First off - thank you kind people for your time and ideas. Much to muse on.
LonerMatt - Volunteering is a good idea. My legal training has been most useful when I've been helping friends or family with legal bullies. We have Community Law Centres here that give free legal advice, but I have often seen this as just another post-work obligation that tires me out. I've also been wanting to tutor law students, but again fear overcommitment. I think you're right that if i am to stay in law I will need to introduce more demonstrably meaningful use of law into my life (for me this would mostly be along lines of mentoring/future-proofing through professional development for juniors etc). I have already presented a proposal on mentoring/professional development programme for the junior lawyers in our office but the senior lawyers are too busy to back it, which is part of my frustration - a myopic focus on present busyness without any foundation laid for developing juniors for the future.
I would be really interested to know your New Zealand contacts - I have become disillusioned that legal practice can't ever make a meaningful difference in other people's lives, so I would love to speak to people who are doing that. Thank you :)
Gooki - definitely slashing the expenses. That's the main focus right now actually. Am saving at least half of my paycheck, but I use those funds for the mortgage and BC fees etc too, so really only a quarter of my pay remains in savings each fortnight. I would like to move that as close to 75% as I can, but there will be an adjustment period. Investment I need to know more before I do, but it'll be a year or so before I have enough to invest so there's time for that. I hadn't considered investment as an option now though (had thought I needed a gazillion dollars to make it reasonable), so thanks for flagging that.
Gray Matter - Arghhh it's hard right? And I'm glad for you that the children make your priorities that much clearer for you; I would definitely be the same in your position. And your idea about getting the feel of an approach is AWESOME. I already do that, but usually only for a couple of days, which is hardly enough time to get a sense of it at all. That is a really great idea and I will start doing it.
Nudelkopf - Right? Right?! That is WAY too much. And it means I'm eating shitty restaurant food or takeaways all the time, which is why my body is so sad. Two problems solved in one by cooking at home and bringing homemade lunch (or going home for lunch!).
Carolyn - My job actually takes up surprisingly little time - 8.30 to 5pm. Later if there is work to do but for the past few months at least I've been able to be home by 5.30, with no work in the weekend (hence the build up of way too many activities outside of work). I agree though that I am doing too many extra-curriculars at once. I have already written to one choir to ask if I can hold my membership until next year, and I may slow down the stand-up a bit, as the writing time needed for that is hard every week. And I am looking for alternative jobs that may work.
I have a 90% immoveable commitment to Christchurch (my current home), as it has taken me over 2 years to settle in here, for the depression and anxiety to settle, to develop networks of friends and creative people, and build a life. I had to move around a lot after university because of work and the earthquakes and it led to prolonged periods of depression, in part because I did not have the support of routine and networks of friends and family. I am reluctant to start that process all over again at the moment, though I don't write off the possibility altogether.
Re starting my practice - I would LOVE to do this. I love creative dispute resolution, especially in areas where the law doesn't help all that much, such as wills, family disputes, creative disputes, etc. In fact I have a plan of starting my own practice along these lines in a couple of years. However, there is a hell of a lot of financial risk in starting a business, especially since the people I most want to serve (students, low-income families, artists and performers) are not likely to have money to pay for these things. It is always at the back of my mind though. I currently work in a pretty fixed role in a corporate firm, so there is little scope to move outside my current practice here.
All of you - I think what I'm getting from all of your responses is a sense that I can work toward the following three goals:
- Slash expenses and up the savings (with a view to starting investing)
- Moderate out of work activities so I can take better care of myself
- Be on the lookout for (1) a job that would have greater flexibility to incorporate things like mentoring/CLC/tutoring, or that would itself be more meaningful than my current job, or (2) a way to reduce hours at my current job so I can pursue those things independently.
Thank you again. If anyone has any more suggestions I'd be v grateful.
LWN