Earned Freedom: Redefining Success as a Lawyer
This morning, I was driving to work just after sunrise, listening to an audiobook, and I had this thought:
I could’ve stayed in bed if I wanted to.
If I wanted, I could’ve rolled out of bed five minutes before a 9 a.m. court hearing, Zoomed in from under the covers, and no one would’ve known. I could’ve read a book all day, or walked downtown with my coffee, or stretched on my office yoga mat with a view of the city.
And it would’ve been fine.
No one would fire me. No one would call it in.
Because I built this life myself.
The Freedom I Earned
When you start out in law — or really, in any career — you’re constantly living by someone else’s clock. You have bosses, clients, court calendars, and expectations that all outrank your own preferences. You get used to equating responsibility with restriction.
But somewhere along the way, I created a practice, a structure, and a reputation that give me freedom. I can choose when to start my day, what to prioritize, and how I want my energy to feel.
That didn’t happen by accident. It came from years of putting systems in place, building trust with clients, creating financial stability, and learning how to show up for myself.
Discipline Inside of Freedom
What I realized this morning, though, is that I still choose to get up early.
I still choose to be out of the house by seven.
I still choose to push myself — not because I have to, but because I want better for myself.
And that’s the difference between freedom from and freedom to.
Freedom from external control, constant pressure, or burnout.
Freedom to create, move, rest, or work in alignment with who I am becoming.
True freedom isn’t sleeping in or checking out. It’s being able to choose what serves you each day — and knowing you have the stability and trust in yourself to make that choice well.
Why This Matters for Lawyers
So many lawyers spend their entire careers chasing freedom — financial, professional, emotional — without realizing that freedom isn’t the absence of structure. It’s the reward for building one that fits your life.
You don’t have to wait until you “make it” to have moments of peace or autonomy. You can start now — by noticing the small spaces where you already have control, and filling them with intentional choices.
Because freedom, at its best, isn’t the ability to do nothing.
It’s the ability to do anything — and still choose to show up.