Douglas Wood: Crafting Purposeful Transitions and Empowering Experienced Attorneys

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Douglas Wood discuss:

• Career transition planning for lawyers
• Effective planning and execution in law firms
• Challenges for senior lawyers in staying relevant
• Leveraging senior lawyers' expertise in law firms

Key Takeaways:

• Lawyers should self-assess to identify their strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities early to make informed career decisions and avoid unwanted retirement.
• Law firms can create cohorts for senior lawyers to share knowledge and discuss transitioning their practices, similar to support provided for other groups like veterans or LGBTQ+ professionals.
• Solo practitioners and small firm owners benefit from planning the transfer of their client base well before retirement to ensure service continuity and maximize the value of client relationships.
• A robust book of business greatly impacts a lawyer's career longevity and retirement options.

"Lawyers can get very lucky at times, but more often than not, if you're planning it, you're going to see the success that you need." —  Douglas Wood

Read more from Steve at Above the Law: AboveTheLaw.com/tag/Steve-Fretzin/

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Episode References: 

The Power of Positive Thinking: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Positive-Thinking-Norman-Vincent/dp/0743234804

About Douglas Wood: Douglas Wood, author of From Dawn to Dusk: How to Build a Multimillion Dollar Law Practice and Then Give It Away, offers guidance on building a multimillion-dollar law practice and transitioning to retirement or other pursuits. With nearly fifty years of legal experience, including over twenty in Big Law, Doug retired to mentor young attorneys and those preparing to leave the profession. A novelist with ten books—seven fiction and three non-fiction—he is currently writing his eighth novel. Doug holds a BA from the University of Rhode Island, a JD from Franklin Pierce Law Center, an LLM from NYU, an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of New Hampshire, and has taught at UNH and University College Cork in Ireland.

Connect with Douglas Wood:  

Website: https://douglasjwood.com/

Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Douglas-J.-Wood/author/B00BCJRTV6

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djwood1976

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Instagram: @fretzinsteve

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Email: Steve@Fretzin.com

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Call Steve directly at 847-602-6911

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