Change
While I’ve always appreciated the comfort and security of a stable life, I find that spontaneity and change make life richer and more interesting. I often advise clients that major changes – like switching jobs, retiring or moving – can be daunting, but when you make them intentionally, they can also lead to new growth, fresh energy, and new sources of joy and fulfillment. Every so often, it’s invigorating to be “re-potted,” to spread your roots and try out new environments, experiences, and challenges.
Now I have taken my own advice: after 45 years in our home in Oakland, we have moved across the Bay to San Francisco. Please make note of my new office address and phone number:
301 Mission Street, Unit 905
San Francisco, CA 94105
510-918-8634
I’ll reflect a bit on that move and tell you about two new resources below. But first, I’m excited to share another milestone.
50 Years in the Law – and a Gift to Mark the Milestone
This year marks my 50th year in the legal profession – an anniversary that brings both pride and gratitude. I spent the first 20 years as a litigator and the last 30 as an advisor to lawyers, firms, and legal organizations. And I’m fortunate to be able to continue my coaching and consulting work on retirement and succession.
To celebrate, I’m dropping the cost of my e-course, Retirement by Design, to just $50. That includes a pdf copy of my book, which remains available as a best-selling paperback from book sellers everywhere. If you’re thinking about what’s next after law practice – how to have a future life that’s happy and meaningful – this online course is a simple and affordable way to get started.
Easing Your Retirement Transition by Choosing When and How to Retire
In my work, I often discuss the differences between change and transition.
- Change is the external event that happens, usually in a short period of time or as of a certain date or moment.
- Transition is the internal process of adjusting to change. Transitions are ongoing, often jumbled and deeply personal. They affect you mentally, emotionally and even physically. Sometimes they start before the actual change occurs and can last long after the change is complete. Retiring from your firm or moving to a new location are examples of big changes that involve complex transitions.
One helpful model breaks the transition process into three stages:
- Ending: letting go of what was
- Neutral Zone: an in-between state (sometimes called the “messy middle”); navigating the unknown and searching for a new reality
- New Beginning: developing fresh understandings, attitudes and perspectives, and embracing what’s next with renewed clarity.
Our move to San Francisco made this model feel very real. Relocating after 45 years in one place was no small feat. Downsizing was brutal, and leaving friends, established routines, and all the comforts and conveniences of the familiar was hard. And for now, we’re living out of boxes and bins in an apartment with far less storage than we need, waiting impatiently for our furniture to arrive in mid-October.
We are adapting to a new lifestyle – urban living, shared spaces, different rhythms. Every day brings new challenges, discoveries and experiences.
But here’s the thing: we chose this.
That choice makes a big difference. Transitions are much harder when the change is out of your control and happens to you. Since the decision to move was ours, our transition feels less like an upheaval and more like a fun adventure. We are energized and enriched by finding new places, people and possibilities.
The same principle applies when you retire. The actual event of retirement, the day your old position or status ends, is a major change. If it’s forced on you, the retirement transition can be disorienting, even devastating. But when you retire on your own terms, you can create space for growth, reflection and reinvention. When you decide when and how you’ll leave, you can maintain some control over your course as you move ahead. You can adapt to the change more gradually and in ways that best serve your needs and interests.
A well-designed retirement transition takes time. It requires letting go of your position, your clients, your old identity. It means facing uncertainty as you get ready to leave and prepare others to take over. And it involves developing a new sense of who you are and your place in the world after you’ve retired. When the choice is yours, you can plan for the life you want and prepare yourself emotionally and psychologically for the challenges you’ll face. When you enter retirement with a sense of anticipation, curiosity and possibility, the next chapter can be not just rewarding, but exhilarating.
If you are contemplating or navigating this transition yourself and are looking for guidance or support, please contact me. I would be happy to help.
New Resources to Explore:
Article: My recent article, “Shaping Your Legacy through Mentoring,” appeared in the August 2025 issue of the ABA’s Voice of Experience. (subscription required)
Video: I joined hosts Yasmin Nguyen and Kathleen Mundy of The Real Retirement Show to discuss “How to Transition from Law: Retirement Insights and Strategies.” You can find the episode on Spotify, iTunes or YouTube, or download it here.
If your firm is looking to create or refine a process to support partner retirement and succession, I would be happy to help. Please contact me here.