Pursuing a passion outside of law might be the best thing you can do for your legal career. In a recent series of articles in Law360, lawyers explored why their hobbies and extracurricular activities made them better lawyers. Their message: Taking time away from law practice to follow your heart is not distraction; rather, if you identify, harness, and use the skills that your passion helps you hone, it can enhance your legal career.
Previous Careers
As legal recruiters, we see candidates and clients with a variety of current extracurricular activities and coming from all sorts of previous careers.
• The expected
Some previous careers seamlessly segue into a law practice specialty, such as: former doctors and nurses who specialize in healthcare law; actors or musicians who became entertainment attorneys; those with computer or scientific backgrounds who handle IP; law enforcement officers who now practice criminal prosecution or defense (including white collar); real estate, construction, and insurance professionals who switch to the legal side of those industries; and lawyers with mechanical expertise who now practice product liability. We’ve also seen horse-riding enthusiasts practice equine law and boaters handling maritime matters. Those practitioners come with Industry knowledge. They know the players and have relevant connections and memberships for easy access to the right people for business development purposes.
• The unsurprising
Then, there are those such as writers and educators who excel at legal writing or poker players who can assess risk and negotiate with a straight face, or former members of the armed forces who come with hard-won leadership skills.
• The unexpected
And, finally, we’ve worked with lawyers who come from totally unrelated careers such as the professional ballet dancer, previous competition/professional athletes, and firefighters. Yet, each of them found something in their background that contributed to the practice of law. As one of my law school classmates says on his website, “I learned my courtroom composure at the nozzle of a hose in the middle of a burning building… if you can stay composed there, the courtroom is a breeze.”
Themes
Similarly, the lawyers featured in the Law360 series, from the NFL cheerleader, the Dungeon & Dragons gamer, and historical reenactment buff to the extreme sports competitors relate skills and attributes they honed through those passions that they believe make them better lawyers. And, despite a wide range of interests, certain themes emerge.
• Relationship-building/broader circle
Many of the series authors reported stronger social skills and an improved ability to build lasting relationships both inside and outside the office. Because the legal profession is so demanding and time intensive, some attorneys find that their social lives revolve almost exclusively around their colleagues and firm. But having a serious hobby can introduce you to an entirely new and different group of friends. Bonding over shared interests and experiences and engaging with a variety of people with diverse personalities, backgrounds, and professions can teach you to listen, build trust, communicate clearly, and work with others efficiently and effectively.
Every person you meet pursuing your interests outside of law (even with other lawyers) is a potential client or referral source. If your extracurricular activity is relatively unusual, that can be a real plus. Clients may find it interesting and it will distinguish you from other lawyers. Moreover, discussing personal interests with people in your own office can foster connections with colleagues that you may not otherwise have developed.
• Leadership/teamwork/ mentorship
A related benefit is enhanced teamwork and mentorship skills. Just as a successful legal practice requires assembling and nurturing the right team and developing an environment in which the members can reach their full potential, achieving success in many hobbies—whether physically or mentally challenging—depends upon the best efforts of all who are involved. You learn to understand your strengths and your opponent’s weaknesses, and how to use that knowledge to the team’s advantage, as well as when to lead and when to follow. You can learn from other members of the team, and being a mentee can, in turn, teach you to be a more compassionate mentor.
• Resilience/adaptability
A huge benefit of nurturing interests outside of law is the opportunity to overcome challenges, which sharpens your instincts and builds resilience and determination. Many competitive hobbies, just like law practice, require you to be flexible and nimble, ready to adjust to changing circumstances on the fly. You learn to anticipate how an opponent may act and then have a reasoned, calm, and egoless—but quick—response. You learn to persevere and find ways to come back and win when your opponent has an advantage, and even when you think all hope is lost.
These high pressure situations call for creative problem-solving in the heat of the moment and teach you to face adversity with composure and grace. The ability to assess risks and make informed decisions under uncertainty can only enhance your success as a lawyer, as well.
• Preparation and focus
Most hobbies require special equipment and skills that must be developed and maintained. Some even involve risk, so unwavering mental presence, careful attention to detail while not losing sight of the full environment, and preparing for opportunities and obstacles all are essential to avoid disaster. Similarly, lawyers are trained to anticipate and plan for the worst-case scenario but, with proper preparation, strive to be a steady voice of reason in difficult circumstances. Intense outside activities can provide important lessons on how to slow down and live in the moment. When you know you’re prepared, you can roll with the punches and have fun.
• Confidence, humility, and continuous learning
Many of the authors in the Law 360 series reported developing new self-assurance by following their interests outside of law. They learned that engaging in something that you’re enthusiastic about can make you forget your nerves. They found that achieving success in these other pursuits spilled over to their professional lives, as well.
On the flip side, they learned to roll with the punches; it’s important to be graceful in defeat and humble in victory. One reported an object lesson in humility: losing a chess game to a third grader taught him to not to be tied to the outcome but simply enjoy the journey.
As in law practice, you must be receptive to critique and understand that areas where you fall short today will lead to long-term success in the future if you put in the time and hard work to improve. Seeing tangible improvement over time helps boost your fighting spirit to keep at it.
To master a new sport or activity, you need “practice, precision, and patience” as one of the series authors expressed it. You must learn the rules and dedicate the time to practice the basic skills and build on them just as lawyers need to know the laws and regulations and how to apply them. You also need self-motivation, organization, and time management for efficient and effective follow-through. Many hobbies outside of law also require you to strategize and think in new directions, which can only help you when you get back to the office.
• Stress reduction/renewal, mind-body connection
One of the most obvious and oft-mentioned benefits of pursuing interests outside of law is that it’s an outlet from the pressures of practice. It helps avoid burnout and maintain mental and physical well-being. The authors mention that it helps control emotions, manage breathing, and think with a clear head. One even called it a “psychic palate cleanser.”
Hobbies usually engage a very different part of the brain. When you return to your desk, you feel reenergized and recommitted with a fresh perspective. You also may find that some part of your brain has been working on a legal problem in the background. Often a creative, out-of-the-box solution occurs to you that would not have without that time “away.”
Any activity that triggers your mind/body connection not only benefits you physically and emotionally, but also can carry over to your career through increased stamina, heightened focus, and a more creative and disciplined approach. “Playing’ for just a few minutes can help you wind down at the end of the day or recharge your batteries when there’s more work to do.
To sustain your legal career for the long haul, it’s best to set a boundary between your work and personal life. By pursuing your passions outside of law practice you may gain broader life experiences and tap into a side of yourself you had never explored. We all deserve a balanced life, and our clients deserve the best version of ourselves that results. Scheduling time for physical exercise, brain cleansing, and socializing are critical. In sports, rest and recovery are planned and prioritized as much as active training, and lawyers should apply this lesson of self-care to law practice, as well.
Conclusion
Rather than being a distracting waste of time, hobbies of all types can enhance your legal career. In his article in the Law 360 series, David Polk partner Marshal Huebner and volunteer emergency medical technician wrote, “If there is not at least some fire raging in your heart or belly, and if what you do feels only like a job and not also like a vocation, you will probably never reach your full potential or have a deeply satisfying work life.”
So, take the time to follow your heart!
