Leaving a prestigious law firm or changing practice areas can be a daunting prospect for many legal professionals, but one lawyer’s pathway might provide valuable insights. In a recent article on Above The Law, Morghan Richardson detailed her personal journey from a disenchanted associate at a top law firm to the rewarding role she now plays in the field of family law.
Richardson said a defining moment came during her fifth year at a Biglaw firm, struggling with work-life balance and feeling disillusioned. A highly significant case of pro bono work turned out to be her initiation into an entirely new field of practice. Richardson took up the case of a woman who had orchestrated the murder of her husband eventually leading her to a lawsuit against the state of New York over the lengths of secular confinement.
Her experiences with this case highlighted some correlative issues Richardson was facing. It opened her eyes to realize the parallels between her isolation in Biglaw and the detainee’s solitary confinement. This prompted her to take the life-altering decision of leaving Biglaw to go solo from corporate to matrimonial.
Richardson credits her substantial work ethic, an inherent trait of many employed within Biglaw, to her success in transitioning and flourishing in family law. She made a point to network with other attorneys for advice, guidance, and support and spent her free time immersing herself in court proceedings. This hard work led her to be involved in high-stakes litigation involving prominent individuals, taking on cases against larger law firms, and relishing the thrill of the challenge.
The heavy toll of litigating, parenting, and running a small firm eventually lead Richardson to merge with a larger firm, mitigating some management issues and enabling her to focus on her legal practice. She understood the value she could add to any firm and made a move into partnership that has allowed her to pave the way forward for other attorneys who could share her previous sentiments of being trapped or unfulfilled.
The article concludes with Richardson’s advice for anyone feeling stuck in their legal career: continue to search for the right fit and push yourself towards finding something that fulfills and challenges you in your professional life.
Richardson, who now works at Tarter Krinsky & Drogin, focuses on divorce and family law and regularly handles cases involving complex litigation. Her clientele has included high-profile individuals from various industries.