Redemption

And no, I am not talking about an economic transaction like redeeming something at a pawn shop, a coupon, or cashing in a certificate of deposit.

I am talking about deliverance from past sins, to use a theological term.  Absolution from damnation.  Or, redemptive suffering where you are absolved from past sins.

I doing so, however, I am not necessarily talking about sin in a religious sense or a thought crime.  No, am I not necessarily talking about shame.  Although, you might feel as if you are stuck in a form of damnation in your current law practice.  You might feel the need for deliverance.

After all, the way that you practice law is not the violation of a divine commandment.  It does represent lawlessness.  In a secular sense I am talking more about a code of conduct, which you could have followed but were not mandated to do so.  That is not an actual sin.  The damnation is not eternal, although if you are stuck in a law practice that you do not like it can seem that way.

What I want you to know, especially during this season and as we face the new year, is that if you feel stuck or trapped in a practice area that does not suit you well, or if you are practicing in a way that eats up all of your rewards, then one of the beautiful things in law is that redemption is always near.  We as lawyers have the ability to change our past.

To often we feel helpless and hapless to do anything about our situation.  But, you need to know this is too often just inside our heads.  In fact, we can change and we can do so radically.  It just requires a decision to go, to move, and change.

Change is scary sometimes.  I understand this.  I have been there.  I have made the decision to scrap it all at once and to start over differently.  Often we stay were we are because we are more secure with the devil we know than the devil we do not.  It is hard to take a leap of faith, but I am here to tell you there is nothing worse than staying with a practice area or practice system that is not working for you.

There is a grace, or maybe you call it a freedom, in change.  There is redemption in change.  Deliverance from your present ills can often feel so rewarding and euphoric despite the challenges ahead of you.

If you are stuck practicing family law, for example, and it is not working for you, for whatever reason, then know there is redemption.  Know you can change practice areas starting tomorrow.  It does not have to be all at once, but it can be immediate.

If you have come to the conclusion that running a transitional law firm is not right for you, know too that redemption is at hand.  It can start immediately by making plans to move your office home, getting rid of the unprofitable cases or those that cannot be handled alone or with a virtual staff.  You can let the lease expire, sell the office furniture you cannot use, let people go and cut back to those cases you want to handle.

There is just something redemptive in feeling that you are in charge of your practice and practice area, and that it is not in charge of you.  The is deliverance in knowing you can make it so.