Today, I am leaving my firm. Today is my last day at Gibson Dunn.
When I was a child I drove by high-rise offices and craned my neck to see the top. In the lobby, I saw professionals in crisp suits carrying briefcases. As an inner city kid, I let my mind wander and pretended I was wearing a suit and tie and walking into a high rise, taking an elevator to my office.
On the door of that office was my name, Eli Albrecht.
I went to community college and got perfect grades, then Hopkins, graduating top of my class, and finally Georgetown Law.
Then, it happened. I got my office. My dream came true. At first it was an interior office with no windows, then a window to the alley of the building, and finally an office with a view of downtown.
But, I wanted more. I wanted the partner office, the corner office, and the title, Partner.
I threw myself into the work. I brought a sleeping bag to that office and didn’t leave for days at a time. I moved up the ladder.
The next bonus, the next review, the next promotion, and the next title were always just around the corner.
Meanwhile, life was happening outside of that high-rise office. My son took his first steps. My daughter cracked her first smile and said her first babbly words. My son was growing up and having crushes, and my daughters had dance parties I never saw. My wife built a flourishing business.
Every breathless step I took toward that next title was a step that took me away from those I loved. I was losing touch with all life outside of that office and they were losing touch with me.
I came home one day and I was a stranger in my own house. I crumpled on my wife’s shoulder and said, tell me we can do better. Tell me this is not my forever.
So we went searching together for a path that allows me to pursue my professional passion, practicing M&A law, while being deeply engaged with those I love.
I worked so hard to get the offers of BigLaw partnership and now that I am here, it is not what I want.
Today I’m turning down the pursuit of the Biglaw corner office. I’m turning down the offers for partnership at other Biglaw firms. Today, I am stepping off the hamster wheel.
This decision was not easy. I am taking a leap of faith. I am letting go of a certain and linear path to financial success and betting on myself.
Today I am taking a leap, tomorrow I am stepping into a new chapter.
#law #Biglaw #Career #Family
@EliAlbrecht, there is more to life than work. You were put on earth for a reason. Getting in touch with your inner passion, your reason, can be scary at first but then liberating. Start by thinking about what brings you joy, what types of problems you love to solve. It doesn't matter that you may have never heard of anyone else doing this before; ask yourself, "why CAN'T I do this?" Based on your posts, you have so many skills, from great writing to an ability to explain law in everyday terms. Congratulations on getting off the hamster wheel of BigLaw and welcome to your future!
I did the same two years ago. Zero regrets.