Viral LinkedIn Post Explains Why This Lawyer Left His Job – For A Life
Eli Albrecht was until recently a senior associate with Gibson Dunn, handling M&A work, but turned down a partnership.
In an Above the Law interview he explained that he achieved what he once thought was his dream job as a Big Law partner.
After years of billing 2,500 to 3,000 annually he explained in a now-viral LinkedIn post, which has racked up more than 12,000 reactions and 1,000 likes, that he was stepping off the Big Law hampster wheel because he was missing out on life.
Albrecht reflected on his childhood aspirations, moving up the ranks in his firm and striving for the partner office, the corner office, and the prestigious title of Partner.
He realized that his intense focus on his career has come at a cost.
This decision was not easy. I am taking a leap of faith. I am letting go of a certain and linear path to success and betting on myself.
He had been sacrificing precious moments with their family and missing out on important milestones in their children’s lives. His son took his first steps, their daughter smiled and uttered her first words, and his children were growing up and experiencing various joys and milestones that the author was not fully present for. Meanwhile, his wife had been building a successful business.
His heartfelt decision, made with his wife, was not easy, as it required taking a leap of faith and letting go of a predictable path to success.
However, he decided to bet on himself and his wife and seek a new chapter that balances their professional aspirations with their family commitments.
A New Law Beginning
In a subsequent post, Albrecht clarified that he has a genuine love for his work but does not desire to be consumed by it round the clock.
Therefore, he made the decision to join SMB Law, a boutique law firm that is dedicated to building a new and innovative model prioritizing family values, as stated by Albrecht himself.
The future success of SMB Law remains uncertain and only time will reveal its outcome, but personally, I am inclined to give Albrecht and SMB the benefit of doubt.
Albrecht’s adept utilization of social media to publicize a routine job transition demonstrates a skill for marketing, which, whether we appreciate it or not, plays a significant role in the success of law firms in today’s world.
“This decision was not easy. I am taking a leap of faith. I am letting go of a certain and linear path to success and betting on myself.”
