The Former Lawyer Podcast

Do you hate working as a lawyer? Are you an unhappy lawyer who wants to leave the law, but isn't sure what to do next? Do your family and friends think you're crazy for wanting to leave the law, or are you too afraid to tell them you don't want to be a lawyer? The Former Lawyer Podcast is for you! Each week, host Sarah Cottrell interviews a different former lawyer who has left the law behind. Hear inspiring stories about how these former lawyers are thriving and found their way to careers and lives they love.

Biglaw Leaders are Cowards and the Effects are More Obvious Now than Ever
Jun 9, 2025 – 10:33
Supporting The Legal Accountability Project Because Transparency Shouldn’t Be Controversial
Jun 2, 2025 – 08:33
Reddit and Fishbowl Are Great—Except When They're Not
May 26, 2025 – 12:56
Five Years of Helping Lawyers Leave the Law inside The Former Lawyer Collaborative
May 19, 2025 – 09:06
Understanding Executive Functions in an ADHD Brain with Annie Little
May 12, 2025 – 01:02:00
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity are not the Problem in Biglaw
May 5, 2025 – 12:58
When Tragedy Leads to Career Changes and Better Balance with Laura Markham
Apr 28, 2025 – 48:27
It’s Okay If You’re Just Surviving Right Now
Apr 21, 2025 – 08:40
What If You Don’t Want to Be a Lawyer Anymore?
Apr 14, 2025 – 11:58
What to Do If You’re Sick of Complaining About Your Job
Apr 7, 2025 – 09:32
Advice to Get a Job in Tech after Law with Ed Cottrell
Mar 31, 2025 – 42:08
Leaving the Law Is Simple but It’s Not Easy
Mar 24, 2025 – 07:16
You Don’t Need Permission to Leave the Law and Here’s Why
Mar 17, 2025 – 09:03
Why Amisha DeYoung-Dominguez Left the Law for Public Service
Mar 10, 2025 – 58:35
Why Stay-at-Home Parents Who Left Law Have More Career Options Than They Think
Mar 3, 2025 – 10:25
What Has Been the Biggest Surprise for Former Lawyers in the Collab?
Feb 24, 2025 – 16:47
Myths Former Lawyers Believed Before Leaving the Law
Feb 17, 2025 – 15:54
Former Lawyers Share the Obvious Thing That Transformed Their Careers
Feb 10, 2025 – 15:34
Navigating the Millennial Success Trap
Feb 3, 2025 – 13:16
Can the Corporate World Solve My Work-Life Balance Problems?
Jan 27, 2025 – 10:33
Why You Don’t Need to IRAC Your Way Out of the Law
Jan 20, 2025 – 11:36
Why Your Values Are the First Step to Leaving the Law
Jan 13, 2025 – 09:41
A Clear Path to Leaving the Law This Year
Jan 6, 2025 – 09:42
Lawyers Hoping To Be Hit By A Bus Isn’t Normal, but Not Uncommon Either with Kelcey Baker
Dec 30, 2024 – 40:10
Disclosing ADHD and Other Mental Health Issues to Your Firm
Dec 23, 2024 – 10:31
How to Take A Mental Health Leave of Absence From Your Law Firm with Megan Nogasky
Dec 16, 2024 – 29:27
I'm Not Here to Convince You to Leave the Law
Dec 9, 2024 – 10:07
From Law School to Literary Agent with Lilly Ghahremani
Dec 2, 2024 – 42:41
How the Sunk Cost Fallacy Keeps Lawyers Stuck in the Law
Nov 25, 2024 – 10:29
Escaping the Legal Grind to Build a Balanced Life with Dan Branagan
Nov 18, 2024 – 41:27
How Toxic Workplaces Make You Doubt Yourself—And Why Leaving Law Can Help
Nov 11, 2024 – 12:25
How a Misalignment of Values and Career Helped a Lawyer Become a Therapist with David Sazant
Nov 4, 2024 – 41:43
How Law Firms Mismanage Billable Hours and Create Anxiety for Associates
Oct 28, 2024 – 09:47
How Adrian Hern Beat Legal Burnout and Transformed Her Career
Oct 21, 2024 – 42:19
Why Your Law Firm Isn't a Meritocracy (And How It's Holding You Back)
Oct 14, 2024 – 12:08
How Law Firms Are Failing Lawyers With ADHD with Annie Little
Oct 7, 2024 – 36:01
It’s Not You, It’s Burnout: How Your Environment Has a Big Impact
Sep 30, 2024 – 11:39
How to Prepare a Law Practice for Sale with Victoria Collier
Sep 23, 2024 – 36:54
The Former Lawyer Framework 2.0: Streamlining Your Exit Strategy
Sep 16, 2024 – 12:23
The Importance of Asking Yourself What Can Go Right with Liza Hanks
Sep 9, 2024 – 43:27
The “No Assholes Rule” (And Why It’s A Joke)
Sep 2, 2024 – 14:28
The Biglaw System Creates Burnout
Aug 26, 2024 – 08:50
Lawyers, Your Job Should Not Make You Cry
Aug 19, 2024 – 04:31
What Collab Members Wish They Had Done Sooner
Aug 12, 2024 – 10:24
Signs of Malignant Narcissism In The Legal Profession
Aug 5, 2024 – 17:02
Not Fitting In at Law Firms is a Good Thing
Jul 29, 2024 – 13:25
Is Being A Lawyer A Bullshit Job?
Jul 22, 2024 – 26:35
Do You Need a Bridge Job? Key Questions for Lawyers in Transition
Jul 15, 2024 – 09:26
The Abusive Corporate Lifestyle is Not Designed to Help You Thrive with Tiffany Rogers
Jul 8, 2024 – 40:58
The Most Challenging Part of Leaving Law is the Emotional Work
Jul 1, 2024 – 09:14

Recent Reviews

Kimacima

Helpful to hear the truth

As an attorney, I’ve gotten so used to lying to myself. Listening to this podcast reminds me of truths I’ve buried for a long time. And that tells me I’m not alone. It’s eerie. Thank you so much Sarah, for doing this work.
TheStaceyHarris

A must for anyone even thinking about thinking about leaving the law

If you’re feeling the push to leave the law Sarah shares incredible and actionable insights + hear from former lawyers about their experiences leaving the law.
Meggers1233

Thank You

Thank you for this podcast. Relatable and well thought out. Feels great that someone gets it!
Elizabeth in VA

Great podcast!

So happy to have found this podcast.
Pehmbeh

Great interviews

I feel seen!
meandmrc

Great podcast!

Listening to this podcast has been a great learning experience. Both the information and the production are 5-stars!
Re'Necia

Therapeutic

This podcast is fantastic! Sarah approaches what can be a delicate and difficult topic for many of us in such an elegant way. The discussions she has are thought provoking a bit intimidating, and wonderful all in one. And some episodes are just plain therapeutic. Thank you Sarah for creating a space for people to be authentic and share their stories with all of us!
wmwn715

Insightful

Sarah is insightful. I enjoy the interviews and her shorter shows with quick ideas have been thought provoking. I take something away from each episode!
tlm0727

Helpful for non-lawyers who want to make a change

Though I have never been to law school and am not a lawyer, I LOVE listening to this podcast. It is helpful for anyone who finds themselves in a soul-sucking career and wanting a change. I am in the process of pivoting in my career and have found inspiration, actionable tips, and support through Sarah and the guests’ stories.
tarab17

If you want to leave the law, start here

This podcast has been really great for me on all levels in leaving the law. Even if you’re not ready to leave, this podcast will help get you out if the slump of “I hate my work” to “I’m moving towards something better” no matter how fast you are moving. I think Sarah has something for everyone at every stage of the process. The podcast has given me a flavor of everything that could be possible. I really appreciate the diversity of guests she brings on.
mellie_melly

Informative and Hopeful!

I’ve been looking to leave the traditional legal field and wanted to find stories of people who successfully left for more aligned jobs. This is the perfect podcast for that! It is incredibly informative for anyone who wants to know what it even looks like to leave the law and how to do it. It’s also very honest about the challenges lawyers face in making the decision to leave the law. I also really appreciate that the diversity in the guests! Thank you for this!
Lauren 330802

Helpful Perspective

This podcast was so helpful to broadening my perspective outside of my law firm world and helped me see the possibilities outside of private practice. I now happily do policy work and still listen to this podcast to hear the uplifting stories of others with exit journeys from all walks of life. If you’re unhappy as a lawyer, give this podcast a listen. I bet you’ll find inspiration, I know I do!