sometimes miss the job, however, I am more at peace with myself.
I am also FCCA accountant in the financial services industry and now I have resigned. The work does not scare me. Even though I was underpaid, The work I was delivering was of quality and also bringing good revenue to the company, even working during weekends to meet deadlines. However, I wasn't being valued, my ideas not taken into account. One thing I want to point is that when going to the job market again, the interviewers find it odd for a person who has taken a career break as if its an offence and u are not selected. I quit my job for health, my own peace and focusing on my personal matters rather than doing my best for someone else to earn money...
GOD BLESS YOU PETER!!!!!🙏🏽🤲🏽❤️❤️❤️
@@DIMMU_BORGIR I RESPECT THAT 🙏
Honestly of course you quit, I watched your week in the life of video. It's actually NOT OK to work that hard and be wired in 7 days a week. Any person will get burned out and when you take a step back to reflect, you realise the input and effort doesnt always translate to meaningful outcomes. Happy for you that you quit, hope you find something that isn't so taxing in the future.
I have been viewing all the comments for an hour and a half and this is the best I have ever read! Thanks so much! I would bear that suggestion in mind when I go on my career as a lawyer.
Yea em also worked on Sunday… horrifying
Your unflinching honesty and ability to see life for what it is are a credit to you. All the best and enjoy your newfound freedom.
thanks so much for being so honest about your experience, im starting law school and it's nice to hear multiple perspectives on the industry
same here😅
As a law school graduate all I'm saying is good luck :')
@@maramshihab6152how hard has it been trying to get your foot in the door and get a job in the field after graduating?
After 20 years in the legal industry, I left and went back to school. I had two burnt-out and diabetes with the stressful lifestyle and crazy work schedule. The legal environment is toxic and demanding, no matter what type of law you do. I did immigration law and that was very emotionally satisfying. But it got too much after I hit 40 and my body and mind didn't like it anymore. I walked away from $350K a year. Whatever time I have left in life was more important, I decided to learn what I like and do what I like, and be more in control of my life.
Corporate environment toxic af
So what are you learning?
Could I ask what it is that you did to figure out what you like?
And here I´m sitting at my desk on a sunday, having to draft some legal paper that´ll take me all day but somehow TH-cam is much more interesting...
@@lloydmo9409 I took a year off travelling and trying out everything.
Dude!! This has been super helpful I’ve actually just quit my job at the end of December last year. And whilst I’ve found a job now, I spent the last two months in full on existential dread about whether or not I wasted opportunities, my degrees and should’ve just stayed in law to keep my family and colleagues happy.
This video just validated my struggles and I feel much more ‘sane’.
I’m looking forward to seeing more of your journey!!
Kindest regards
A former lawyer
So glad to hear this, and thanks for leaving such a thoughtful comment - we definitely wanted to share our experience for others who were going through the same (or a similar) thing. All the best with everything coming next for you!
Thank you so much for your sharing, exactly what has come to my mind, especially the part keeping this job to make everyone but you happy. This is really helpful for me with my mental health. Hope to hear more update from you
Hi L & E, I have been in legal practice for the last 10 years, feeling exhausted and motivated to take a break too after watching your video. I think this is important before moving to the next journey. Tks
Congratulations on this decision - It's definitely not easy but I'm so incredibly excited for you both to see where life takes you. Love from Australia!
I don't ever had interest about law stuff before, but watching your review videos is something so cool. Keep up with the content!
Congratulations. Identifying what one truly values is a priceless realization, and often, it comes too late. I look forward to seeing what's next for the two of you.
Exactly the reasons why I'm seriously planning to leave the law firm industry. I wish someone had told me these aspects of the law firm life before. Thanks so much for this video!
Good luck! I quit practice about 13 years ago and went to a know-how company you'll have heard of. Best decision ever, been here 13 years. Hope the new ventures go well for you both.
I want to be a lawyer, I absolutely love law and have an undying passion for it, but ngl all the cynicism I see from other lawyers when it comes to their work really scares me (Though I still want to pursue it regardless) Maybe I'm just an overzealous high-schooler who doesn't know the world yet, but who knows
But anyway, thank you for this eye-opening video, I'm glad you were able to find and realize your own meaning and that you're more than the legal industry. Hats off to you and Em, hope you're living your best lives now :)!
law has a toxic work culture...apparently the system is set up to make you unhappy no matter how hard you work or try to be enthusiastic about your job
at career guidance they should have warning labels for law like "do you want to be unhappy for the next 40 years", "are you willing to sacrifice your mental and physical health for your job", "no work-life balance", "become cynical af about life", "sacrifice your personality for the sake of your image as a lawyer in society", "be silenced by regulatory bodies about how your profession makes you sick" etc...
Hi Lloyd & Em. Hope that you can soak up the sun and the palm trees as much as you can.
Thank you for sharing your reasons. Thank you for putting a lot of efforts in editing, filming, adding B-rolls, replying to comments.
It's absolutely useful for younger folks who want to work in the legal industry.
Those reasons are also not inherently just for the legal profession.
I'm sure many people can benefit from watching this video and think about if they run into similar things in their jobs.
Mental health is important. Please take good care of yourself. Until next time
I’m looking to becoming a lawyer and your content is incredibly helpful in helping me understand the industry. Thank you, Lloyd!!
You’re very welcome! Best of luck :)
This resembles my story so much, Im an accountant and quit 6 months back (without a job lined up) because of the reasons that were mentioned in this video. Now I'm trying to figure what I want to do next in my life.
Hi Lloyd. Thank you very much for once again sharing your personal experience. I work as a junior associate in Italy for an international law firm, and even though you are in a different continent, your experience resembles mine a lot. It is “great” to hear that some of my perplexities on the job and especially on how things are dealt with (e.g. when in comes to rates and budgets) are not just my own problem. This makes me more determined to switch to in-house. I know some might see it as a downgrade or even a waste of potential but I feel like I’ve been robbed of a lot of my personal space and time which no one and no pay check will ever give me back. Thank you again because your story strengthens my idea that the productive myth is toxic, or at least not fit for everyone.
Last but not least, best of luck with your future! 🍀
It is certainly not a waste - I'm happy I entered the profession and gained the knowledge/experience that I did, which will be with me for the rest of my life. I am sure the same will be true for you no matter what career path you decide to go down. All the best and thanks for the support!
Hey Lloyd, Hingson here. I have been binge watching your TH-cam content as a corporate lawyer for the past week (I quit the industry 5 years ago for similar reasons you pointed out)! Looking forward to the more of your content of your next passion!
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND GUIDE YOU IN THIS NEW JOURNEY!!!!!🙏🏽🤲🏽❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for showing the reality of the business. Not all bad, not all good, just real. Best of luck with whatever is next.
I do feel this is a lot more relevant for Asia and US than Europe. I work in London and my Hong Kong counterparts really does very long hours.
It’s appreciated your genuine sharing and prudent insights. I’m also supporting your vision to uncover more and more transparency for those who considers to enter a career, industry, and life. Even for those who lacks of resources to get the working situation earlier. So, I create my channel by voice!
Not surprised by this ultimate decision after watching your other videos. The amount of Sunday night blues I sense...
As an aspiring solicitor, hearing your story is like gold, thank you Lloyd!
Funny how a lot of the things you mentioned reminded me of my (short) time in advertising, and the reasons why I eventually left as well. The worst part was definitely slaving away under high pressure just for the client's deadlines & projects that I didn't even create or own so it felt especially pointless to me.
Great video as always! Love that you guys always keep it real ❤️
Having spoken to many friends in other professional services industries like advertising, I definitely realized that a lot of what I was feeling was actually relatable across many different industries under the wider "services" umbrella. Really happy to hear that the video resonated with you, and thank you for the support!
Thanks for sharing your honest thoughts. I can totally relate to that as I have been there before and decided to quit after 5 years as a corporate finance lawyer. Now I am in a happier place with better work life balance. I wish you and Em well and totally support you two’s decisions!
Just curious, what do you do now? And how did you decide what to transition to? Feeling lost :/
@@mihotsubaki8892 I am still in the legal profession but I went inhouse and I am doing general corporate work which has much less workload and my company values work life balance. I decided to leave law firm because the hours were too long and there was too much workload as I was in corporate finance. often I worked after midnight, on weekends and public holidays. I noticed that its too stressful and it’s affecting my health so I decided to quit. Health is upmost important. Hope my advice helps!
How much salary as a junior corporate barrister
@@imsylsylsylplease reply about the salary of corporate law
There is no greater feeling to be able to recognize what gives you joy and actually be able to attain it day in and day out. Fully respect your decision and am happy that you decided to quit. I hope you’ll be able to take this time to recharge, to enjoy some time with Em and I am sure there are plenty of opportunities ahead once you feel ready. I am not in the legal profession but have always been fascinated about yours and Em’s experiences. Perhaps consider writing a book, my humble opinion is that you’ll be very good at it and I’ll be the first one to get a few copies 😃.
Good for you! Hope this new chapter brings you well.
Congrats on quitting. Exciting times and so brave of both you to take this step
It’s a horrible life. I put on 40kgs since I started as a corporate lawyer at a top tier Australian firm 5 years ago. I also have several issues with my lower back, hips and legs from sitting for extended periods. I’ve lost all my friends because I never have time for them. All I do is work, and when I’m not working I’m thinking about work.
All of the above is true, yet for some fucking reason I’m terrified of quitting.
We saw it coming because no Human can handle that pressure.
Some however do, but only by using drugs and numbing the pain, and that's a horrible price to pay.
This is the kind of honest content aspiring private practice lawyers need before deciding to jump into massive firms. Great video!
I quit law, after graduating from law school. Thanks Lloyd & Em.
What's your future career move then? In other words, if you quit law, what can you do with your law degree?
@@pinetworkminer8377 if you still want to use a law degree there are jobs considered “J.D. advantage jobs”. A lot of jobs that require MBAs will accept a JD also and if you wanted to work in compliance they usually prefer someone with a JD. I use JD because that’s the law degree here in the US. But some people decide to do something completely different and you can still talk up the skills you gain from law school and apply them to other things.
Great video. I used to be a banking lawyer and can relate to everything you said. I moved into teaching and haven’t looked back since.
Good luck with the future! I’m / was from the engineering industry and I quit many years ago feeling I sold my soul to work and other people’s whims…my life is much better when not bowing down to others. Life with 3 kids is harder than any industry 😂
Congrats to you for quitting and finding fulfilment now! It is still one of my biggest regrets that I let my youtube channel basically die when I landed my magic circle training contract. But 8 years ago it seemed like madness to choose being a creator over the legal career I'd worked so hard to build! So glad there are people like you showing people that it is possible to choose yourself and follow your heart. Wish you and Em the best! P.S. I refused to go on secondment in Hong Kong because everyone at my firm knew that was an intense seat especially for banking and corporate :-D
Congratulations on putting your self first!
Glad to hear you got the courage to jump out and have your work/life balance back. I've been following you because I work on the other side of the deal (M&A advisory) and it's been interesting to see how corporate finance lawyers work. I can also reflect my own work/life balance and I'm glad my working hours are more manageable (approx. 35h/week in Finland).
How much you earn?
Have a good rest and good luck on your next journey!
Congrats! I used to work in the legal industry as well (also in corporate but mostly IPO), so I can totally relate to your video. I am honestly so much happier and healthier now, and I hope you will be too!
Great decision, was a data analyst for a major car company. Now planning my relocation to Mexico to pursue entrepreneurship. Save your money and it will save you. Dont be reckless, be calculated.
Thanks for this video! I can definitely relate to some extent. Worked as a privacy lawyer for 3-4 years, quit (mostly because of reason #2) that you mentioned in the video. Took a coding bootcamp and today I am working as a web3 developer in the crypto space! I am enjoying every bit of the way and haven't looked back since!
Essential definition of law industry, the same it looks in Poland. Best greetings for You both
I'm now doing a part time law degree and thinking to pursue a career in corporate law. But after hearing so many horror stories in law firms and seeing lawyers like you and Emily eventually leaving the industry anyway, I start to question whether I should go ahead with this plan or just continue my financially stable yet unchallenging career.
You should believe in yourself. If
that's where you feel your place is, then that's where you belong. And if you are not able to withstand this challenge, you can always quit and switch for a second career.
There are positives which came out of doing this too - I certainly think having legal literacy is great, and the credentials open up many more doors as well. Part of why I am able to leave comfortably is because I feel like the skills/experience I've gained being in the profession will stay with me forever. I believe things in life such as jobs/career are not necessarily permanent, but that doesn't mean they're not worth doing :) all the best to you on your own journey!
@@EmandLloyd thank you for the reply! that is very encouraging and means a lot to me! Keep up with the good work🔥
@@mannanmorvi1806 thank you too!
Don't become a lawyer.
Your videos are awesome btw! As someone who was living NYC law firm life for 7 years, I can say that they're accurate and faithful to what it's like to practice as a transactional attorney. Best of luck on your new ventures!
Proud of you!
Thanks for sharing and glad to hear you both have made the decision without having a job to take a break, same here, hv just quit to take a break too, it's time to take care of mental and physical health. All the best to all of us.
great to hear this news!! you have all our support along the journey of doing YT. i hope everything goes well with you!
This was refreshing. First off I'm very impressed with your ability to express everything in such a highly immense, intelligent manner. Having a client call in for some urgent work which disrupts your entire weekend can be extremely frustrating and then having that happen often can really make you hope for a basic 9-5, no on-call life. Extremely understandable. I hope you've found a recovery of such mental exhaustion and have started living comfortably. Best wishes with your pursuit of meaningful living and my question is - Are there law firms that don't have on-call and have fixed 9-5 hours?
Thank you for the awesome feedback! Some in-house roles are more 9-5, but private practice is usually less predictable.
I’d been several years in private practice, was never very good at it (nothing too demanding intellectually, just not organised enough, and especially not good enough at sucking up to partners; I was always respectful). Now I’m in-house at a massive US tech firm, learning a new area. Hours roughly 9-7, 9-8. Money similar, but chaotically unstructured. Plenty toxicity too. Thankfully I teach jiu-jitsu which gives me plenty of satisfaction.
Working in Finance Industry can be extremely demanding ... 😥
I wish you good luck in your future endeavours, I am certain you'll achieve everything you work towards.
Thank you for your honest perspective.
9:01 I love this!
For the upcoming Q&A: How did your friends and family react to the two of you both quitting your jobs as a lawyer?
great question. as an outsider in this industry, i think quitting the sh1t is a super wise decision
They loooooved it.
You inspired us all. Do Good lucks in your next adventures.
Good luck 👍 it's nothing wrong to change, you can find your own way/journey...all the best !
Wish you the best in your future endeavours!
You got to follow your heart and gut. Good on you for putting yourself first! 🙌🏽
We support you lloyd. We live in hk too and watch alot of your videos.
Question for Q&A: What coffee/tea do you drink to stay up or wake yourself up in the morning?
Any particular brand? What else does it help you stay energetic most of the time? Gym?
My jaw literally dropped when I saw this video - having known you from law school and college, this is a huge surprise. But, I understand where you're coming from - everything is SO relatable - and I can't wait to see where life takes you both next! Enjoy California :)
Thank you, Christie! Haha - definitely a bit of a 180 from our uni days :) I suppose it's just another reminder that life has the potential to take us on interesting journeys. Thanks for all of the support towards our channel from day one!!
Thanks for sharing and congratulations on the next chapter or at least a break from all the madness! As a corporate law associate myself, I have to say that all the reasons you mentioned are very genuine and candid. We’ve spent years of education and trainings to adapt to the on-the-clock type of client service, and honestly what scares us or at least me is not really the hard work or the all nighters, and we get compensated for that quite generously, cravath rate, cola and all that. However the idea of not being able to make any schedule or commitment or just exploring new interests outside work in a meaning way is what bugs me everyday. The notion of staying on the job for a few years and exiting thereafter while golden handcuffed is ironically pragmatic (which I am struggling with everyday as well). Congratulations again on moving onward and forward!!
Thank you - it definitely helped me when I spoke to friends in the industry about their experience and realized that I wasn’t alone in feeling this way. I hoped that by speaking candidly about these issues in the industry, others could relate and possibly reflect on their own situation as well. Really happy to hear that the video resonated with you! 🤝
I resonate with your reasons, I’m also a lawyer in HK and I decided to move in-house early on for a better work life balance!
Thanks for your insightful and honest sharing, as usual! All the best to you and Em!
As a law intern I can totally relate to each point
Thank you so much for keeping it real with us.
Are you a daydreamer ?
From another ex top firm lawyer congrats!
Congratulations on your courageous decision! It's so important to be passionate in what you do. Babysitting clients is only acceptable if they are paying you more.
Good for you! And what a HQ video once again :)
Here's to new adventures ahead!!
Thanks for sharing! Leaving a comment here to simulate TH-cam algorithms 😬💪👍🔥
🤝
When you do not have family or kids you can do whatever you want but when you do, you end up doing what is best for them.
Wishing you all the best in no matter what you do! 😃
great video! wishing you guys the best !
love it whn u shared what book u have read that made some sort of a difference in you. nice video man!
Thanks, Aaron!
Nice!!! I quit my job too. Corp environmental in middle management sucks
Hey Lloyd, I'm glad to see you have chosen the path you feel is best for yourself, and thank you for being honest with the decision process. Best luck with your future endeavors!
I'm a lawyer and I hate it. There is no work life balance, a lot of politics, boring as shit, and clients have unreasonable expectations when they were the ones who didn't plan accordingly.
I am planning on leaving as well.
which country and city?
Full support brother, you have one life to live and don't throw it away for no one.
Best wish to your new journey
So happy for you and Em! Congratulations on all your achievements to date and all that’s to come! :)
Important video, subscribed.
wow wow wow this channel is amazing thank you so much for sharing your insights. I'm a final year law student in AUS with a commercial law graduate program starting from next year and had so many concerns swirling through my mind. your videos have definitely helped quell some of my concerns. can't wait for your future content and sending you all my support from down under!!!
Congratulations!!
Wow! Best of luck, Lloyd. Really looking forward to the Q&A.
Thank you for sharing, finished
Congratulations Lloyd (and Em too). I can understand how difficult it is to leave your comfort zone after spending years building a solid career in law. I think many of us would be interested to know - what are your plans for the next step? Are you two just taking a break or are you guys becoming full time TH-camrs?
Congrats Lloyd and thank you and Em for sharing your genuine thoughts and experience with us! I’m going through similar struggles with my work and I admire your conviction to do your own thing
All the best to you and Em!
I’m thinking of getting a JD/MBA specifically because of some of these things that worry me (as a big law paralegal, I see the things you’ve mentioned) so that I could move into a business position and not have to do it necessarily by lattering in as an in house attorney first.
Oh my goodness. That takes some guts. Add oil you guys!!! Can’t wait to see what you get up to in the future =)
this was so welcoming
Your videos have been very relatable to me. Thank you for sharing your journey with us and best of luck with your upcoming adventures!
I started my own small accounting company after being in the industry for the last 20 years. It is really rewarding: having the pay going to my wallet instead of my boss'es. I always had direct great relationship with all clients, so this stays rewarding. And I take as many vacations as I want to and I need for my children. Without having to ask my boss for it. It will be 8 weeks of vacation this year. In between I mostly work on weekends and late evenings , too, when my children don't need me, but I choose the time and whether I want to do it. So I highly recommend anyone to stop being employed and start their own thing with their professional skills and knowledge.
Great work man, really proud of you!
looking forward to more videos! really like all your tips and your insights
Love you guys 💖
Hey Lloyd and Em, have you both ever considered working in-house ? I’ve heard working for a company as a client can be less demanding than private practice?
Yeah I've heard this too!
Less demanding but other issues arise
I work in-house doing litigation. Not even close to as many perks, but it's extremely flexible and it's more rare to have extreme hours.
This is me in a certain way. I tried to get into a job as a data analyst, purely because data is the new hot thing and the money is good. And I joined a job for a month and it didn't go the way I hoped. I was constantly glued to the laptop doing 8 hour days of just number crunching and model building. In the end, I was dismissed cause' I wasn't pulling my weight and in all honesty, I felt it was satisfying for me.
I was expecting this since a long time.
Really appreciate this content. Thank you!
Life is hard. Man up and put your big boy pants on. One of the best advices that I ever got. Work hard and play hard. No weak sauce sh*t.
Wow, I am really looking forward to your next video.As a lawyer in the mainland after graduating from a good college, I always find my job lacking of self accomplishment .I even want to shift my career these days.Really admire your English, and you tell me how can you say English so fluently ?