Are you exercising excessive loyalty to your employer (at your own expense?)
Hillel was a Jewish sage and scholar who lived about 2,000 years ago. While his teachings are often discussed in religious contexts, this quote has practical relevance far beyond religion.
I often think about it when talking with lawyers who are considering a career move.
Many are wrestling with a sense of loyalty. Their firm has treated them well. Their partners have invested in them. Their colleagues have become friends. As a result, they feel guilty about exploring other opportunities.
Loyalty is a good thing. But it shouldn’t come at the expense of your own professional growth.
Maybe you want to switch practice areas, but your current firm isn’t the right platform. Maybe you want to move in-house. Maybe another firm will give you better opportunities to develop business, gain leadership experience, or position yourself for the next stage of your career.
When lawyers tell me they feel selfish for considering a move, I remind them of Hillel’s wisdom. You have an obligation to think about your own future and advocate for your own interests.
I also remind them that employment is a business relationship. If economic conditions changed, most employers would make difficult business decisions without viewing them as personal betrayals. Likewise, most legal employers understand that lateral moves are part of the profession.
And sometimes, the lawyer who leaves becomes a valued referral source, co-counsel, or even a future client.
You can be grateful to the people who helped you get where you are and still decide that the next step is the right one.
The challenge is finding the balance between loyalty to others and responsibility to yourself.