What If You Never Leave…

This sad story, Lawyer, 35, Dies After Winning Swimming Race, New York Lawyer (5/5/05) drives home the importance of following one’s dream.  The article reports that Brendon Wen, a young attorney and solo criminal practitioner, died of heart failure after winning a masters race with his best time ever.  But the article also described Wen’s career, how he left an established law firm in 2001 to start his own solo criminal practice where he tried 40 cases because he “missed the rough-and-tumble of criminal cases,” a colleague said (Wen had previously been a  public defender).  What if he’d never left?

What mark do you want to leave in the law?  What kind of lawyer do you want to be remembered as?  And is your present career taking you in that direction?  We should never think it’s too early, or get too busy to ponder these questions – because we never know how much time we’ll have to fulfill our dreams.

8 Comments

  1. Anonymous on May 6, 2005 at 7:16 am

    Very nice post. Thanks.



  2. Anonymous on May 6, 2005 at 7:16 am

    Very nice post. Thanks.



  3. Inside Opinions: Legal Blogs on May 6, 2005 at 11:51 am

    TGIF: Learning from the late Brendon Wen

    This Friday’s gift is brought to you by Carolyn Elefant: Inspired by the life choices of the late Brendon Wen, a young attorney and solo criminal practitioner, Elefant offers up a list of questions designed to help you lead an



  4. Inside Opinions: Legal Blogs on May 6, 2005 at 11:51 am

    TGIF: Learning from the late Brendon Wen

    This Friday’s gift is brought to you by Carolyn Elefant: Inspired by the life choices of the late Brendon Wen, a young attorney and solo criminal practitioner, Elefant offers up a list of questions designed to help you lead an



  5. Anonymous on May 6, 2005 at 5:02 pm

    Important reminder, thanks.



  6. Anonymous on May 6, 2005 at 5:02 pm

    Important reminder, thanks.



  7. sheila o'gara on May 9, 2005 at 8:33 am

    thank you for selecting a person, albeit my husband, who let no obstacle stand in the way of his objectived, his dreams. He is a fine example of what one can acheive with verve and focus. He was also fortunated enough to be much loved and deserving of same.



  8. sheila o'gara on May 9, 2005 at 8:33 am

    thank you for selecting a person, albeit my husband, who let no obstacle stand in the way of his objectived, his dreams. He is a fine example of what one can acheive with verve and focus. He was also fortunated enough to be much loved and deserving of same.



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