In today’s episode, I walk through one of the most important—but often rushed—decisions in a legal career, choosing a practice area. Whether you're a junior associate deciding where to start or a mid-level lawyer rethinking your long-term fit, this episode lays out ten insights lawyers frequently wish they'd heard before committing to a specialty.

I unpack what day-to-day work in different practice areas actually looks like (not just what it sounds like on paper or in theory), the types of clients and stressors you can expect, and how to think about exit options, marketability, and long-term sustainability. I also cover what happens when your specialty is too niche or too trendy, and how to evaluate whether a practice area is keeping up with new developments over time.

This episode is about helping you choose a path that aligns with how you work best, including over the long term in your legal career.

At a Glance:
00:00 Introduction and why law school doesn't prepare you for picking a practice area
01:20 Considering how you prefer to work and what that means for certain practices
02:19 The benefits of shadowing or observing potential specialties before committing
03:22 Myths about what you think certain practices are like v. reality
04:09 Why you may spend years waiting for “real” litigation experience
05:15 Deal work isn’t easier—it’s just a different kind of pressure
06:14 The stress of transactional work at junior and senior levels
07:10 Which practice areas and other training may offer potential exit options from firms
08:00 How geography can affect your legal opportunities
09:20 How the type of clients you serve can affect your work
10:11 Why cross-border work can be a variable to consider
11:22 The impact of certain practices areas on your career over time
12:12 Practice areas most vulnerable to AI-driven developments
12:57 The potential risks of overspecialization
13:53 Beware of trend-driven practice areas that may fizzle out
15:19 Cybersecurity: a cautionary tale of legal work vs. non-legal demands
15:44 Why mid-levels often give better career advice than partners
16:56 The real question behind choosing your practice area

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Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting?

Here are ways to reach out to her:

www.lauraterrell.com

laura@lauraterrell.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/

Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast