The Free Lawyer Podcast with Gary Miles: Letting Go of Expectations: Finding Freedom and Fulfillment in the Legal Profession

137.Letting Go of Expectations: Finding Freedom and Fulfillment in the Legal Profession
138. The Right Moves: Job Search and Career Development Strategies for Lawyers

Gary addresses lawyers facing professional challenges in this episode of "The Free Lawyer"podcast. He discusses the impact of expectations on happiness and how they can hinder success.Gary identifies three types of expectations and emphasizes the importance of controlling our ownexpectations. He highlights problem areas for lawyers where expectations can cause additionalstress. Gary shares his experience and advice on dealing with closed doors and unmetexpectations, encouraging listeners to appreciatetheir blessings and seek support. He providestools for self-reflection and concludes by emphasizing the importance of letting go ofexpectations for personal freedom.Gary introduces Valerie Fontaine, a highly knowledgeable legal search consultant in this podcastepisode. Valerie shares her professional journey and how she found her passion for helpinglawyers and law firms find the right fit. She emphasizes the importance of understanding clients'and candidates' needs and values to make successful placements. Valerie also provides advice onselling oneself effectively during the job search process and highlights the role of recruiters inpreparing candidates for interviews. She discusses how law firms can differentiate themselves toattract top talent and shares insights on hiring trends in the legal industry. Valerie findsfulfillment in her work by positively impacting people's lives.Valerie Fontaine has assisted thousands of lawyers with career transitions over the past fourdecades as a legal search consultant (headhunter for lawyers). She coaches attorney candidatesregarding career development and assists law firms with attractingand retaining top attorneytalent. Valerie is a former lawyer, a published author, both in print and online, and has been aguest speaker on several podcasts and presenting before live audiences. Her book, “The RightMoves: Job Search and Career Development Strategies for Lawyers,” published by NALP(National Association of Law Placement), now is in its second edition.Valerie practiced law with a prominent Los Angeles law firm and entered the legal searchprofession in 1981.In 2021, 2022 and 2023, she was named to the Fifth Annual LawdragonGlobal 100 Leaders in Legal Strategy & Consulting. She was one of three legal recruiters in theU.S. elected to its inaugural Hall of Fame, a “recognition for those consultants whose strategicinsight has been unsurpassed in a career dedicated to helping law firms ascend.”