I generally avoid politics in this space. Not because I don’t have opinions, but because there are political analysts who have better formed ones. And the Editors told me to keep mine to myself. So, this isn’t a political column. I promise.
Even though I haven’t turned on the television news in over 25 years, it is impossible to avoid news from Ukraine these days. At least for me, it is impossible not to admire their president. I can’t spell his name without checking and wouldn’t try to say it, but he has become a modern hero.
President Zelensky and I have a lot in common. I have Jewish ancestors from that region who fled the Russians over a century ago, and he has similar ancestors and is fighting Russia now. I fancy myself a little funny and he is a professional comedian. Actually, I was once called the “funniest lawyer I know” by a very successful attorney friend. Unlike Mr. Zelensky, I didn’t take it as a compliment as we were discussing a case we were working on at the time and I was trying to be smart, not funny. Sometimes we hit targets where we weren’t even aiming.
Mr. Zelensky played a character named “Igor” a few times on film and has lots of comedic performances. I once did fifteen minutes of stand-up comedy when I was slotted for five. In my defense, only about 3 minutes of my set were funny. To be honest, there are probably more differences than similarities between us. I have been fighting for clients as their lawyer all my career and he is fighting for his life now. Most notably, he is ready to lead a nation and I am pretty sure I am not.
It is unusual to see a modern politician take up arms. Perhaps more amazing to me are the windows he has shown us into his spirit. Lots of inspiration is coming out of Ukraine, but my favorite emerged when President Zelensky said he didn’t want his picture on any official walls. Instead, he wanted politicians to hang pictures of their children and think of them as they served their country. I haven’t admired my own elected leaders in a while, and some selfless actions by them would be welcomed.
What does all of this have to do with the practice of law and my life as an attorney? Perhaps less about the now part of lawyer life and more about what is next for me. Mr. Zelensky is pretty clear that he will either continue to serve as president or he will be dead. My future isn’t nearly as clear.
Social media has been blasting me with offers to coach me as I plan my work-exit strategy. These would interest me, but I still haven’t completely planned my career strategy. I went to law school because I wanted a career in politics. I wound up on a path 180 degrees in a different direction.
When different career coaches were trying to get my tuition, they didn’t like it when I told them that my five year plan was to come up with a three year plan. I still don’t have one and I am running out of time to work five more years.
It isn’t that I don’t like planning. Unlike retirement (or anything else in my life) court deadlines tell me when I have to get something done. Knowing where the back fence is makes it easier to plan out what happens before you get there. Since I don’t know exactly when I will die there is plenty of room to procrastinate.
One of the first question the exit coaches ask is “what do you see yourself doing when you retire, and how do you think you get there?” I thought my response was good- I will spend my lottery winnings. My plan is to buy a lottery ticket and then cash it in. My prospective coach was not amused.
What do lawyers do when they retire? A judge friend passed recently. He retired years ago and spent his retired time playing golf and mediating cases. I don’t have the necessary skill or a modicum of interest in either of those activities. Maybe I should have signed up for the AARP when they invited me 15 years ago. I am sure they talked about retirement at the meetings. Unfortunately I threw the mailer away because I was insulted that they asked me in my 40s. I didn’t need the free fannypack at the time either.
The great exodus, or post COVID early retirement wave, has made retirement more prominent in the thoughts of lawyers of a certain age. A defense lawyer friend of mine is planning to spend his summers away from the office and Missouri in the coming years. He said what others have also told me- it is less important to be in the office every day anyway. Work can get done remotely, life happens where you are.
My life seems pathetically small when compared to a man fighting for his life and his country. Planning the next thing I will do is even more so. Like him, I can’t see myself staying home all day. Unlike him, my wife told me I can’t.
©2022 With All Due Respect. Spencer Farris is the founding partner of The S.E. Farris Law Firm in St Louis, Missouri. He isn’t interested in retiring, but it looks like a good idea, preferably before he dies. Comments or criticisms about this column may be sent directly to me via email at farris@farrislaw.net.