Kate Carrara, a Pennsylvania attorney, saw the proverbial writing on the wall when she opted to leave the profession. Her goal?  To start her own cupcake business. She reportedly sold her home, her car and even her engagement ring in an effort to finance the new business. The human rights attorney knew she was taking a big gamble, yet, no one can ever say she’s not tenacious. She graduated the University of San Francisco School of Law before moving to the east coast to practice at her grandfather’s law firm, Lenahan & Dempsey, determined to make a difference in human rights.

So was it worth it?  The Washington Post spoke with her last week, as she nears the one year anniversary, and asked her that very question. Her reply, “In the first year, we’ve made $100,000, but we’re putting a lot of that back into the business now”. It appears, however, her legal background will still serve her well as she’s now looking into her options for growing her popular cupcake business. She’s currently considering retail space and even wholesales outlets and kiosks, too. Impressive, yes?  A. Harrison Barnes says it’s likely many attorneys will begin to rethink their lives without a law firm to report to each day. “With so much uncertainty in the legal field right now, the high number of new graduates competing for significantly fewer jobs, it stands to reason some lawyers will begin to redefine their dreams”.

Turns out, Carrara herself got inspiration from a fellow lawyer, in New York, who left the profession to create his own cupcake company. He too has been incredibly successful in his own ventures.

For now, Carrara is content with her business, Buttercream Philadelphia, and has converted an old mail truck found on eBay, that’s now delightfully adorned with sprinkles against an off white foundation. The LegalAuthority.com founder says she’s incorporating social networking sites to further her success. In fact, she uses Twitter to help her customers with a sweet tooth locate her throughout the city each day. “I can really use my truck, my Twitter and my following to get people to do stuff that I think is important”, says Carrara, when asked if she’s lost her drive for human rights law. Who says the legal profession can’t be sweet as sugar?  With 4,000 followers just in Philadelphia alone, this cupcake queen has found the winning formula. Now if we can only get her to overnight her delectable confections to other areas in the country!

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One hotel chain is learning that lesson the hard way. An operations director who was responsible for several Heartland Inns of America chains promoted a woman to a full time day shift position on one of the hotel’s front desks. After having met Brenna Lewis, the one promoted, she rescinded the offer and told the hotel manager she lacked the “Midwestern girl look” and that she did not have the “prettiness” necessary for the front desk. Naturally, Lewis was more than upset; after all, she had already received the promotion. When Lewis questioned the demotion, she was fired. She sued under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Her lawyers successfully proved their client did not need to show evidence that men were treated the same or differently, but instead, gender stereotyping was sufficient to establish the claim of discrimination. Her attorney produced the right evidence that was reasonable in that a jury could infer her demotion and eventual discharge was because of her sex.

In a time when the economy is still attempting to recover and people are finally beginning to pick up the pieces of their lives and careers, cases such as these are important, says A. Harrison Barnes. “People want to know their jobs are due to their skills, experience and abilities, not whether they have the right level of attractiveness” says the LegalAuthority.com founder. He continues, “This case highlights the discrimination that unfortunately still exists in the American employment sector”.

Legal careers are made on cases such as these and the team Lewis chose successfully made sure her voice was heard. As a result, the plaintiff in this case can move forward in her career knowing her level of experience and abilities will determine how far she advances in her career. The confidence she surely gained will serve her well and the knowledge that she played a significant role in the way others will be promoted should give her reason to stand tall and remain true to her beliefs. And this, says Barnes, is what the legal profession is – and always has been – about.

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But you need to know that just gaining a Jurist doctor (J. D) degree is not enough, you also need to know as well as understand the lifestyle that the professionals in the legal industry lead and also the way you can make your legal career a successful one. You have to plan your moves after deciding on the goals of your legal career and your life. Thus before taking any step you need to consider on many factors.

If you have an advanced degree and enough career experience and wish to pursue a career in law then A. Harrison Barnes suggest you to follow the legal career advice he gives you. You will be able to know how to proceed with your legal career and how to make it successful. The most important thing that a person should do is to make your own research on the legal profession. The very common mistake made by most people is to make assumptions. They get attracted by the fantasies of the legal industry and decide on moving in the legal industry to pursue a legal career. You must do research and gain knowledge about the legal industry. It is important to prepare yourself mentally for what is in store. You have to know people who are in this profession. The person may be your friend or a family member or anyone but make sure that the person can provide you with complete knowledge about the legal industry. They should belong to the kind of legal area that you are willing to pursue your legal career in.

If you get a chance to meet any legal professionals, you must talk to them as if you are interviewing them says A. Harrison Barnes. You need to ask them about the kind of work they do, the actual realities of the legal area, the hours they work for, about the kind of lifestyle they lead and the lifestyle you can expect while working in that particular practice area of law. You need to ask them about the different working environments which includes working under any legal employer or government or other environments.

Once you are aware of all the details about the legal career that you are thinking about you can think whether the area suits you. You have to decide if you will be comfortable working in such area of law. Will this area of law be able to fulfill your financial and personal satisfaction needs? Make sure that you simply don’t get attracted by the salary that the legal profession brings you.

The salary is definitely a cause for attraction but you have to be practical enough and not get swayed by mere attraction suggests A. Harrison Barnes. The salaries you are attracted in calls for very long hours of hard work. On an average, a top associate who earn A. High salary while working with a big legal employer has to give 2,000 to 2,300 hours every year. This record does not include non-billable hours. There are even legal employers who ask their employees to even work on weekends. Thus many lawyers realize that their life is under the control of the legal employer for they do not have anything named family. They do not have enough time to spend with their family and thus acting as a big blow for family oriented individual says A. Harrison Barnes.

Thus it is suggested that you choose the legal area and the legal environment on the basis of the lifestyle that you wish to lead. The legal profession ensures you with salary that will help you lead a good lifestyle with your family.

You have to know that the top national and international legal firms are large with multiple offices. They have a line of high profile clients and provide huge profits to partners. They have very sophisticated and intellectually challenging work. They are the ones who provide high salaries to the legal associates. Boutique is the area where specialized people in healthcare or municipal law and others can look for job. You can expect good prospects for your legal career. Smaller local and regional firms are the best for junior attorneys says A. Harrison Barnes. Do a thorough research before getting into this career as it is quite demanding.

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A lawyer adhering to the codes of conduct nurtures great respect for the legal profession. No such actions shall be undertaken, that violate the ethical code of conducts. An honest lawyer always sees to it that he is not employing any illegal means or dishonest measures for undertaking legal activities. The lawyer must stay away from deceitful activities like theft, burglary, illegal lifting or acceptance of bribes. The attorney must see to it that he is striving towards fulfillment of the client’s interest. The attorney must see to it that he is not employing any unfair means for the aggrandizement of his own self interest. He must constantly endeavor to develop his professional, interpersonal and communicative skills. In order to encourage the clients to discuss their problems with the attorneys freely, the attorneys must make sure that they are able to develop a friendly working relation with their clients. It must be a relation of trust and confidence to nurture long term commitments says A. Harrison Barnes of lawcrossing.com. Professional independence is a must for attaining honesty and reliability. At times when the professional ethics are not regulated by the courts of law, the legal professionals are required to observe the developed advocacy customs, morals, and traditions. These principles compliment the basic moral principles regulating society. At times when an associate is unable to handle a complex situation, he can appeal to the Board of the respective attorney Chamber of the RF subject to seek clarification. An attorney is generally not denied when he asks for clarifications.

A. Harrison Barnes points out that ethical practice in legal jobs must be adhered to, not only because the legal professionals are bound by the law of land, but also because every human being is expected to behave in a certain manner. While in legal profession, the lawyers must have value for their client’s money. They must assist their clients to make tentative legal decisions. Make sure that you are not making any false promise and provide quality services in time bound manner. Do not hesitate to ask for help if you feel that you will not be able to meet deadlines.

Since “honesty is the best policy” the lawyer must be very open about the amount of load he can shoulder at a given point of time. Do not over load yourself by taking future assignments, if you are incapable of handling your present assignments. In this age of information and technology, make use of the directories or websites to advertise your law firms. This is one of the most efficient methods for promoting your profession. The attorney must make sure that his suggestions and decisions are accepted by his clients. By no means can the attorney thrust upon his decision on the clients. A. Harrison Barnes suggests that the lawyers must seek suggestions and opinions from their clients before arriving at any tentative decisions.

The lawyers engaged in Legal Jobs, may also carry out additional responsibilities for the civilians. The lawyers, says A. Harrison Barnes, possess certain rights which are not possessed by the common man. At no point of time, should the lawyers take recourse to unfair practices by virtue of the rights they possess. These legal rights enable the attorneys to undertake decisions during the times of emergencies. The additional authority and responsibility possessed by the lawyers differentiates them from the common man. The lawyers must utilize his power and authority to further the causes of the common man, rather than aggrandize their own self interest. Obviously, with great power comes great responsibility. The attorneys, in order to maintain integrity of their profession, must adhere to the code of ethics. Since ethics are not limited to our personal lives alone, it must be carried over to the professional life as well.

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Lawyers lead a very strenuous and stressful life which makes them dislike their work as well as their legal profession. This stress causes dissatisfaction among the minds of the lawyers and forces them to be unhappy in their work which results in a deteriorated performance at their work ultimately making the legal employers unhappy. This strenuous work also creates an unbalanced life which also is the reason of unhappiness in one’s legal career. A balanced life can help you deal with every situation but an unbalanced one will create more troubles for you rather than solving it believes A. Harrison Barnes, who owns LegalAuthority.com.

Thus it is very necessary for every lawyer to be happy with what they do, this way you will be able to keep yourself as well as your legal employer, who will further benefit you in your legal career, happy. There are some suggestions on how to be happy and satisfied in your legal practice offered by A. Harrison Barnes, who himself is an experienced lawyer. If you can follow these tips, then you will help yourself lead a happy life and ensure a satisfying legal career.

According to A. Harrison Barnes you can be happy at your work only if you wish to be happy. Happiness according to him depends on the choice you make. You have to be positive in spite of all the daily problems that you may face at your work, which even includes having bad legal employers to deal with. Think about the factors that keep you happy and also approach colleagues with a smile to show you are happy to work with them.

Avoid negative people and also those who are interested in mere gossip. You may have a very positive frame of mind but these negative coworkers will not allow you to remain positive for a long period of time; they will have impact you in some way or the other. So make sure that you do your best to avoid these negative people. Always remember that it is your decision to stay happy at work and even try out the methods that will keep you happy, says A. Harrison Barnes.

You should even try doing things that keep you happy, says A. Harrison Barnes. He suggests you analyze all your skills and abilities, your interests and passions and mix it up with your legal profession. This way you will be able to perform better and be happy with what you do. But make sure that the work suits your interests and skills and passions; this way you will never be dissatisfied with your work and you will keep your legal employers happy too.

You could get professional training both in technical and academic areas to enhance your career prospects by adding a new field of work that may increase your interest at work and bring a smile to everyone’s face. Attorneys who specialize in a particular field of law are attractive to employers, according to A. Harrison Barnes. Thus through such training you will benefit the most. For this you can ask the help of a mentor who can best guide you to reach your goals.

The place where you practice law is also an important factor for happiness in your legal career. Every place has a different impact on how you perform and whether you are happy with what you do. Public interest lawyers are more satisfied because they have a larger field to work in than other attorneys. Even in-house attorneys are happier with the kind of work they do than other lawyers working in a law firm. Same is the case with the lawyers working with the government. They are more satisfied and happier than the lawyers who are working at a law firm. So you can understand that the choice of place also counts in your scale of happiness at work.

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