In the fast-paced, demanding world of law, it can be easy for lawyers to become caught up in a whirlwind of expectations, both personal and professional. The quest for partnership, the chase for billable hours, and the relentless drive for success often overshadow the fundamental question: What do I truly value? 

It is so easy to find ourselves living other people's definitions of success, and end up feeling that we are stuck and on an endless treadmill.  

Understanding and living by your core values can be an absolute game changer for lawyers.  Here's why values clarity matters for lawyers and some practical steps that you can take to gain that clarity.

The Importance of Values Clarity

For lawyers, the disconnect between personal values and professional demands can lead to dissatisfaction and burnout. It's not uncommon for lawyers to find themselves living by inherited values from the profession—such as prestige or financial gain—without realizing these may not align with their own intrinsic desires.

Values clarity acts as a compass. When we know our core values, we are much more easily able to navigate through challenges, and even conflicts that arise between our values.  This is because once we have that values clarity its much easier to know what we will say 'no' to.  

Identifying Value Misalignment

Signs of values misalignment often how up as a persistent sense of dissatisfaction or feeling stuck despite having ostensibly met one's professional goals.  You've ticked all the boxes, but something just doesn't feel right.  You might feel that you are no longer being intellectually stimulated, or you might feel torn between career and other obligations.  You might have a sense that there is just something 'not quite right' about the life that you are living.  

For lawyers, who are trained skeptics, it’s crucial to engage in compassionate self-reflection and step back and identify what is most important to them. What are the values you want to live by? 

Steps to Gain Values Clarity

1. Reflect and Question: Start by creating space for reflection. Ask yourself what's most important to you. What are the values you want to choose to live by? These are your intrinsic (freely chosen) values.  It may seem straightforward, but identifying these values requires honest self-assessment. Consider when you feel most alive and fulfilled—those moments can provide insight into your core values. Maybe ask yourself, why did you become a lawyer?

2. Consider Your Legacy: Imagine celebrating your 100th birthday. What would you want people to say about your life and the values you stood for? This exercise can help clarify your long-term priorities and vision for your life.

3. What values are you living by now: Understand the values you are currently living by.  To quote James Clear, If an alien could observe you for a fortnight what would they observe? What values would they say you are living by? Are there some values that you have unthinkingly taken on from outside of you - whether the legal profession, your family, community, broader culture? Reflect on whether you wish to deliberately choose those values.  

4. Implement Small Changes: Rather than drastic changes, experiment with small, meaningful adjustments aligned with your values. This could mean setting boundaries to balance work with family life or finding creative ways to engage with your role.

5. Regular Check-Ins: Maintain a regular habit of checking in on your values and how they’re reflected in your daily actions. This ongoing process ensures that you're continually aligning your life with your values. Its not a one and done process.  Values awareness provides a compass to guide you through the ups and downs of life.  You'll inevitably forget them at times.  That's ok.  We're humans, as well as lawyers.  The important thing is that we come back to them.  

By identifying and taking real, sustainable steps to align our lives with our most important values, as lawyers we can better navigate the complexities of our profession with a sense of purpose and direction, leading to a more thriving professional and personal life.

By implementing these steps, lawyers can begin to close the gap between where they are and where they ideally want to be, leading to a more fulfilling practice and life.