Ed Poll’s Life After Law – A Wonderful Journey

My friend Ed Poll  has written dozens of books and hundreds of articles. Life After Law: What Will You Do with the Next 6000 Days is, in my view, one of the best yet.  Ed deals with the question that solos and smalls must eventually face: how do you know when it’s time to go and what do you do when the time comes. Ed himself admits that the book was hard to write because he’s going through the same journey:

This book’s topic is about my own life’s journey…I am in the place many of my clients and fellow lawyers are — wondering what to do with my practice at this point, when I should leave it, why I should leave and what I will do in the second season (or next stages) of my life.

But the resulting book is extraordinary – from the step by step details on creating a succession plan, winding down or selling a practice, exiting a law firm — (with an appendix of forms, checklists and charts) to the importance of maintaining honesty with employees, clients and colleagues and treating those who served you well decently when you leave. As Ed describes, the book isn’t just for older lawyers, but for any lawyer no longer interested or capable of competently practicing.  In fact, I would go as far to say that the book makes sense even for lawyers starting out. I wish I’d thought about my exit strategy long ago – and Ed’s book describes the pros and cons of different exit options.

So if you’re ready to transition out of your law practice- or thinking about how you’d like it to end even while starting out, Ed’s book will get you started on the journey. And here’s hoping that Ed spends at least some of his next 6000 days with us lawyers who still learn so much from him every day.