Quitting law firm job for teaching?
Hi! I’m a 22-year-old recent college graduate, and honestly, I hate my job.
I’ve been working at a law firm for a little over a year. I started part-time during my senior year of college and then transitioned to full-time after graduating last summer. I studied Criminal Justice and thought a law firm would be a good place to start since I never really knew exactly what career I wanted to pursue.
The problem is that I’ve become a jack-of-all-trades. I’m the office manager, personal assistant, legal assistant, marketing manager, receptionist, intake specialist, and I handle checks, deposits, and countless other tasks. My boss is a good person and means well, but he relies on me heavily and constantly overwhelms me.
Last fall, I actually put in my two weeks’ notice. My boss talked with me, convinced me to stay, and promised to reduce my workload. It improved briefly, but now we’re right back where we started. I understand that law firms are busy and fast-paced environments, but I feel stressed all the time and, more importantly, I just don’t enjoy the work I’m doing.
It’s become frustrating because my boss is so dependent on me, especially considering my salary. At times, it feels like I’m doing the work of several people. I became close to my co worker who had my job previously but ended up leaving for law school. She said that she would literally lose her hair from the stress…
Growing up, I always thought about becoming a teacher, but I became discouraged from pursuing it because of everything I heard about the profession. Now that I’ve graduated, I can’t help but wonder if I made a mistake by not trying. My state has a program that would allow me to earn my teaching license relatively quickly, and I’m seriously considering it.
I know teaching comes with its own challenges, and I hear plenty of negative stories. But I’m curious: has anyone transitioned into teaching from a stressful office environment or a role where they felt constantly overwhelmed and overstimulated? Did you end up enjoying teaching more, or was it just a different kind of stress?
I’d love to hear from anyone who has made a similar career change.