Those practising in the legal profession are unfortunately not immune to redundancy, and at the moment the number facing a redundancy situation is greater than it has been for some time.

For a lawyer however, being selected for redundancy can be devastating.  Your job is not merely a way to pay the bills; often it defines who you are.  Many lawyers spend their lives in the office, dedicating themselves entirely to their career.  They often sacrifice personal or family life over the demands of the job, working endless hours to keep on top of an immense workload.  So when all of a sudden the job disappears, it can be very difficult to cope.  You feel as though you exist in a vacuum.  When the job is no more, what’s left?

Redundancy means financial concerns.  Especially if you have been earning a competitive salary, you’ll be thinking, “can I find another job with the same salary?” or “will I now have to take a pay cut and start again at the bottom?”  On top of this, there will be resentment over the time given up to the job, all those evenings you worked late, all those social engagements you cancelled when up against a deadline. Add to this a loss of confidence, lower self-esteem, stress, depression and even consequential relationship or family problems.  The very word “redundant” basically means “no longer needed” so it conjures up images of being thrown on the scrap heap, leaving you wondering whether you have anything left to contribute. This low self-worth makes it even harder to contemplate where you go next and it’s the worst frame of mind for job hunting.

But, what seems like a desperate situation can turn out to be a life changing opportunity. There are countless lawyers out there who will tell you that redundancy was the best thing that could have happened to them. It enabled them to escape a career path which was unfulfilling, and allowed them to change direction and focus on a more rewarding goal.

The nature of the legal profession means that many lawyers get stuck in a rut. We spend a significant amount of money and time training, and once we start on the career ladder, the status of being a solicitor or a barrister, together with the financial rewards, can make it difficult to admit that perhaps it’s not our true calling. What this means is that there are plenty of lawyers who deep down would love to be doing something different – whether that means a different legal job, or something else entirely.

Redundancy gives you freedom. It’s a chance to start with a blank canvass and really imagine the possibilities.  There are plenty of career options for those with legal training. You might decide that private practice is not for you and look into in-house roles, legal writing, the public sector, academia, working for a charity...the possibilities are manifold. Through redundancy, many lawyers find a new work-life balance or retrain.  Some take the step to become self-employed, but whatever you decide on remember that this time is not just about you finding another job, it’s about finding your true vocation. Pretty exciting, don’t you think?

Catrin Mills is founder of The Lawyer Coach, promoting personal development for lawyers.

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