[Hopeful Camel]

I'm an attorney. I had a very good job, high stress, but well paid job for about two weeks. I quit in a fit of bipolar / ptsd anxiety, and am now struggling to build a sole practice. I was in private practice for 15 years, but I am broke, and in a new town, and am having a melt down about how I am going to survive. To make things worse, I am the sole breadwinner for my family.

I hate myself. Not very helpful. I am doing everything I can to build up a sole practice, but the phone is not ringing. It has been three days of not a single phone call. I had a thriving law practice in this town up until two years ago. I am such a flake. I'm ruining my life, one step at a time. I guess I'm just venting.

I hurt. I have a lot of self-hate. I know I should have never quit the job. But I have burned that bridge now. The stress was too much. I'd rather be in private practice but it wasn't a well thought out decision. I feel suicidal about this situation. I don't know where to turn or what to do. I hate myself.

[kaliope]

I don't know what kind of law you practice, but I work for a family resource center and people are always looking for attorneys. but they are too expensive at $300 an hour and the exorbitant down payment. maybe to get you started, get the word out that you will take cases for what ever people can afford. it is better working for something than nothing. get in contact with the jail, court and family resource center, legal aid and get the word out. word will get around until you build your practice and get your fees up.

[Hopeful Camel]

Thanks! I just contacted our local domestic violence shelter and offered my services at a reduced rate. I'm a family law attorney and have already contacted legal aid and pretty much everyone else in town. I do low income work. I guess that is why I am a bit afraid. I should have some calls. But I appreciate the idea of the DV Shelter. Perhaps they will need someone! Thanks for writing.

[brainhi]

Hang in there...I mean it. You have to find the right answer for YOU. It will take time. Do not punish yourself for leaving a job that was causing you to feel awful - bipolar or not. Looking back and beating yourself up does not make taking a step forward any easier.

[hvert]

I am not sure how it would work out for a family law practice, but I know a few people who pick up clients by giving presentations or teaching workshops to would-be business or real estate owners.

You had a successful practice once, you can do it again. You did have some good reasons for quitting that job. Yeah, maybe there were some reasons not to quit, but you will be okay once you get over this hump (this is the point where my boyfriend would elbow me and say 'get it, get it? Hump, like a camel?')

I would contact all the small business advice organizations in your town. SCORE, SBDC, county extension -- not only will you get advice from people who help small business owners, but you will be in contact with lots of people who may be able to refer business your way.

[CosmicRose]

You're in a better situation right now than most people. For one, you're an attorney. Secondly, you've been successful in the past with owning a private practice and also working for others so you sound like you have a good resume to fall back on regardless of what happens. The anxiety you feel right now is normal, everyone experiences this feeling when in-between jobs.

[Hopeful Camel]

An unemployed attorney has just as little money [$0] as an unemployed stock clerk. A bipolar attorney with a spotty work history is not a good employee. Pulling myself up and doing the sole practice seems to be my only real good option. But I am worrying about paying rent, buying food, and keeping hearth and home together. I don't feel like I'm in a better situation than most people. Sorry.

[regretful]

I left a very good job in Sept 2013, and it's been depression ever since. I hope that you fare better. I can empathize with your situation 100%...unemployment is terrible.

[hvert]

No idea how you feel about this, but would it be okay to take a part-time crappy job to have some cash flow while you build up your solo practice again? Something seasonal maybe that has no relationship to law?

[Hopeful Camel]

I would take any job, if i could. There are just no jobs here in this small rural town. Probably why no one can hire an attorney. I've started looking for an attorney job in the large city an hour away from here. That seems the most fruitful avenue right now. I appreciate all the ideas. You guys are great.

[RedEagle]

Originally Posted by Hopeful Camel

An unemployed attorney has just as little money [$0] as an unemployed stock clerk. A bipolar attorney with a spotty work history is not a good employee. Pulling myself up and doing the sole practice seems to be my only real good option. But I am worrying about paying rent, buying food, and keeping hearth and home together. I don't feel like I'm in a better situation than most people. Sorry.

Maybe instead of trying sole practice you can get hired on with other attorneys. Trust me you're FAR better off than me. Bi-polar doesn't destroy your ability to think and communicate like thought disorder does. Try going to school and functioning in a professional career with thought disorder.

[redbandit]

I can empathize with how you feel. I too, quit a job this year, before I found my current job. I still regret what I did, as i liked my job for the most part, but I quit because I was having a paranoid delusion . It looks like you're doing everything you can to improve your situation . I hope you get some calls soon!

[SmileHere]

I've seen some attorneys have blogs with helpful articles and social media presences online - maybe this could be helpful too, to get work online/from other parts of the country as well?