Adam Friedl tells us how he transitioned from public interest law to software engineering

Adam Friedl spent many years practicing in various public interest organizations. One of these organizations was a non-profit technology company with the mission of  improving access to justice. Working there sparked an interest in the tech side of things, and he started teaching himself to code on the side. Fast forward a few years, and he’s left the law completely to be a full time software engineer.

The topics we touch on:

• Going to law school because it seemed practical, not because he felt uniquely drawn to it
• The mission of your organization matters in your satisfaction level; but so does the underlying daily work and environment
• You might find yourself in a position that opens your eyes to something new; and if you’re intrigued - lean into it
• If you find something you love to do, even when you aren’t being paid, really consider if that could be turned into a full-time job
• Assume you can learn new skills, because you can and you’ll probably love the process
• Many fields are less credential-oriented than law and relatively easy to break into  
• A lot of us are traumatized by navigating the legal job market, but don’t let that scare you off from trying something new
• Having the emotional support of your spouse, in particular, can make all the difference
• People do this - leave the law for new careers. There’s no reason why you can’t be one of them. 

Website: thelawyersescapepod.com