Finding convergence between lawyer passion and purpose

What initially drew you to law practice can get lost in the shuffle in the day-to-day of deadlines and running a business. For independent practitioners, reconnecting with that lawyer passion and purpose can bring new life to your law business.

Reflect on your law career history

We all came to the field of law from different backgrounds and for a variety of reasons.

For some of us, the prestige and intellectual challenge created the initial draw to a law career. For others, witnessing injustice or family challenges prompted a desire to become part of the solution.

This Harvard Law piece highlights the pathways to law of several of its faculty and staff. Here are just a few examples from that post:

“I discovered my passion during a seminar I took on a whim during my 2L fall. I really started to see how property law blended my interests in history, humor, architecture, and social development.” ~Molly Brady

“I’m a legal historian who is interested in issues of race, civil rights, property, and capitalism. I found my way there, first, by figuring out the things that didn’t elicit passion or great interest.” ~Kenneth W. Mack

“I became interested in sports law when there was an effort to prohibit basketball players from jumping from high school to the NBA…I’m a Boston Celtics fan, and because the Celtics were bad in the 1990s, they often picked high in the NBA draft, so I knew the draft very well.” ~Michael McCann

“My current area of work was inspired by life after law school: I saw that human rights advocates could fight for social belonging and economic wellbeing in addition to fighting for everyone to have a voice and freedom from violence.” ~Amnita Ossom

These responses underscore some of the reasons lawyers chose law or their current practice areas: everything from an interest in sports to a strong desire to alleviate suffering.

So, what was the turning point for you in deciding to become a lawyer and then choosing your area of focus?

Reconnect with your passion for law

Those moments in your personal history led you to where you are now. Do you still feel the same intensity as you did then?

If not, it might be time to consider the deeper values that created your initial passion. Drawing from the quotes above, and expanding on them, those values could include words like:

  • Humor
  • Belonging
  • Freedom
  • Safety
  • Voice
  • Rights
  • Wellbeing
  • Stability
  • Honesty
  • Opportunity
  • Equity

Build your own list of 5-10 core values keywords and then craft a few guiding phrases that embody who you want to be now as a lawyer and as person. (Click here for more values keywords inspiration and here for a personal core values process.)

When you have your list, you can then use it to evaluate your current state of being. Does your current work reflect those values, or have you veered away from your values and passion? Is it time to let go of certain clients, practice areas or processes that no longer reflect you and your values? When you let go, you will make room for the work that lights you up.

Infuse your law firm culture with a sense of purpose

Once you have rediscovered the core values that light a fire for you, it’s time to connect them to your law firm’s culture. For your top 3-5 core values, write a short accompanying purpose statement. Then see where those converge to create an overall purpose statement for your law firm.

Clio offers a few helpful examples of purpose statements that reflect the “why” (core purpose), “what” (business or offerings) and “how” (values):

Immigration law example: 

“The mission of XYZ Law is to help clients navigate the immigration process and become citizens [purpose]. We are committed to listening to each unique client situation [values] and providing customized, affordable legal services [business].”

Divorce lawyer example: 

“Example Law Firm LLP strives to guide separated couples through the processes of ending their marriages [purpose]. By offering experienced legal services in a timely manner [business], we help clients move forward with their lives with a fair resolution for all parties [values].”

These statements serve as a guidepost for everyone in the firm. A strong purpose statement brings you back to your values and passion.

Seek out others who align with your purpose

Finally, consider the company you keep. The people around you can have a strong influence over your mindset and priorities. If you find yourself drained or always trying to compete with the people you see day-to-day, it might be time to seek out a broader network of support.

Other purpose-driven lawyers and business owners can help you rediscover your own growth mindset. Connect with these people in a shared office space or at events geared toward positive business growth. Frequent new conferences or business association, or volunteer for causes aligned with your passion, in order to meet new people.

Ready to light a fire under your law business and meet a network of like-minded and supportive peers? Reach out to us to learn about our shared offices for lawyers in Denver and Las Vegas.