Offered to Double My Savings if I Quit My Legal Job in 30 Days
Career Advice Needed: I’m a 28-year-old 2nd-year attorney with an MBA working at a small 4-person firm in Missouri. I’ve practiced in a wide range of areas and, honestly, have not enjoyed being an attorney. I knew as early as my first semester of law school that I didn’t want to practice law, but sunk costs and significant family pressure ultimately led me here.
Exiting law has been my goal for years, but I haven’t found the right opportunity to make the transition. My ultimate dream is to move West with my partner and build my own business. I want to do this before I have a family.
Last night, my uncle and mentor—an extremely successful entrepreneur—offered me $50k, no strings attached, to quit my job and move to Colorado within 30 days. It would roughly double my savings and give me a financial runway to figure out my next move.
The dilemma is that I have a substantial caseload, my boss has been incredibly kind and supportive over the past two years, and I currently don’t have any active job prospects in Colorado. I feel torn between taking what could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to finally make the change I’ve wanted for years and leaving in a way that feels responsible to my firm and clients.
What would you do in my position?
**EDIT: A few clarifying points:**
My Uncle is offering the $50k to me because he knows I'm not happy and wants me to follow my goals. He's not asking for the money back or putting in any stipulations. I would not be working for him. He lives out of the country.
It's 30 days because he wants me to leave ASAP.
The reason it's Colorado is that my partner and I want to live there. The offer would apply to any location I move to.
My partner does not like Missouri and has wanted us to move for years, so yes, we are on the same page. Her current contract expires in the middle of September, so the timing could work.