Finding Purpose Forum

[Anonymous User]

Finding meaning and purpose in your work is often cited as a key source of happiness. I know that it is rare to find that in a job, but it seems to me that lawyers, more so than than other professions, have little to no connection to their work.

As a 1st year in corporate BigLaw, I have been struggling with this as part of my larger struggle with anxiety and depression. I just don't care about what I am doing. At all. If you had told me 1L year that I would be working at my firm after graduation, I would have been ecstatic. This is what I set out to do and what I worked so hard to achieve, and now I find it completely hollow.

Maybe I am just a being a whiny millennial, struggling with being part of the work force for the first time. I am just looking for a way to, if possible, use my degree for something that I can actually give a shit about. Does anyone have any insight?

[zot1]

Not saying you have to do this, but:

One of my friends worked in BigLaw for three years before he left. In those three years, he used some of his money to help people and charities. He'd tell me that as sucky as his job was, he drew some satisfaction from knowing he was helping others.

[howell]

This is a huge subject you can likely find sections about in bookstores, so you might not get all of your answers here. It doesn't mean there's no value in discussing it.

First, the bad news. Some will say you can't/won't find meaning and/or purpose in work. This is for multiple reasons. Some think it's not possible for anyone. Others think it's not possible for most people. Possibly what you're good enough at to get paid to do and what you find to be meaningful are mutually exclusive. Maybe work becomes "work" after awhile, no matter what. I think there's some truth to all of that, but I don't think it's impossible to find meaning/purpose in work. Some people may just not be built to find meaning in their work. That's okay. I think these people are stronger in some ways than I am - I need to have a meaning or a purpose that's driving me. Otherwise, I'm just going through the motions.

There are many ways to find meaning/purpose in work. Maybe your purpose is to not be homeless. Maybe it's so you can afford to take care of others. Maybe it's to get laid. Maybe it's to be the best at what you do, and who pays you is less important than mastering your craft. Maybe you want to work for an organization that's making the world a better place, even if it means having to remember to put the cover sheet on your TPS reports.

What you find meaningful will change over time. Some of it is partially a Maslow thing - you have to put food on the table before you can worry about psychological fulfillment. But your values will likely change over time. It can also help to see a job that you find meaningless as a stepping stone to what you really want to do later. That can help tremendously with feeling like you're in a soul-sucking job and are trading your life for other people's bottom lines.

I've turned my life upside down to find meaning and purpose in my work. And it's worked for me, but it's a continuous process. I have done work I have found meaningful and that has a purpose to me, but what I want out of life changes over time, so I am still setting my future up to allow me to do things I consider even more meaningful. Maybe I would have been happier/richer/saner sticking with a job that would have paid well and not required a long work week, but I really don't think I could have enjoyed settling.

[zot1]

FWIW, I find my work to be meaningful and rewarding and I'm still looking for the next best thing.

[jimmythecatdied6]

I just think of all the good that my tax dollars are doing, and then I feel purpose.

[patentlitigatrix]

There are many ways to find meaning/purpose in work. Maybe your purpose is to not be homeless. Maybe it's so you can afford to take care of others.

I don't find my work personally meaningful per se, but this works for me.

[Anonymous User]

Most of my work goes directly against my moral/political views, but I really enjoy the intellectual challenge, so that's where I find meaning. I try to make up for it with pro bono and giving money to charity. I love the work, not for the consequences, but for the process. Maybe you can look at it that way.

[dixiecupdrinking]

Finding meaning and purpose in your work is often cited as a key source of happiness. I know that it is rare to find that in a job, but it seems to me that lawyers, more so than than other professions, have little to no connection to their work.

As a 1st year in corporate BigLaw, I have been struggling with this as part of my larger struggle with anxiety and depression. I just don't care about what I am doing. At all. If you had told me 1L year that I would be working at my firm after graduation, I would have been ecstatic. This is what I set out to do and what I worked so hard to achieve, and now I find it completely hollow.

Maybe I am just a being a whiny millennial, struggling with being part of the work force for the first time. I am just looking for a way to, if possible, use my degree for something that I can actually give a shit about. Does anyone have any insight?

I think part of it is that being a lawyer is treated as A PROFESSION. It's not supposed to be just a job, it's part of an identity. I think that all-encompassing aspect can be especially alienating when you don't care about your work.

On the flip side, those lawyers who do work they're passionate about seem to find all the more purpose in it.

[seespotrun]

Take stims.

[Anonymous User]

OP here.

I have found this site to be very helpful over the years, but now that I am actually working I have noticed that 90% of the advice on here is rationalizing how awful this shit is.

I read that crying at my desk thread and I just wonder why do any of us even do this to ourselves?

As someone from a mediocre undergrad with a liberal arts major, I just don't know what else I can do.

[zot1]

Because there are other things you can do.

I work for the government. I get real cases and responsibility for what I do. My opinion is respected--people way more senior ask me what I think because they want to know.

I don't get paid as much as anyone in BigLaw, but I'm comfortable.

The reason why I even have time to wonder what's the next best thing is because I work 40 hours per week and have a lot of time off to just think about life and what other things I could be doing.

I'm not posting this to brag, but rather to show that there are better things out there you can do within the law. You just have to look for them and be okay with the paycut. From experience though, the kind of freedom I have can't be bought. And even though having to deal with student loans for 10 years until forgiveness (hopefully), time goes by a lot quicker than people think.

[dixiecupdrinking]

OP here.

I have found this site to be very helpful over the years, but now that I am actually working I have noticed that 90% of the advice on here is rationalizing how awful this shit is.

I read that crying at my desk thread and I just wonder why do any of us even do this to ourselves?

As someone from a mediocre undergrad with a liberal arts major, I just don't know what else I can do.

Well, money is one reason. Developing a cachet that will help you do something different in a few years is another reason.

FWIW, you are also at the toughest part of the learning curve right now (6-12 months or so, IMO).

All that said, I think the "purpose" that can best get you through big law is taking pride in doing your job well. Focus on what you can control.

[whysoseriousbiglaw]

I used to think about this a lot - finding a "purpose" in life. I've resigned myself to believe that 99% of us can't find a purpose. In the grand scheme of things, there is no "grander purpose" in life either - beyond enjoying life and helping other people/animals enjoy it. Life is just one pure flame. I don't really believe in religious bullshit claiming there is an afterlife - there likely isn't one and if there is an afterlife/reincarnation, we won't even be aware of it anyway, so it doesn't matter.

Just remember - we can't take anything to the grave. So spending your youth working away your good looks, health, etc. for a little bit of money (the money isn't that great in biglaw) is just fucking stupid.

[whysoseriousbiglaw]

Finding meaning and purpose in your work is often cited as a key source of happiness. I know that it is rare to find that in a job, but it seems to me that lawyers, more so than than other professions, have little to no connection to their work.

As a 1st year in corporate BigLaw, I have been struggling with this as part of my larger struggle with anxiety and depression. I just don't care about what I am doing. At all. If you had told me 1L year that I would be working at my firm after graduation, I would have been ecstatic. This is what I set out to do and what I worked so hard to achieve, and now I find it completely hollow.

Maybe I am just a being a whiny millennial, struggling with being part of the work force for the first time. I am just looking for a way to, if possible, use my degree for something that I can actually give a shit about. Does anyone have any insight?

I think part of it is that being a lawyer is treated as A PROFESSION. It's not supposed to be just a job, it's part of an identity. I think that all-encompassing aspect can be especially alienating when you don't care about your work.

On the flip side, those lawyers who do work they're passionate about seem to find all the more purpose in it.

The key is not buying into the idea of a "profession" and understanding that a job is a job - 99.999% of people would quit their "professions" or "jobs" if they won the lottery....it's all just societal brainwashing to make yourself seem more important when nobody cares about you or your "profession". "Working hard" and "having a respectable profession" are just flame. Make money how you can make it (whatever that entails legally) and enjoy your free time.

[zot1]

Just remember - we can't take anything to the grave. So spending your youth working away your good looks, health, etc. for a little bit of money (the money isn't that great in biglaw) is just fucking stupid.

[L’Étranger]

Take stims.

Awesome.

I would actually say to 0Ls that if money doesn't motivate you, you're probably not going to be that into biglaw for the long haul.