This week in Young, Hungry & Committed, virtual office New York lawyer, Vivian Sobers asks: “What happens when you get everything you thought was possible?”
I had always dreamed of becoming an attorney and starting my own solo law practice. In my mind, these were idealistic dreams, like “what if I had my very own Rainbow Brite Unicorn?”
Now I am an attorney. I have my own solo practice.
Not only do I have my own practice, but it’s a self-sustaining one where I actually earn a living and more.
As I reflect upon the year that has passed and think about planning the year ahead, the biggest problem I face is: “What now?”
I always planned to be a solo practitioner, but never anything after that. The goal was so lofty in my mind that I never allowed myself to think beyond it.
I guess I expected my career to take a more traditional path: work for a small firm for a while, hone my skills and later on in my career go solo. But life, and the most horrific job market in nearly a century, had different plans for me.
I short circuited the traditional legal career path and, as a result, I’ve accomplished my lifelong dream much sooner than I ever anticipated. Now I feel like I need to push this dream further. Into a new reality. Grow or wither.
I’ve established a good reputation with other attorneys and the courts.
I have confidence in the advice I am hired to give.
Now I’m at the point where I need to let my firm be its own person. Something beyond myself, beyond my ego maybe? I’m not quite sure.
If I were to be honest with myself, when it comes to pushing things forward, on establishing a new goal, I have procrastinated.
Is it fear that makes me hesitate? That the skills that got me here are not the skills I will need to take me beyond this place? And that learning these skills may be hard. May be uncomfortable? At a time when I’m just finally starting to feel comfortable after a stressful year?
It’s terrifying figuring out what that next dream will be.
But it frightens me more that, for the first time, when I look into the future, I don’t have a vision for what that looks like.
I recognize that this is a fantastic problem to have. It’s powerful when you realize that you accomplished your dreams, and I am grateful for those who have supported my journey so far.
I’m taking some time off the next few days to visit with my Dad and enjoy the holidays.
In between the holiday parties, I’ll be thinking about new dreams, and hope you do too.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
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Vivian Sobers is a commercial litigator pursuing a solo law practice right out of law school. She is a client in Law Firm Suites’ Virtual Office Program. Vivian’s weekly blog series “Young, Hungry and Committed” documents the trials and tribulations of a young attorney navigating her way through the challenging world of self-employed legal practice.
