The Professional Development Center

The Professional Development Center is devoted to the professional development of lawyers and is sponsored by FindLaw and the Center for Professional Development in the Law, which provides confidential individual advice, coaching, and guidance in person and over the telephone to the lawyer considering moving from his or her present position.

The dissatisfaction of so many lawyers with their careers dramatizes the need to focus on a process which enables them, by seeking positions consistent with their personal values and professional goals, to achieve professional satisfaction.

Listed below are articles written by Ronald W. Fox, Esquire and Mark L. Byers, Ph.D. To understand the process and the steps a lawyer needs to take to make a thoughtful transition, we recommend that the articles be read in order.

We also invite you to read the articles by our Guest Columnists, Terri Lynn Eberle, Thane J. Messinger, Paul M. Bunge, and Kathy Morris.

A brief description of the articles can be found in The Columns.

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The Columns

Editors Column Look at Your Present Situation. Are You Dissatisfied? What Are the Causes? Introduction Taking Stock: Evaluating Your Present Position What is Important to You? Your Interests, Goals, Values and Skills Strategies For Self-Assessment Self-Assessment II: The Value of Not Killing a Mockingbird Exploring Your Options and Choosing a Direction Through the Looking Glass - Your Options in the Law A Firm Choice The Path Through Private Practice Exploring the World of Small Firms That Represent Individuals In-House Counsel Jobs - A Myth? Essays on Satisfaction Law Letters Happy Lawyers Time, Satisfaction and the Law Darwin Among Lawyers The New Associates: A Letter to Puzzled Partners Taking Action: Searching For and Accepting a Position Taking Control - How to Search for Satisfying Positions Enforcing the Legal Profession's Values in Law Firms For Workplace Satisfaction, Lawyers Should Ignore Ads and Law Students Should Ignore On-Campus Interviewing For Law Students and Those Considering Law School Looking For Law in All the Wrong Places? Choosing the Best Law School Alternatives to Law School for Those Who Want to Be Lawyers:

Guest Column: A Lawyer and a Person Introduction Belva Lockwood There Isn't Just One Answer Richard D. Kahlenberg Anoja Bala Madison Guest Column: Your First Years as a Lawyer Introduction The Search for Satisfaction Where to Practice? Planting Yourself in the Right Balancing your Office Life... Guest Column: Fifteen Rules for Winning as a Junior Associate Guest Column: Here's the Big Picture on Changing Jobs

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You are invited to participate in The Legal Careers Message Board Forum - read the many thoughtful messages and post your questions and comments.

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Resources - worthwhile career planning books and articles

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