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How a local attorney made a fulfilling work/life judgment
“I often see lawyers as walking corpses. Their life is so sucked out of them that there is no drive or passion for what they really want to do,” Port Washington attorney Arnie Herz says. He also says he’s created a different reality. By transitioning from one field of law practice to another he was able to revamp his professional and personal life through a series of definitive steps aimed at restoring what he calls “worklife synergy.”
Employment Epiphany
Herz made his decision to work smarter and with more purpose at the beginning of his career in law in 1991. As a sports litigator for a large firm in the city (a dream first job for a man who loves sports), he found himself doing a lot of research alone in the law library, but he didn’t find his work fulfilling. “I didn’t enjoy interacting with books or computers,” he says. “I wanted to interact with people.”
It was that passion for more meaningful daily interactions that brought about his personal views governing work/life balance. He reviewed time, daily tasks and relationships while pondering a series of questions (see box below).
Upon examining his revelations, he acknowledged he was bored with his career duties. On a leap of faith, he offered to take on pro bono cases within the law firm, in addition to his regular duties. It added to his workload, but allowed him to diversify and got him the one-on-one client experience he was seeking.
“I didn’t present taking on these pro bono cases because I was unhappy; I presented it like a great opportunity to do some pro bono work and they were thrilled to have a lawyer who was interested in doing it because large law firms get acknowledged for that type of work.”
Creating a Niche
With a little strategy, Herz was able to slowly morph his position at the company, grow his career and keep his employer content. He took on extra work while continuing to work on the larger cases assigned to him as a junior associate. He also offered to take some of the smaller cases of the more established attorneys, which again let him interact with clients.
Heading out of his comfort zone, Herz was able to fuel his passion for law and helping people. Herz worked for various other firms until 2004, when he launched Legal Sanity® Learning Programs, in which he teaches other attorneys to better synergize their work/life experience, while thriving in business. His blog at www.arnieherz.com shares thoughts on everything from guidance for a more positive job experience while avoiding burnout, to cultivating effective client relationships.
For Herz, it was clear that he wanted direct client contact, and he knew he’d eventually run his own law firm. Discovering that clarity about what he really wanted to do with his law degree was the key, he says. Once he had clarity, he was energized enough to forge ahead in making new opportunities for growth.
But the greatest payoff in his self-reflective and proactive plan is that he’s only minutes away from home and his kids’ school, allowing him to be there for everyday and special events. It’s that kind of flexibility, he says, that has allowed him to create a meaningful work life, one that is synergized with his family life.
Learn more at www.legalsanity.com and www.worklifemonitor.com
Find Meaningful Work
- Identify the most and least enjoyable parts of your job. Can you enhance the positives without stretching your workload too much?
- Evaluate your time in the office. How much is spent in fulfilling work?
- What additional skills might you offer your employer to boost career growth?
- Volunteer to do a project that you are passionate about. Doing an activity that we enjoy doesn’t seem like work.
- Create your own path in your current position. Learn new skills and start using them to slowly augment your position.
- Review your workplace relationships. Keep company with those who offer support. Who is energizing you and who is depleting you?
