The Lawyer Who Left to Become a Gardener

A true story, with permission.

Many years ago I had the privilege of working with a very bright young junior lawyer who quit to become a horticulturist. She prefers to call herself a gardener. She’s one of my heroes and remains a dear friend.

The young lawyer in question had it all– great marks, charm, wits, strong work ethic, a way with words, good analytical skills– all the good stuff you’d want to have to become a great lawyer. That she had chosen to work with our firm was obviously a stroke of great luck for us.

So you can imagine my shock when, in obvious distress, she came to see me one morning. She didn’t need to tell me that she had been awake and in tears most of the previous night, dreading the conversation we were about to have.

What poured out was that the emotional grind of practicing law– and it is an emotional grind– was destroying her. We’re in the conflict business, and the constant tussle with other lawyers, and for that matter with clients, was tearing her down. She was born for creating and working with nature, not for whacking people on the head.

It was pretty clear that if she continued in the practice of law, it would destroy her. So we agreed that something had to change.

Long story short, she went back home and ultimately took horticultural courses, soon landing a job where she manages ocean-side gardens and woods. “Norm,” she tells me, “when I’m in my gardens in my muddy boots, looking at the Atlantic and with the sun pouring down on me, I’m in heaven.”

Is she making as much money as if she had stayed in law? No. Is her life more rewarding and satisfying? Yes, by a thousand per cent. Would she do it again? In a heartbeat.

Many of us, during the course of our professions, come to a point when we wonder if we’ve been chasing a bad dream. For most of us the answer is “No”, but for some of us, the answer is “Yes”. Admitting that can be life-saving.

Sometimes the solution is not as radical as going from lawyer to horticulturist, but in going from your current profession to an adjacent profession where you can carry along most of your skills and training, and where your credentials count for something.

The big problem for most of us is that we look at the time and money we have already invested in our professional careers and believe that we can’t justify walking away from all that. But sometimes you’re just throwing good money after bad and destroying yourself in the process.

Walking away from our profession is not for everybody. In fact, it’s not right for most of us. But for a few, in certain circumstances it is the smart thing to do. Clearly, grappling with these issues is not something that should be done on a whim and without wise counsel.

Do you know someone who should be talking to me?